Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Forest Side, Isle of Wight
Wondering about the roof at a property in Forest Side? We carry out drone roof surveys in Forest Side and across the Isle of Wight, with plain-English findings.
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Drone roof survey in Forest Side: what you get
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Flight restriction zones around airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If we can’t fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and tell you. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. Common reasons to book are flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and moss and weeds taking hold up top, across large and complex roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and chimney stacks.
Villages like Forest Side frequently stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, 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.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Forest Side (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
- A structural engineer’s report
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. The drone covers the roof area by area, so nothing is skipped.
Ridges and hips
Ridges may be bedded in mortar or mechanically fixed. Their condition is noted in the report.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Forest Side?
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. It is hard to tell from below what has shifted. Close-up photos make it clear what has been disturbed.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Wind damage high on the roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Carisbrooke College, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Before booking anyone
- What exactly goes into their report
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
What we do, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a village or hamlet like Forest Side, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission 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.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Prices for drone roof surveys in Forest Side
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The roof’s overall size
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Forest Side
How do I find out if my home in Forest Side is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Are there drone restrictions around Forest Side?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How do I book a survey in Forest Side?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Does this replace a RICS home 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.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small defects on a high roof grow with each storm. Spotting them early keeps the work smaller, whatever height the roof is. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £400, including VAT.
Why us?
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Drones, thermal imaging and Forest Side roofs
Forest Side lies within about 4 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
For hotels and guest houses around Forest Side, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. For an older house near a landmark such as St. Mary's Church, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Forest Side is about 1 mile north-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We cover Forest Side and the rest of the Isle of Wight. Forest Side is one of the places in the Isle of Wight we cover for drone roof surveys. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We survey roofs across PO30 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Forest Road and Gunville Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Forest Side: Hunny Hill (1 mile east), Parkhurst (1 mile north-east), Noke Common (1 mile north-east), Porchfield (2 miles north-west) and Locksgreen (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Ryde (7 miles east), Cowes (4 miles north), Sandown (8 miles south-east), Shanklin (8 miles south-east), Ventnor (9 miles south-east) and East Cowes (4 miles north-east). If you’re somewhere remote, the survey takes a little more planning, so mention it when booking.
What’s near Forest Side
In Forest Side, that means homes and buildings near Hunnyhill Primary School, Seaclose Park and Island Innovation VI Form Campus. Nearby you’ll also find Carisbrooke Castle (1.3 miles south) and St Mary's Hospital (1 mile east). Not far away are Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.