Greater London · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Farthing Street, Greater London
Drone roof surveys in Farthing Street and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
About our drone roof survey in Farthing Street
We carry out drone roof surveys in Farthing Street and across London and South East England, where the airspace and the weather allow. We fly on any day of the week. We check the airspace for your address before booking a flight. The report includes the drone photos and our recommendations. To check whether your roof suits a drone survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We survey fragile roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are worn lead at chimneys and walls and cracked mortar along the ridge.
Many London roofs are hidden from the pavement: valley gutters behind parapets, dormers and flat-roofed rear additions. That is where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what can’t be reached safely. Weather on the day decides whether it goes ahead, in Farthing Street as anywhere. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Farthing Street (BR6)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Farthing Street
Many roofs are never seen properly from the ground. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
Take a building like Downe Primary School: thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What exactly goes into their report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether VAT is added on top
Why act early in Farthing Street
Photographing a roof from the air does not touch it. Nothing is cracked or dislodged by footsteps, so you see the roof exactly as it is. London’s older roofs frequently have bitumen felt underlay or none at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. For a visit in Farthing Street, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. On the day, the roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from inside the loft space and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- We email a written report with the photographs and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Valleys and parapet gutters
When a parapet outlet blocks, water can come inside. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep roofs are risky to walk on. A drone photographs them closely from a safe position.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Farthing Street
Biggin Hill Airport is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. The wider area around Farthing Street has a long history of building, with Down House about 1 mile south. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
As a London address, Farthing Street can be tricky for parking: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book, as a space near the door cannot be promised. For an older house near a landmark such as St Mary's Church, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Farthing Street is about 4 miles south-west of Orpington, in Greater London. We visit Farthing Street as part of our work across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
All of BR6 is within our area for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You will find streets like Farthing Street, New Road Hill and Orange Court Lane, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Farthing Street, we cover Downe (1 mile south-east), Leaves Green (1 mile south-west), Hazelwood (1 mile south-east), Keston (1 mile north-west) and Farnborough (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (12 miles north-west), City of Westminster (15 miles north-west), Marylebone (15 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (14 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Farthing Street
Around Farthing Street, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Darrick Wood School, South Park and The Queens Head pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Orpington station, roughly 2.6 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Princess Royal University Hospital (1.4 miles north) and Crofton Roman Villa (2.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Betsom's Hill and West Kent Golf Course nature reserve.
Questions from Farthing Street
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Farthing Street?
It depends on the street. If Farthing Street has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
How do I find out if my home in Farthing Street is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Do drone rules differ in central London?
In some places, only with permission. Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs have restricted areas that need NATS permission. Every address is checked first, and fall back on other viewpoints if we cannot fly.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Nearby places to Farthing Street
What else we do in Farthing Street
What we can’t see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Farthing Street
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs