Medway · London and the South East
Grain Drone Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Grain, and put it all in a written report with photographs.
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Allow time for permission if you are in a flight restriction zone
- Shut pets inside while we fly
File the report and photos with your home documents. They give you something to compare against later.
Keep the loft space ventilated. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation. Make sure insulation does not block the airflow.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Grain
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs can’t always be inspected up close. Our drone roof survey gets a camera close to them without anyone climbing. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. Everything we find goes into a photo-illustrated written report. It’s also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. Where a flight isn’t possible, we explain why. Common reasons to book are cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and hidden gutters full of leaves, across tall and steep roofs, chimney stacks and flat roofs on upper floors.
Older buildings in small places like Grain may be listed or in a conservation area. A look by drone or thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Grain (ME3)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Grain
Many roofs are never seen properly from ground level. You cannot see the back slope, the valleys or the chimney tops. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
Take an older house close to Church of St James: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We don’t test for it, but we flag it and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Ridges and hips
The ridge takes wind from both sides. A drone shows cracked mortar and loose ridge tiles.
How we price drone roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Which survey package you book
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The address and postcode of the property
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Nearby places to Grain
What else we do in Grain
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Around Grain, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Drone roof surveys in Grain: local notes
Grain lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Steep or complicated roofs are frequently hard to see from ground level, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
Anyone responsible for a site like St James Church of England Primary Academy will know that big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Grain is about 5 miles north-west of Minster, in Medway. Anywhere in Grain, we can come and survey your property. Our area takes in places right across Medway. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Every address in ME3 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on High Street, Power Station Road and Chapel Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Wallend (1 mile west), Blue Town (2 miles south-east), Sheerness (2 miles south-east), Queenborough (3 miles south-east) and Rushenden (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Gillingham (8 miles south-west), Chatham (10 miles south-west), Rochester (10 miles south-west), Rainham (8 miles south-west), Strood (11 miles south-west) and Luton (10 miles south-west).
Around Grain
Around Grain, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Hogarth Inn, among other places. The closest station to Grain is Sheerness-On-Sea station, roughly 2.1 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Bluetown Heritage Centre (1.8 miles south-east).
Leave it or get it looked at?
Photographing a roof from the air does not touch it. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so you see the roof exactly as it is. Older and listed buildings around Grain may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Our price is 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.
Why book with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Grain questions
Are there drone restrictions around Grain?
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.
Is my home in Grain listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Grain?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The written report follows by email.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.