Medway · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Hale, Medway
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Hale from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
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, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant. That helps you put the work in order. In a small place like Hale, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Why book us in Hale
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- Plain-English reports with photos
Drone roof survey in Hale: what you get
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, since that is where leaks and condensation often show first. Inside and out together tell you far more. Your report shows the drone photos alongside what we saw in the loft. If there is no safe loft access, the report says so. If you’re worried about moss and weeds taking hold up top and worn lead at chimneys and walls, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on large and complex roofs, flat roofs on upper floors and tall and steep roofs alike.
In a village or hamlet like Hale, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from the ground. Weather and airspace are looked at ahead of the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Hale (ME5)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What else we do in Hale
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere like Hale needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Drones, thermal imaging and Hale roofs
Hale is within about 3 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Rochester Airport is about 3 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight.
If you look after a building such as Kingfisher Community Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once. The streets around a church such as Christ Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
Hale is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. We visit Hale as part of our work across Medway. Hale is one of the places in Medway we cover. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the ME5 postcode area for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. If you are just outside Hale, we cover Darland (1 mile south-east), Capstone (1 mile south-east), Luton (1 mile north-west), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Rochester (3 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Frindsbury (3 miles north-west).
What’s near Hale
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Star pub, Chatham Grammar School for Girls and Darland Banks. The nearest railway station is Gillingham (Kent) station, roughly 1.6 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Rochester Castle (2.9 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
The Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation to talk through the photos and findings. You can ask about anything that is not clear.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Pieces of slate or tile on the ground mean something has moved. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Hidden gutters and valleys sit out of sight. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Flat roof coverings wear out at different rates. We record the signs of age we can see.
Common roof problems in Hale
The top of a stack is the most exposed part of many roofs. From ground level, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Look out for signs like these:
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Restoration House lies about 2.7 miles north-west, so building around Hale goes back a long way. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Hale: your questions answered
Is my home in Hale listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Hale?
Yes, Hale is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Is a drone roof survey a thermal survey?
No, the drone survey is photographic. Thermal imaging is a separate check in the Premium Survey, and its findings are checked with moisture readings.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What about my neighbours’ privacy?
The camera stays on your roof, not on neighbouring gardens or windows. We only survey what the owner has asked us to. If your roof is shared, it helps to tell your neighbours about the visit.
Will the drone show what’s under the tiles?
No. It shows what’s on the outside. Leaks, damp timbers and condensation frequently show first from inside, so we inspect the roof space as well where access is safe.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Hale?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.