Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Ford, Buckinghamshire
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Ford from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Standing water on a flat roof
What this survey cannot tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Ford
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
How a drone roof survey works in Ford
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, and well below the 120-metre height limit. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. Safety comes first on every visit. If you are worried about gaps where slates or tiles have gone and lead work pulling away at abutments, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Ford, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Ford (HP17)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Ford property owners
Getting the most from a drone roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Move stored items away from the hatch
We email the report to you, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Keep the roof space ventilated. Poor airflow lets condensation build up. Make sure insulation doesn’t block the airflow.
What happens on the day
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a village or hamlet like Ford, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
For a price for drone roof surveys in Ford, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Ford questions
Is drone flying allowed in Ford?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
How do I find out if my home in Ford is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. You will then get the report by email.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not usually stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Ford?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
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.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Also in Ford
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs.
Drone roof surveys in Ford: local notes
Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
For businesses in and around places like Friars Square, thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof.
Ford is about 4 miles south-west of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. Ford is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Across Buckinghamshire, we cover Ford. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Surveys in HP17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Linden Way and Chapel Road, and we cover them all. We also cover Dinton (1 mile north-west), Upton (1 mile north), Bishopstone (2 miles east), Owlswick (2 miles south-east) and Sedrup (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (4 miles north-east), High Wycombe (11 miles south-east), Chesham (12 miles east), Marlow (15 miles south), Amersham (14 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (15 miles south-east).
Near you in Ford
We work in homes and buildings around The Dinton Hermit Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, about 2.8 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Dinton Castle (1.6 miles north-west) and National Paralympic Heritage Centre (3.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Ford include Beacon Hill and Snakemoor.
What we’re asked to look at in Ford
Height and steep pitches make close inspection risky. Tall townhouses, blocks of flats and offices are typical. We fly from the ground and bring the camera close to the roof.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
In and around Ford, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Before booking anyone
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one