West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in East Dean, West Sussex
Drone roof surveys around East Dean, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Standing water on a flat roof
Drone roof survey in East Dean: what you get
Our price is from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where applicable, is also part of our Premium Survey, with a same-day report, structural analysis and an in-person consultation. It also includes a follow-up after 12 months. We will tell you if a drone isn’t the right tool for your roof. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. If you’ve noticed blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and eroded pointing on a chimney stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Villages like East Dean often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- East Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Drones, thermal imaging and East Dean roofs
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight. About 2.6 miles west lies West Dean House, a reminder of how long the area around East Dean has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
East Dean is about 6 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in East Dean. East Dean is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for drone roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: PO18. You’ll find streets like Main Road, Chapel Row and Charlton Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Charlton (1 mile west), Singleton (2 miles west), West Dean (3 miles west), Heyshott (3 miles north) and Cocking (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south), Chichester (6 miles south-west), Selsey (13 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east) and Emsworth (10 miles south-west).
What’s near East Dean
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Star And Garter Public House and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Weald and Downland Gridshell (1.8 miles west) and Chichester Centre (5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Graffham Common and Levin Down.
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Make sure there is room outside for the drone to take off
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.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Debris in the garden is a sign to act on. A drone can show exactly what has moved.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
Do you need a drone roof survey in East Dean?
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.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near The Parish Church of All Saints, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Questions to ask before booking
- When you’ll get the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Which limits apply to the survey
Also in East Dean
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Rural addresses near East Dean can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it’s checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Questions from East Dean
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Dean?
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.
Do you cover smaller places like East Dean?
Yes, East Dean is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How long does the visit take?
It typically takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Time for the pre-flight checks is included.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access as you book.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
Is your drone operator registered?
Yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. Our drone weighs under 250g and keep it in sight at all times.
Landlord and commercial surveys in East Dean
Landlords, agents and building managers in East Dean and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Roof by roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
The flat roof on top of a block is rarely looked at. A drone shows ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands.
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically.