Kent · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Deal
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach across Deal, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
What we cannot see
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Deal
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
About our drone roof survey in Deal
They suit tall buildings, steep or large roofs and roofs that are hard to see from ground level. They’re useful where walking on the roof could damage it or is not safe, such as old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. We check the airspace for your address ahead of the visit. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we’ll say so. If you’ve noticed storm damage on steep or tall roofs and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a town like Deal, the roofs that are hardest to see are frequently on taller buildings, steep slopes or the backs of terraces. Close-up drone photos and thermal images show what binoculars from the pavement cannot. Both depend on the weather on the day. Rear slopes over back additions are a common example, as they’re rarely visible from the street.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Deal (CT14)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it normally takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Deal often share a roof line with the neighbours, so we look at what can be seen of the shared parts from your side. It is useful to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Leave it or get it looked at?
A drone record gives you a baseline. Next time, you can compare and see what has moved or worn. It’s useful for planning maintenance over the years. Around Deal, gutters that overflow soak the wall below, and damp follows inside. At roof level, a loose tile or tired flashing does the same. Left alone, both only get worse.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why book us in Deal
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent view of the roof
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Questions from Deal
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Deal?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Deal?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
Drone roof surveys in Deal: local notes
Deal lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. Deal has a number of hotels within about a mile and a half, and hotels, like offices and blocks of flats, frequently have flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them.
For hotels and guest houses around Deal, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest. With Walmer Castle about 1.2 miles south, the area around Deal has a long history. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Deal is about 14 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. In Deal, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Deal is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for drone roof surveys. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: CT14. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on London Road, Forelands Square and Herschell Square. Main roads around Deal include the A258 and B2056, which makes travel easy. Close by, we survey roofs in Mill Hill (1 mile west), Walmer (1 mile south), Sholden (1 mile north-west), Sholden Meadows (1 mile north-west) and Great Mongeham (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (14 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
Local landmarks in Deal
Typical jobs here are in homes near Betteshanger Park, Brickmakers Arms and Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Deal station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Kent Museum of the Moving Image (0.6 miles north-east) and Deal Castle (0.5 miles east).
When to book a survey in Deal
Parapet gutters, box gutters and central valleys sit out of sight. Debris collects where nobody looks, until water overflows inside. From above, they’re easy to see.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Anyone responsible for a site like Castle Community College will know that big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their report turnaround times
- Will the report include photos?
Useful tips for Deal property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Make sure the loft can be reached
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
The Premium Survey report comes the same day. It includes the drone photos where a flight was possible, alongside the other checks in the package.
Keep the roof space ventilated. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation, and it’s something only an inside check will show. Check insulation does not block the airflow.