Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Hartley, Kent
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out drone roof surveys in Hartley.
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Flashings that have come away
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. For a village or hamlet like Hartley, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Book a survey
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Related advice
Drone roof survey in Hartley: what you get
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see under the coverings or into the loft. Where there’s safe access, we look in the roof space too, 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. If there is no safe loft access, the report says so. We survey tall and steep roofs, large and complex roofs and chimney stacks, and people most often book us about lead work pulling away at abutments and slates or tiles shifted by high winds.
In a village or hamlet like Hartley, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Hartley (TN17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Hartley
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Historic houses such as Scotney Castle, about 4.4 miles west, show how far back building around Hartley goes. Photos from the air and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
Hartley is about 8 miles south-east of Paddock Wood, in Kent. Roofs in Hartley get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Hartley and the places around it. There is also a page for Maidstone.
We work across the TN17 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Hartley Road, Campion Crescent and Hartley Court Gardens and the roads around them. Other places close to Hartley include Swattenden (1 mile east), Cranbrook (1 mile north-east), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-east), Gill's Green (2 miles south) and Beal's Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (8 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Hartley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Crane Valley and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Benenden Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.8 miles north-east).
Other services in Hartley
Do you need a drone roof survey in Hartley?
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Old slates and clay tiles crack underfoot, and fragile sheet roofs are dangerous to walk on. A drone lets us see them closely without touching them.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Flashings that have come away
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
If you look after a building such as High Weald Academy, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Questions to ask before you book
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
How the survey changes by roof type
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Hartley
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hartley?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are there drone restrictions around Hartley?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
Do you cover Hartley?
Yes. We survey roofs in Hartley and the rest of Kent. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
How much is a survey?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
Prices for drone roof surveys in Hartley
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Height and safe access
- The size of the roof
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £400, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What we need to know
Some details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, it’s useful to mention:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The property’s address and postcode
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.