Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Essendon, Hertfordshire
We carry out drone roof surveys in Essendon and the rest of Hertfordshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Essendon
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it isn’t safe. Typical surveys look at debris building up in hidden gutters and slipped or missing slates on a high roof, across large and complex roofs, chimney stacks and tall and steep roofs.
In a village or hamlet like Essendon, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Essendon (AL9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Booking your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What happens if roof problems are left?
From the ground, you’re guessing about most of a tall roof. A drone replaces that guesswork with clear photos, slope by slope. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Essendon, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
- Every finding written up with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Essendon frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Drones, thermal imaging and Essendon roofs
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Hatfield House, about 2.4 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Essendon goes. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. If you run a business near Howard Centre, thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof.
Essendon is about 3 miles south-east of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Essendon and the rest of Hertfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. There is also a page for London.
Drone roof surveys in AL9 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Rectory Close, Church Street and School Lane. If you’re just outside Essendon, we cover West End (1 mile west), Little Berkhamsted (1 mile south-east), Letty Green (2 miles north-east), East End Green (2 miles north-east) and Bayford (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (13 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (13 miles west), Stevenage (10 miles north), St Albans (8 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles north-east) and Welwyn Garden City (3 miles north-west).
Near you in Essendon
Around Essendon, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Salisbury Crest Public House. Essendon’s nearest station is Bayford station, about 2.5 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (2 miles north-west) and The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station (3.6 miles west). Open spaces near Essendon include Willowmead.
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Outlets, edges and roof plant are common problem areas. They’re all captured in close-up.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep slopes are hard to inspect safely on foot. From the air, every course of slates or tiles can be seen.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Essendon
Is Essendon within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Essendon?
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 test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
What do I do with the report?
You will receive the report by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
What if it’s windy or raining on the day?
High wind or heavy rain stops a flight. Whether we can fly depends on the conditions on the day. If we can’t fly, we will arrange another day.
Places near Essendon
Also in Essendon
What we are asked to look at in Essendon
Height and steep pitches make close inspection risky. Tall townhouses, blocks of flats and offices are typical. We fly from the ground and bring the camera close to the roof.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Flashings that have come away
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?