Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Great Thorness
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Great Thorness, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The size of the roof
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
For a price for drone roof surveys in Great Thorness, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Drone roof survey in Great Thorness: 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 is not safe, such as old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. You get close-up views without anyone setting foot on the roof. Before the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone is not the right tool, we will say so. Typical surveys look at cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below and worn lead at chimneys and walls, across valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and chimney stacks.
Older buildings in small places like Great Thorness may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Great Thorness (PO31)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes between one and two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. For a village or hamlet like Great Thorness, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- 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.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Flat roof coverings wear out at different rates. Photos show how the covering is wearing.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a valley in the middle. It is almost impossible to see from ground level, but a drone shows it clearly.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Great Thorness
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Useful tips for Great Thorness property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Check there is room outside for the drone to take off
File the report and photos with your home documents. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys.
Keep the loft space ventilated. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation, and it is something only an inside check will show. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
Towns and villages near Great Thorness
Also in Great Thorness
When to book a survey in Great Thorness
Parapet gutters, box gutters and central valleys sit out of sight. Leaves, silt and plant growth build up unseen, until it causes a leak inside. A drone shows them clearly from above.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
Swainston Manor, about 3 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Great Thorness. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Before you book anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
Flying and imaging in Great Thorness
Great Thorness lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight.
In and around Great Thorness, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Great Thorness is about 3 miles south-west of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. Whether the building in Great Thorness is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. We cover towns and villages across the Isle of Wight, large and small. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Every address in PO31 is covered for drone roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Porchfield (1 mile south-west), Locksgreen (1 mile south-west), Rew Street (2 miles north-east), Newtown (2 miles south-west) and Northwood (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Newport (3 miles south-east), Ryde (9 miles east), Cowes (3 miles north-east), Sandown (10 miles south-east), Shanklin (10 miles south-east) and Ventnor (11 miles south-east). For harder-to-reach addresses, a little more planning is needed, so mention it when you book.
Landmarks near Great Thorness
We work in homes and buildings around Sportsman's Rest pub, among other places. Well-known places in the area include Carisbrooke Castle (3.5 miles south-east) and St Mary's Hospital (2.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Great Thorness includes Mill Hill.
Great Thorness questions
How do I find out if my home in Great Thorness is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like Great Thorness?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
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.
Will you photograph next door’s garden?
Privacy is taken seriously on every flight. We photograph your roof, not your neighbours’ property. Letting neighbours know beforehand helps.
Do drone rules differ in central London?
Parts of central London are restricted, including areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs, where flights need permission from NATS. We check the airspace for your address and apply where needed.
Can you fly a drone near an airport?
Flight restriction zones around protected airports need permission from the airport or air traffic control before any flight. We check the airspace for your address and seek permission where it is needed. If it isn’t given, we inspect by other means.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days as you book.