East Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Etchingham, East Sussex
A careful look at the roof at your property in Etchingham, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
How a drone roof survey works in Etchingham
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Every flight is planned around the roof, the site and the people nearby. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. We never fly where it isn’t safe. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and flat roofs on upper floors, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are slipped or missing slates on a high roof and ponding and splits on a high flat roof.
Some older homes in villages like Etchingham are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Etchingham (TN19)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Etchingham
Do you cover smaller places like Etchingham?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in Etchingham 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’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
What about my neighbours’ privacy?
Privacy is taken seriously on every flight. The camera is pointed at your roof, not next door. Letting neighbours know in advance helps.
Towns and villages near Etchingham
What else we do in Etchingham
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small defects on a high roof grow with each storm. Finding them now means less to put right, whatever height the roof is. Older cottages and farmhouses around Etchingham can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Our price is from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Etchingham
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 20 years’ experience
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Make sure the loft can be reached
If you need work done, roofers can work from the photos. The photos show the location and extent of every problem.
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. Take photos of any changes.
How it works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Etchingham can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Booking a survey
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Read more
Drone roof surveys around Etchingham
Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Many roofs like these cannot be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
Bateman's, about 2.8 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Etchingham. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Nicholas and St Mary, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Etchingham is about 11 miles north-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. Bookings from Etchingham are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: TN19. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on High Street, Oxenbridge Lane and Church Hill or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Etchingham: Burgh Hill (1 mile north-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-east), Silver Hill (2 miles east), Cooper's Corner (2 miles north-east) and Ticehurst (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (11 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-west), Crowborough (12 miles west), St Leonards (12 miles south-east) and Uckfield (15 miles west).
What’s near Etchingham
Around Etchingham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Robertsbridge Community College and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Etchingham itself: Etchingham station. Other landmarks nearby include Ticehurst House Hospital (3.3 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Bewl Water.
Different roofs, different checks
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. We record what we see of their condition.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Widespread slipping on slate typically means nail fatigue. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
What we cannot see
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Flights in strong wind or a downpour
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Etchingham
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
Common roof problems in Etchingham
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.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Etchingham Church of England Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?