West Sussex · London and the South East
East Grinstead Drone Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. Drone roof surveys in East Grinstead, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Drone roof survey in East Grinstead
Drones need reasonable weather. We don’t fly in strong wind or a downpour, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the weather turns, we’ll agree another day. We check the forecast ahead of the visit and again on site. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. We survey large and complex roofs, tall and steep roofs and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are coverings that have slipped high up on the roof and loose ridge and hip tiles.
In a town like East Grinstead, the roofs that are hardest to see are often on taller buildings, steep slopes or the backs of terraces. Close-up drone photos and thermal images show what binoculars from the pavement can’t. Each needs the right weather, so the date is set with the forecast in mind. A typical example is the rear slope over a back addition, which cannot be seen from the street.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- East Grinstead (RH19)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Allow time for permission if you are in a flight restriction zone
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
Premium also includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like East Grinstead often share a roof line with the neighbours, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. It helps to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Advice
East Grinstead questions
Is my home in East Grinstead listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in East Grinstead?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone.
How much is a survey?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What to tell us when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What’s prompted the survey
- Anything about access we should know
- The address and postcode of the property
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Common roof problems in East Grinstead
Many roofs are never seen properly from the ground. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Faults there can go unnoticed for years.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Wind damage high on the roof
For hotels and guest houses around East Grinstead, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How long the report takes to arrive
Airspace, weather and East Grinstead roofs
Within a mile and a half or so of East Grinstead there are several hotels, and like offices and blocks, hotels often sit under flat roofs. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
If you look after a building such as St Mary's CofE Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once. Historic houses such as Saint Hill Manor, about 1.7 miles south-west, show how far back building around East Grinstead goes. Aerial photos and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
East Grinstead is about 8 miles east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Roofs in East Grinstead get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RH19 is covered for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include Station Road, High Street and London Road. Main roads around East Grinstead include the A22 and A264, which makes travel easy. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Dormans Park (1 mile north), Saint Hill Green (2 miles south), Felbridge (2 miles north-west), Ashurst Wood (2 miles south-east) and Felcourt (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles west), Horsham (14 miles west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (13 miles south-west), Broadfield (9 miles west) and Bewbush (9 miles west). East Grinstead is among the bigger towns we cover in West Sussex.
Near you in East Grinstead
Around East Grinstead, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, The Railway pub and Sackville School, among other places. There’s a railway station in East Grinstead itself: East Grinstead station. A little further out are East Grinstead Museum (under half a mile south-east) and Queen Victoria Hospital (0.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Hedgecourt Lake.
Why get it checked now?
With drone photos, everyone can see the same thing. You can show exactly where the problem is. On a house in a town like East Grinstead, wet loft insulation stops working and can stay damp for a long time. That is an extra cost on top of the roof work itself.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Plain-English reports with photos
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.