Kent · London and the South East
Fordcombe Drone Roof Survey
Drone roof surveys across Fordcombe, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
About our drone roof survey in Fordcombe
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and well below the 120-metre height limit. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. We never fly where it is not safe. If you’ve noticed blocked valleys and parapet gutters and ridge pieces that have lifted, we can find out what’s behind it, on large and complex roofs, fragile roofs and chimney stacks alike.
In a small place like Fordcombe, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Fordcombe (TN3)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price drone roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The size of the roof
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll usually ask about:
- Anything about access we should know
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Fordcombe
Big commercial and industrial roofs cover a lot of ground. 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.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Peter, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Before you book anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether VAT is added on top
- When you will get the report
- What exactly goes into their report
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Fordcombe
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Fordcombe?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fordcombe?
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 will you be at the property?
Expect it to take about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect what can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. In a small place like Fordcombe, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Drone roof surveys in Fordcombe: local notes
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
For businesses in and around places like The Corn Exchange, big, flat commercial roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images help most. Groombridge Place lies about 1.8 miles south, so building around Fordcombe goes back a long way. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Fordcombe is about 4 miles west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. In Fordcombe, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Kent. You can also see our page for Crawley.
We survey roofs across TN3 for drone roof surveys. We cover properties on Spring Hill, St Peters Row and Chafford Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Walter's Green (1 mile north-west), Stone Cross (1 mile south), Ashurst (1 mile south-west), Teasley Mead (1 mile west) and Penshurst (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Sevenoaks (10 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (4 miles east), Tonbridge (6 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (10 miles east) and Southborough (4 miles east).
Local landmarks in Fordcombe
We work in homes and buildings around Chafford Arms, among other places. Fordcombe’s nearest station is Ashurst Kent station, roughly 1.4 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Bolebroke Castle (3.4 miles south-west) and Kent and Sussex Hospital (3.6 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve and Barden Lake.
Towns and villages near Fordcombe
Other services in Fordcombe
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks