Essex · London and the South East
Great Burstead Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach across Great Burstead, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Flashings that have come away
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
Do you need a drone roof survey in Great Burstead?
Many roofs are never seen properly from the ground. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Faults there can go unnoticed for years.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Flashings that have come away
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Anyone responsible for a site like St Peter's Catholic Primary School will know that big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Before you book anyone
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What insurance they carry
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
How a drone roof survey works in Great Burstead
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it’s safe, because the underside tells its own story. Together, the two give a fuller picture. Your report shows the drone photos alongside what we saw in the loft. Where the loft cannot be reached safely, we note it. If you’ve noticed hidden gutters full of leaves and worn lead at chimneys and walls, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Some older homes in villages like Great Burstead are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Great Burstead (CM11, SS15)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Great Burstead
It’s hard to plan maintenance for a roof nobody has looked at. You get photographs of every part we can see. You can tackle the urgent items first. Outbuildings and barns around Great Burstead are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a small place like Great Burstead, 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.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Great Burstead
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Roof area
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Anything about access we should know
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Airspace, weather and Great Burstead roofs
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place. 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.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary Magdalene, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. For businesses in and around places such as Eastgate Shopping Centre, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it.
Great Burstead is about 2 miles south-east of Billericay, in Essex. Great Burstead is one of many places we visit across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Great Burstead is one of the places in Essex where we work. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CM11 and SS15 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Mill Road, Southend Road and Tyrrells Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Great Burstead: Crays Hill (1 mile east), Little Burstead (1 mile west), Billericay (2 miles north-west), Ramsden Bellhouse (2 miles north-east) and Ramsden Heath (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles north), Brentwood (6 miles west), Maldon (13 miles north-east), Canvey Island (8 miles south-east), Rayleigh (7 miles east) and Wickford (4 miles east).
Around Great Burstead
In Great Burstead, that means homes and buildings near Kings Head pub and The Billericay School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Billericay station, about 2.1 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Eastgate Shopping Centre (2.5 miles south) and Barleylands Farm Museum (within half a mile south). Not far away are Norsey Wood.
Places near Great Burstead
What else we do in Great Burstead
Common questions in Great Burstead
How do I find out if my home in Great Burstead is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. 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.
Are there drone restrictions around Great Burstead?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.