Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Herne, Kent
Independent drone roof surveys in Herne. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
How a drone roof survey works in Herne
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They also suit fragile roofs that nobody should walk on, like old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. Ahead of the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we’ll say so. We survey tall and steep roofs, chimney stacks and large and complex roofs, and people most often book us about flashings that have come away and blocked valleys and parapet gutters.
Even in a smaller place like Herne, there may be airfields or restrictions nearby, so every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map. Exposed sites can be windy, and a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind. Neighbours’ privacy is part of planning each flight, along with the airspace and the weather.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Place
- Herne (CT6)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Airspace, weather and Herne roofs
Herne lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Martin, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. Take a building like Herne Church of England Infant School: big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Herne is about 1 mile south of Herne Bay, in Kent. In Herne, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Herne is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover.
Every address in CT6 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on St Martin's View, Ridley Close and Herne Street or a nearby road, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Hunters Forstal (1 mile north-east), Eddington (1 mile north-west), Herne Common (1 mile south-west), Bullockstone (1 mile west) and Broomfield (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (5 miles south-west), Margate (11 miles east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east), Whitstable (4 miles west) and Deal (15 miles south-east).
Near you in Herne
We work in homes and buildings around Curtis Wood and Herne Bay High School. The closest station to Herne is Herne Bay station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (3.7 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (4.4 miles west). Open spaces near Herne include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Questions from Herne
Are there drone restrictions around Herne?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you cover smaller places like Herne?
Yes. Herne is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we will talk to you about another date.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about one to two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Being in a smaller place like Herne does not change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it ahead of the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Flights in high wind or heavy rain
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Nearby places to Herne
Also in Herne
How the survey changes by roof type
Large commercial roofs
Many commercial roofs have fragile sheets or roof lights. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates often point to corroded nails. We can see the extent of it from above.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.