Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Folkestone, Kent
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Folkestone. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Flashings that have come away
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
Drone roof surveys around Folkestone
Folkestone is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. The wider area around Folkestone has a long history of building, with Acrise Place about 3.9 miles north. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
For hotels and guest houses around Folkestone, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near United Reformed Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Folkestone is in Kent. We provide drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Folkestone and nearby. Folkestone is one of the places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
We cover every part of the CT20, CT19 and CT21 postcode area for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as Christ Church Road, Middelburg Square and Station Road, and we cover them all. Folkestone is on the A259 and A260, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover Cheriton (1 mile west), Sandgate (1 mile south-west), Hawkinge (2 miles north), Arpinge (2 miles north-west) and Seabrook (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (14 miles west), Canterbury (14 miles north), Dover (7 miles north-east), Deal (13 miles north-east), Hythe (4 miles west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles north-east). Folkestone is among the bigger towns we cover in Kent.
Near you in Folkestone
In Folkestone, that means homes and buildings near The Park Inn Hotel, Lower Leas Coastal Park and The Harvey Grammar School, among other places. There’s a railway station in Folkestone itself: Folkestone Central station. Nearby you’ll also find Folkestone Museum (0.7 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1 mile north). Not far away are Sugar Loaf Hill.
About our drone roof survey in Folkestone
From the air, the outer surfaces are clear, but it cannot see inside. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, since that is where leaks and condensation frequently show first. Together, the two give a fuller picture. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. Where the loft cannot be reached safely, we note it. If you’re worried about outlets choked with leaves and silt and cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In older houses around Folkestone, loft insulation can be thin, patchy or missing in places. Thermal imaging can show where heat escapes, and it can also point to damp patches. What it shows is surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings. Results depend on conditions, so the timing of the visit matters.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Folkestone (CT20, CT19, CT21)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
Landlords, agents and block managers in Folkestone
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
What we’re asked to look at in Folkestone
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Old slates and clay tiles crack underfoot, and some sheet roofs are fragile. A drone lets us see them closely without touching them.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
Take a building like Stella Maris Catholic Primary School: a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What exactly goes into their report
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Check there’s room outside for the drone to take off
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Let us know what you want to see
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
The Premium Survey report comes the same day. It includes the drone photos where a flight was possible, alongside the other checks in the package.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, and early repairs keep water out.
Also in Folkestone
Folkestone: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Folkestone is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Folkestone?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Folkestone is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Will you photograph next door’s garden?
The camera stays on your roof, not on neighbouring gardens or windows. We inspect only the roof you’ve asked about. If your roof is shared, it helps to tell your neighbours about the visit.
How long does a drone roof survey take?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing when booking.
What if it is windy or raining on the day?
Bad weather means no flight. Wind and heavy rain are the two things that ground a small drone, so we’d move the date with you, or look from other safe viewpoints if you’d rather.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. For a visit in Folkestone, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. Mention gates, side passages and anything at the back. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You give us the address and tell us about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.