West Sussex · London and the South East
Elsted Drone Roof Survey
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Elsted from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Lifted or split lead flashings
About our drone roof survey in Elsted
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. We do not fly in strong wind or a downpour, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the day turns out unsuitable, we’ll talk about another date. We check the forecast before the visit and again on site. Light wind and dry weather give the clearest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. If you’re worried about standing water on a flat roof and loose ridge and hip tiles, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Villages like Elsted often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or a downpour 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. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Elsted (GU29)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Elsted
Is my home in Elsted listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Elsted?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
How much is a survey?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The written report follows by email.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Drone roof surveys around Elsted
Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail. The wider area around Elsted has a long history of building, with Uppark about 2.7 miles south-west. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Elsted is about 5 miles south-east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Elsted and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Elsted is one of the places in West Sussex where we work. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Every address in GU29 is within our area for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you are just outside Elsted, we cover East Harting (1 mile west), Elsted Marsh (1 mile north-east), Didling (1 mile south-east), Nyewood (2 miles north-west) and Dumpford (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (9 miles south), Emsworth (9 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (14 miles south).
Landmarks near Elsted
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Three Horseshoes Public House. Other landmarks nearby include Midhurst Community Hospital (4.7 miles east). The countryside around Elsted includes Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.
Common roof problems in Elsted
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Older slates and tiles break easily, and fragile sheet roofs are dangerous to walk on. With a drone, the roof is photographed without anyone stepping on it.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Paul: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Questions to ask before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- When you will get the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. Outlets and any debris around them are photographed.
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.
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about one to two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Cottages and farmhouses around Elsted often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your 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.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
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Useful tips for Elsted property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
We email the report to you, with close-up photographs from the flight. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, especially in autumn. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Elsted
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.