Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Five Wents, Kent
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Five Wents and the rest of Kent. We survey seven days a week.
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Drone roof survey in Five Wents: what you get
Drones need reasonable weather. We do not fly in strong wind or heavy rain, because control and safety come first. If the weather turns, we’ll agree another day or inspect what we can by other means. We check the forecast ahead of the visit and again on site. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. We survey large and complex roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and fragile roofs, and people most often book us about wind damage high on the roof and plant growth and moss on the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Five Wents are listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof, so it’s 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.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Five Wents (ME17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Nearby places to Five Wents
More services for Five Wents
Drone roof surveys in Five Wents: local notes
Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. Historic houses like Stoneacre, about 1.7 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Five Wents goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as 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.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Sutton Valence Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Five Wents is about 4 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Whether the building in Five Wents is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Across Kent, we cover Five Wents and the places around it.
Drone roof surveys in ME17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on Leeds Road and Sutton Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Warmlake (1 mile south), Langley Heath (1 mile north-east), Langley (1 mile north-west), Chart Sutton (1 mile west) and Sutton Valence (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (4 miles north-west), Ashford (13 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west), Tonbridge (14 miles west) and Faversham (14 miles north-east).
Around Five Wents
Around Five Wents, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plough Inn. The nearest railway station is Hollingbourne station, roughly 3 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find KIMS hospital (4.2 miles north) and Sutton Valence Castle (1.2 miles south). Open spaces near Five Wents include Detling Hill.
Useful tips for Five Wents property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
You get an in-person consultation with the Premium Survey to talk through the photographs and findings. You can ask about anything that isn’t clear.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside frequently shows problems before the outside does. Photograph anything new.
Five Wents questions
Is Five Wents within the area you cover?
Yes. Five Wents is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Five Wents?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know when booking.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
What’s in the survey report?
A photo-illustrated written report, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
What happens on the day
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. In a hamlet or village like Five Wents, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it ahead of the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
From the air, a lean or a loose pot is easy to see. Each defect is photographed for the report.
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Spotting them early stops them falling.
Common roof problems in Five Wents
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically, showing patterns of wear that are hard to spot up close. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Questions to ask before you book
- When you’ll get the report
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their track record with similar roofs
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- What’s prompted the survey
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.