Essex · London and the South East
Frating Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Frating, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
Drone roof survey in Frating: what you get
They suit tall buildings, steep or large roofs and roofs that are hard to see from the ground. They also suit fragile roofs that nobody should walk on. You get close-up views without anyone setting foot on the roof. We check the airspace for your address before the visit. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we’ll say so. We survey chimney stacks, flat roofs on upper floors and valleys and parapet gutters, and people most often book us about ponding and splits on a high flat roof and coverings that have slipped high up on the roof.
In a small place like Frating, open ground can mean strong wind. High wind or heavy rain 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.
You receive the findings 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.
- Location
- Frating (CO7)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Frating
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Which survey package you book
- How big the roof is
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
These details help when you get in touch:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
More services for Frating
Tips from our surveys
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
The Premium Survey report comes the same day. Drone photos are included where we could fly.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
When a parapet outlet blocks, water can come inside. Outlets and any debris around them are photographed.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
The flat roof on top of a block is rarely looked at. From above, standing water, splits and tired upstands are clear.
Frating: your questions answered
Is my home in Frating listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are there drone restrictions around Frating?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
What happens on the day
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Rural addresses near Frating can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are looked at.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
How to book
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Read more
Flying and imaging in Frating
Frating lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
Whatever the street in Frating, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early. If you live in an older home near Saint Andrew's Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Frating is about 3 miles east of Wivenhoe, in Essex. Roofs in Frating get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Essex. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the CO7 postcode area for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Church Road and Rectory Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Frating include Frating Green (1 mile north-east), Balls Green (1 mile north-east), Thorrington (1 mile south-east), Hare Green (2 miles north-east) and Great Bentley (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (6 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (7 miles south-east), Harwich (11 miles north-east), Camulodunum (7 miles west), Greenstead (4 miles north-west) and Tiptree (12 miles west).
Landmarks near Frating
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Kings Arms. The nearest railway station is Alresford station, about 1.2 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (2.4 miles west) and Essex County Hospital (6 miles west). Not far away are Cockaynes Wood.
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs