East Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Friar's Gate, East Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Friar's Gate. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Drone roof survey in Friar's Gate: what you get
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They’re useful where walking on the roof could damage it or isn’t safe, like old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. We check the airspace for your address ahead of the visit. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we will say so. We are often asked to look into vegetation in valleys and gutters and gaps where slates or tiles have gone, on fragile roofs, flat roofs on upper floors and chimney stacks.
Villages like Friar's Gate often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. High wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Friar's Gate (TN6)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep slopes are hard to inspect safely on foot. From the air, every course of slates or tiles can be seen, showing slipped, cracked and missing pieces.
Nearby places to Friar's Gate
What else we do in Friar's Gate
Airspace, weather and Friar's Gate roofs
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. The wider area around Friar's Gate has a long history of building, with Bassetts Manor about 3.6 miles north-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you look after a building such as St John's Church of England Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. Take an older house close to St John's Church: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Friar's Gate is about 2 miles north-west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Bookings from Friar's Gate are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Crawley.
We cover every part of TN6 for drone roof surveys. We also cover the places around Friar's Gate: Marden's Hill (1 mile south-east), Chuck Hatch (1 mile west), Crowborough (2 miles south-east), Steel Cross (2 miles east) and Mott's Mill (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (15 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south), South Malling (14 miles south), Heathfield (9 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south).
What’s near Friar's Gate
Around Friar's Gate, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Half Moon Inn and Beacon Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Friar's Gate is Eridge station, roughly 3 miles east. A little further out are Bolebroke Castle (3.4 miles north) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Crowborough Country Park.
What we can’t see
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Friar's Gate
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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. Do not go up yourself.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How it works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect an hour or two for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around Friar's Gate, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
How to prepare
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Planning roof work without seeing the roof is a gamble. Our report shows the condition of each area. You can tackle the urgent items first. For older village homes like those around Friar's Gate, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Friar's Gate
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Friar's Gate
How do I find out if my home in Friar's Gate 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.
Is Friar's Gate within the area you cover?
Yes. Friar's Gate is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Can a drone see inside my loft?
No. It shows what’s on the outside. Leaks, damp timbers and condensation frequently show first from inside, so we check the loft too where we can.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, with the most urgent first where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.