West Sussex · London and the South East
Highbrook Drone Roof Survey
Need a drone roof survey in Highbrook? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
Landlords, agents and block managers in Highbrook
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 a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Drone roof survey in Highbrook
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. We don’t fly in high wind or heavy rain, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the day turns out unsuitable, we will talk about another date. The forecast is checked ahead of the visit and again on the day. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. Waiting for a better day is better than a rushed flight. We survey tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and large and complex roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are chimney tops in poor condition and damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below.
Some older homes in villages like Highbrook are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Highbrook (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Nearby places to Highbrook
More services for Highbrook
Drones, thermal imaging and Highbrook roofs
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight. In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as St Peter's CofE Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Priest House lies about 1.5 miles north, so building around Highbrook goes back a long way. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey by drone or thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
Highbrook is about 4 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Roofs in Highbrook get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Highbrook is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for drone roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Every address in RH17 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Ardingly (1 mile south-west), Little London (1 mile west), Sharpthorne (2 miles north), West Hoathly (2 miles north) and Horsted Keynes (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (7 miles north-west), Horsham (11 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-west), East Grinstead (5 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles north-west).
What’s near Highbrook
In Highbrook, that means homes and buildings near The Ardingly Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Highbrook is Balcombe station, roughly 3.4 miles west. A little further out are Princess Royal Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Parish Museum (2.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
What we’re asked to look at in Highbrook
Many roofs are never seen properly from the ground. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Problems in those places frequently go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near All Saints Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
What to check before booking
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
FAQs for Highbrook
How do I find out if my home in Highbrook is listed?
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.
Is Highbrook within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Highbrook?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
Is your drone operator registered?
Yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We fly a sub-250g drone and keep it in sight at all times.
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
How the survey changes by roof type
Ridges and hips
Ridges may be bedded in mortar or mechanically fixed. Their condition is noted in the report.
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically, so nothing is skipped.
What we do, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Cottages and farmhouses around Highbrook often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Arrange a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.