Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Downend, Isle of Wight
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Downend. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
Drone roof survey in Downend: what you get
Drone roof surveys are available in Downend and throughout London and the South East, subject to airspace checks and the weather. Flights take place on weekdays and at weekends. Every address is checked for airspace restrictions first. The report includes the drone photos and our recommendations. To check whether your roof suits a drone survey, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address. Common reasons to book are lead work pulling away at abutments and outlets choked with leaves and silt, across chimney stacks, large and complex roofs and fragile roofs.
In a small place like Downend, open ground can mean strong wind. High 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. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Downend (PO30)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Downend
How do I find out if my home in Downend is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Downend within the area you cover?
Yes. Downend is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Does your drone take thermal images?
Our drone survey is about close-up photos. Thermal imaging comes with the Premium Survey.
Will the drone show what’s under the tiles?
No. It shows what’s on the outside. The underside tells us things the drone cannot, so we check the loft too where we can.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
What we’re asked to look at in Downend
From the pavement, most of a tall roof is out of sight. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Faults there can go unnoticed for years, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Common reasons to book include:
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
The streets around a church such as St. George's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically.
Chimney stacks
Our drone check of a chimney is visual, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If the flue needs a specialist, we will tell you.
Flying and imaging in Downend
Downend lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
Arreton Manor lies about 0.8 miles south, so building around Downend goes back a long way. Photos from the air and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. Anyone responsible for a site like Medina College will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Downend is about 2 miles east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Downend gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across the Isle of Wight, large and small. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We work across PO30 for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Briddlesford Road and Long Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Arreton (1 mile south), Merstone (2 miles south), Blackwater (2 miles south-west), Shide (2 miles west) and Newchurch (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ryde (4 miles north-east), Cowes (5 miles north-west), Sandown (4 miles south-east), Shanklin (5 miles south-east), Ventnor (7 miles south) and East Cowes (5 miles north). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so let us know where you are when you book.
Local landmarks in Downend
We work in homes and buildings around The White Lion pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Smallbrook Junction station, roughly 4.3 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Carisbrooke Castle (3 miles west) and Whitecroft Hospital (2.7 miles south-west). Not far away are Brading Down and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
More services for Downend
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Downend frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. 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.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
How we price drone roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The roof’s overall size
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Leave it or get it looked at?
On a tall building, problems are often found only when water comes in. By that stage the damage has spread inside. A drone survey finds them sooner. Older cottages and farmhouses around Downend can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- A written report with photos
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Checking the roof from ground level
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.