West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in High Cross, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in High Cross, with photos and a written report.
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
Flying and imaging in High Cross
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Albourne CofE Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
High Cross is about 4 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in High Cross across London and South East England. Our West Sussex coverage includes High Cross. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Drone roof surveys in BN6 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Albourne (1 mile south-east), Albourne Green (1 mile south-east), Albourne Street (1 mile south-east), Blackstone (1 mile south-west) and Twineham (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Crawley (12 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north-west), Worthing (11 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (4 miles east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles south).
What’s near High Cross
The closest station to High Cross is Hassocks station, roughly 3.4 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (2.9 miles north-east) and Clayton Castle (3.9 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Wolstonbury Hill and Woods Mill.
Drone roof survey in High Cross: what you get
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. We keep the camera on the roof we’re surveying, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is shared, a word with next door beforehand helps. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we’re there to survey. We’re often asked to look into cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water, on large and complex roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and fragile roofs.
In a village or hamlet like High Cross, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from the ground. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- High Cross (BN6)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in High Cross
Is my home in High Cross listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in High Cross?
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. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is High Cross in your area?
Yes. We cover High Cross and the rest of West Sussex. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
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 inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What we are asked to look at in High Cross
Many roofs are never seen properly from the ground. You can’t see the back slope, the valleys or the chimney tops. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Standing water on a flat roof
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Bartholomew, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
When you need someone else
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in High Cross
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
Also near High Cross
Also in High Cross
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We do not test for it, but we flag it and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from the ground. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, so cracks and gaps are clear.
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like High Cross needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
How we price drone roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Roof area
- Height and safe access
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Useful tips for High Cross property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Let us know the exact address as you book
The Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation to talk through the photographs and findings. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Every so often, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.