West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Ditchling
Drone roof surveys in Ditchling from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- The roof’s overall size
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
About our drone roof survey in Ditchling
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, because the underside tells its own story. Inside and out together tell you far more. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. Where the loft cannot be reached safely, we note it. If you’ve noticed damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water, we can find out what’s behind it.
Villages like Ditchling frequently stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Ditchling (BN6)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly where each defect is.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Debris in the garden is a sign to act on. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
Places near Ditchling
More services for Ditchling
How the survey works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Older rural homes like those around Ditchling can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets in another room
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking near the property
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Ditchling questions
How do I find out if my home in Ditchling is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Ditchling within the area you cover?
Yes. Ditchling is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Do you hold CAA registration for the drone?
Yes. We hold both a CAA Flyer ID and an Operator ID. The drone we use weighs under 250g, flown within the rules for the open category.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Ditchling
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
Take an older house close to Ditchling Unitarian Chapel: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ditchling (St Margaret's) Church of England Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Ditchling is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Ditchling can all book drone roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
We work across the BN6 postcode area for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include High Street, The Twitten and Charlton Gardens, all of which we cover. Other places close to Ditchling include Keymer (1 mile west), Westmeston (1 mile south), Hassocks (1 mile west), Clayton (2 miles south-west) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Ditchling
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Downlands Community School and The Bull Hotel. Ditchling’s nearest station is Hassocks station, roughly 1.4 miles west. Nearby you will also find Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (under half a mile west) and The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
What happens if roof problems are left?
On a tall building, problems are frequently found only when water comes in. By that stage the damage has spread inside. Looking from above picks up the early signs. In a small place like Ditchling, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Honest limits
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- A flight on a day when the weather is not safe
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ditchling
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book.