Kent · London and the South East
Elham Drone Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Elham, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Flashings that have come away
Drone roof survey in Elham
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where it applies, is also part of our Premium Survey, along with structural analysis, a same-day report and an in-person consultation. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. We will tell you if a drone is not the right tool for your roof. Every drone survey comes with a written report and close-up photographs. If you’ve noticed flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and vegetation in valleys and gutters, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, fragile roofs and large and complex roofs alike.
Some older homes in villages like Elham are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Elham (CT4)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Elham
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Drones, thermal imaging and Elham roofs
About 1.4 miles south-east lies Acrise Place, a reminder of how long the area around Elham has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Elham Church of England Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Elham is about 5 miles north-west of Folkestone, in Kent. From houses to flats and shops in Elham, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. There is also a page for Canterbury.
All of CT4 is covered for drone roof surveys. We cover properties on High Street, Pound Lane and Vicarage Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Elham: Swingfield Minnis (2 miles east), Densole (3 miles south-east), Selsted (3 miles east), Breach (3 miles north-east) and Lodge Lees (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (11 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Folkestone (5 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
What’s near Elham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The King's Arms and the streets around them. Elham’s nearest station is Sandling station, roughly 4.7 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Victoria Hospital (5.3 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.7 miles south). Not far away are Cheriton Hill.
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check.
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. It is almost impossible to see from the ground, but it is plain to see from the air.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Faults on high roofs tend to be found late. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. Looking from above picks up the early signs. Older and listed buildings around Elham may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why us?
- Over 20 years’ experience
- PI and public liability insurance
- Photos and a written report every time
- Packages from £150, including VAT
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Elham
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Common questions in Elham
Is Elham within the area you cover?
Yes, Elham is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Elham?
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. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
What we do, step by step
Where it is 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 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older rural homes like those around Elham 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, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Also in Elham
Common roof problems in Elham
Hidden gutters and valleys are easy to overlook. Leaves, silt and plant growth build up unseen, until water overflows inside. A drone shows them clearly from above.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos