East Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Etchingwood, East Sussex
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out drone roof surveys in Etchingwood.
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Flashings that have come away
Drone roof survey in Etchingwood: what you get
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Near protected airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If we cannot fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and explain why. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. We survey tall and steep roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and fragile roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are moss and weeds taking hold up top and blistered or cracked flat roof coverings.
Some older homes in villages like Etchingwood are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Etchingwood (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Etchingwood
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Drones, thermal imaging and Etchingwood roofs
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask.
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.
Etchingwood is about 2 miles north-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Bookings from Etchingwood are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Etchingwood is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex where we work for drone roof surveys. Brighton is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: TN22. Other places close to Etchingwood include Potter's Green (1 mile north-west), Buxted (1 mile north-west), Framfield (1 mile south-west), Blackboys (1 mile south-east) and Hadlow Down (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (10 miles south-west), Hailsham (9 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north) and Newhaven (14 miles south).
Local landmarks in Etchingwood
Around Etchingwood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Buxted Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Etchingwood is Buxted station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Uckfield Community Hospital (2.2 miles south-west) and Tickerage Castle (0.9 miles south). Open spaces near Etchingwood include Selwyns Wood.
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking.
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
Common roof problems in Etchingwood
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. From ground level, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Anyone responsible for a site like Uckfield College will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Questions to ask before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Nearby places to Etchingwood
Other services in Etchingwood
Etchingwood: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Etchingwood?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Etchingwood is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Safety comes first, so the weather decides. Strong wind and heavy rain both rule out flying. We’ll talk through the options if the day turns bad.
Is a drone roof survey a thermal survey?
The drone survey is a photographic inspection. Thermal imaging is a separate check, included in our Premium Survey.
Are you registered with the CAA?
Yes. Our registration covers a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. The drone we use weighs under 250g.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What happens if roof problems are left?
From ground level, you’re guessing about most of a tall roof. A drone replaces that guesswork with clear photos. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Etchingwood, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Etchingwood
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. For a village or hamlet like Etchingwood, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.