West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Handcross
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out drone roof surveys in Handcross.
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
Why it’s worth a survey now in Handcross
On a tall building, problems are often found only when water comes in. By that stage the damage has spread inside. Looking from above picks up the early signs. For older village homes like those around Handcross, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What you get with us
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Visits on any day of the week
- An independent view of the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
How a drone roof survey works in Handcross
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. Safety comes first on every visit. Typical surveys look at cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below and worn lead at chimneys and walls, on valleys and parapet gutters, tall and steep roofs and flat roofs on upper floors.
Villages like Handcross often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong 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. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Handcross (RH17)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
The drone shows the outside of the stack, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if a specialist is needed.
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. Their condition is noted in the report.
For landlords and managing agents
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Towns and villages near Handcross
What else we do in Handcross
The survey, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Somewhere as small as Handcross, access is frequently the only tricky part. 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.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
FAQs for Handcross
Do you cover smaller places like Handcross?
Yes. Handcross is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Handcross?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Drones, thermal imaging and Handcross roofs
With Tyes Place about 1.9 miles south-east, Handcross sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near All Saints, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Handcross is about 4 miles south of Crawley, in West Sussex. We cover Handcross and the rest of West Sussex. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex.
We cover every part of RH17 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include High Street, London Road and Windmill Platt, all of which we cover. Other places close to Handcross include Slaugham (1 mile south), Plummers Plain (2 miles south-west), Colgate (3 miles north-west), Broadfield (3 miles north) and Lower Beeding (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (4 miles north), Horsham (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south).
What’s near Handcross
Around Handcross, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Royal Oak Public House and Handcross Park School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Balcombe station, roughly 2.8 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Hospital (4.3 miles north). Not far away are Tilgate Lake and Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
Common roof problems in Handcross
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. Cracked flaunching, loose pots and eroded pointing are often invisible from below. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Handcross Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before you book anyone
- When you’ll get the report
- What insurance they carry
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What the survey will not cover