West Berkshire · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Hermitage
Drone roof surveys in Hermitage and the rest of West Berkshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
About our drone roof survey in Hermitage
Our drone weighs under 250g, 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. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. Safety comes first on every visit. We survey tall and steep roofs, flat roofs on upper floors and valleys and parapet gutters, and the problems we are asked to look at most are plant growth and moss on the roof and cracked mortar along the ridge.
In a small place like Hermitage, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Hermitage (RG18)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Hermitage
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Hermitage Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. Shaw House, about 3.4 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hermitage. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Holy Trinity, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Hermitage is about 4 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. If you are in Hermitage, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Hermitage is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire we cover. You can also see our page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: RG18. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Newbury Road, Lipscomb Close and Marlston Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Hermitage: Longlane (1 mile south-west), Little Hungerford (1 mile north-east), Oare (1 mile north), Wellhouse (1 mile east) and Curridge (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (4 miles south-west), Thatcham (4 miles south), Burghfield Common (10 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west) and Spencers Wood (14 miles east).
Near you in Hermitage
We work in homes and buildings around The White Horse pub. Hermitage’s nearest station is Newbury Racecourse station, roughly 4 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Hampstead Norris Castle (2.4 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.3 miles south). Open spaces near Hermitage include Snelsmore Common.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Hermitage. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is typically out of view. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates frequently point to corroded nails. We can see the extent of it from above.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A drone record gives you a baseline. Comparing them with later photos shows what has changed. It helps when you plan ahead. Older cottages and farmhouses around Hermitage can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book us in Hermitage
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Packages from £150, including VAT
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
What else we do in Hermitage
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Hermitage: your questions answered
Will you come out to Hermitage?
Yes. Hermitage is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is my home in Hermitage listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Can the drone do thermal imaging?
The drone gives you detailed photos of the outside of the roof. If you need thermal imaging, it is part of the Premium Survey.
Does the drone show the underside of the roof?
No. It photographs the outside, not the inside. The roof space is checked separately, where there’s safe access, as damp and daylight frequently show there first.
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Make sure the loft can be reached
- Tell us the exact address when booking
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Shut pets inside while we fly
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It shows whether anything has moved or worn since the first visit, and whether work has done its job.
Look at the roof from the ground after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile on the ground mean something has moved. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Hermitage can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You give us the address and let us know about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.