West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Fontwell, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out drone roof surveys in Fontwell, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Standing water on a flat roof
Fontwell: your questions answered
Is my home in Fontwell listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Fontwell within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How long does the visit take?
It typically takes an hour or two for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Time for the pre-flight checks is included.
Can you fly a drone near an airport?
Flight restriction zones around protected airports need permission from the airport or air traffic control before any flight. We check your address and ask for permission where it is required. If it is not given, we inspect by other means.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Does your drone take thermal images?
No, the drone survey is photographic. Thermal imaging is a separate check in the Premium Survey, and its findings are checked with moisture readings.
Does the weather affect a drone survey?
The conditions on the day decide whether a flight goes ahead. Strong wind and heavy rain both rule out flying. We’ll talk through the options if the day turns bad.
Drone roof survey in Fontwell: what you get
Drones need reasonable weather. We don’t fly in strong wind or a downpour, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the weather turns, we’ll agree another day or inspect what we can by other means. The forecast is checked ahead of the visit and again on the day. Light wind and dry weather give the clearest close-up photos. Waiting for a better day is better than a rushed flight. If you’re worried about storm damage on steep or tall roofs and flashings that have come away, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on tall and steep roofs, flat roofs on upper floors and chimney stacks alike.
In a small place like Fontwell, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or a downpour stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Fontwell (BN18, PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Fontwell can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Useful tips for Fontwell property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Make sure the loft can be reached
With the Premium Survey, the report arrives the same day. It includes the drone photos where a flight was possible.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation. Check insulation doesn’t block the airflow.
Places near Fontwell
More services for Fontwell
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Drone roof surveys around Fontwell
Fontwell lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
With Goodwood House about 4.2 miles west, the area around Fontwell has a long history. For older roofs nearby, a look by drone or thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition. Take a building like Ormiston Six Villages Academy: big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Fontwell is about 5 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. In Fontwell, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
All of BN18 and PO20 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on London Road, Cooke Road and Steeplechase Way. If you’re just outside Fontwell, we cover Eastergate (1 mile south), Slindon (1 mile north-east), Nyton (1 mile south-west), West Barnham (1 mile south) and Slindon Common (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Worthing (11 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south), Chichester (6 miles west), Selsey (10 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south-east) and Lancing (14 miles east).
Local landmarks in Fontwell
We work in homes and buildings around Eastergate CofE Primary School. The nearest railway station is Barnham station, about 1.6 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tote Copse Castle (2.2 miles south-west) and Arundel and District Hospital (3.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys and parapet gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley in the middle. You cannot see it from the street at all, but a drone shows it clearly.
Ridges and hips
Wind lifts loose ridge and hip tiles. Spotting them early stops them falling.
What affects the price in Fontwell
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Honest limits
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs