Essex · London and the South East
Harwich Drone Roof Survey
Drone roof surveys in Harwich from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from ground level. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Ridges and hips
Ridges may be bedded in mortar or mechanically fixed. We record what we see of their condition.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Harwich
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They also suit fragile roofs that nobody should walk on, such as old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. Before the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we’ll say so. If you are worried about blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and moss and weeds taking hold up top, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat roofs on upper floors, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs alike.
Around a town like Harwich, steep roofs, tall gables and rear slopes are often hidden from the ground. A drone can take close-up photos of them, and thermal imaging can show patterns of heat loss or trapped moisture. Both depend on the weather on the day, so the date is set with the forecast in mind. Rear slopes over back additions are a common example, as they’re rarely visible from the street.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Harwich (CO12)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Harwich
More services for Harwich
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Harwich
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. From ground level, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. A drone gets close enough to see them in detail.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
If you look after a building like Harwich and Dovercourt High School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In Harwich, many roofs join a neighbour’s, so we look at what can be seen of the shared parts from your side. Tell us about any known leaks, past repairs or building work when you book, so time on site goes where it’s needed.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission 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.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Checking the roof from the ground
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Harwich
Harwich is within about 1 mile 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. Within a mile and a half or so of Harwich there are several hotels. For hotels and other commercial buildings, large roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps. A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Harwich means lost rooms as well as repairs, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition.
Harwich is in Essex. In Harwich, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Harwich is one of the places in Essex where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CO12 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Whether your property is on Station Road, High Street and Market Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Harwich is on the A120 and B1352, which makes it straightforward to reach. If you are just outside Harwich, we cover Parkeston (1 mile north-west), Little Oakley (2 miles south-west) and Ramsey (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Clacton-on-Sea (10 miles south-west), Greenstead (14 miles west), Wivenhoe (14 miles west), Brightlingsea (13 miles south-west), Walton-on-the-Naze (6 miles south) and Bocking's Elm (11 miles south-west).
What’s near Harwich
Typical jobs here are in homes near St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and The Trafalgar Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Dovercourt station, roughly 0.9 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Landguard Fort (2.5 miles east) and Harwich Museum (1.3 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Copperas Wood.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Harwich and across Essex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Harwich: your questions answered
Are there drone restrictions around Harwich?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Harwich?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
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.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, by urgency where it matters. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
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 including VAT.
Why act early in Harwich
On a tall building, problems are often found only when water comes in. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. Looking from above picks up the early signs. On a house in a town like Harwich, wet loft insulation stops working and can stay damp for a long time. That’s an extra cost on top of the roof work itself.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £400, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book us in Harwich
- Every finding written up with photos
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- An independent look at the roof
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.