Kent · London and the South East
East Malling Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach around East Malling, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
Questions from East Malling
Are there drone restrictions around East Malling?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is East Malling within the area you cover?
Yes, East Malling is covered. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Will I get photos?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you as you book.
How a drone roof survey works in East Malling
They suit tall buildings, steep or large roofs and roofs that are hard to see from ground level. They also suit fragile roofs that nobody should walk on, such as old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. You get close-up views without anyone setting foot on the roof. Ahead of the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone is not the right tool, we will say so. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and lead work pulling away at abutments.
Older cottages and houses around East Malling may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. Thermal patterns and close-up photos together give a fuller picture of the roof. Findings are checked with moisture readings where needed. Calm, dry weather suits both methods, so the date is set with the forecast in mind.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- East Malling (ME19)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a drone roof survey looks like in East Malling
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
If you look after a building like St James the Great Academy, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Historic houses such as Starkey Castle, about 4.9 miles north, show how far back building around East Malling goes. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
East Malling is about 4 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. Roofs in East Malling get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our Kent coverage includes East Malling and the places around it.
Drone roof surveys in ME19 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as High Street, Chapman Way and Lister Close, all of which we cover. Other places close to East Malling include Well Street (1 mile south), Ditton (1 mile east), West Malling (1 mile west), Aylesford (2 miles east) and Kings Hill (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (4 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (13 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north).
What’s near East Malling
Around East Malling, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Rising Sun pub, Ditton Quarry and The Malling School, among other places. The nearest railway station is East Malling station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Leybourne Castle (0.9 miles north-west) and Fremlin Walk (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Being in a smaller place like East Malling doesn’t change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- 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.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
How to book
For a price for drone roof surveys in East Malling, ring 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically, so nothing is skipped.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Photographing a roof from the air doesn’t touch it. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey does not create new problems. Homes in smaller places like East Malling can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Plain-English reports with photos
- PI and public liability insurance
Places near East Malling
What else we do in East Malling
When to book a survey in East Malling
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. From the ground, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. A drone gets close enough to see them in detail.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around East Malling means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it’s worth knowing the roof’s condition.
What to check before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their insurance cover
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.