Southampton · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Highfield, Southampton
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Highfield from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
About our drone roof survey in Highfield
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Flight restriction zones around airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If permission is not given, we inspect by other means and tell you. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. Typical surveys look at cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and loose ridge and hip tiles, across large and complex roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and chimney stacks.
In smaller places like Highfield, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from the ground. The parts you cannot see, such as rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. Both depend on the weather on the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images often show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that cannot be judged properly from ground level.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Highfield (SO17, SO16, SO14)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Drone roof surveys in Highfield: local notes
Highfield lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Highfield is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it is given.
For hotels and guest houses around Highfield, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do. Take an older house close to Highfield Church: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. With South Stoneham House about 1.1 miles north-east, the area around Highfield has a long history. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Highfield is about 1 mile north of Southampton, in Southampton. Surveys in Highfield work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Our Southampton coverage includes Highfield and the places around it.
Every address in SO17, SO16 and SO14 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Winn Road, Nile Road and The Avenue. Highfield sits on or near the A3035, so getting to you is simple. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Bassett (1 mile north-west), Shirley (2 miles west), Lordswood (2 miles north-west), Freemantle (2 miles south-west) and Coxford (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Thornhill (3 miles south-east), Harefield (3 miles east), Sholing (3 miles south-east), Woolston (3 miles south), Eling (4 miles west) and Rownhams (3 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Highfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton, Richard Taunton Sixth Form College and The Cowherds Inn and the streets around them. Highfield’s nearest station is St Denys station, about 0.8 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Royal South Hants Hospital (1.2 miles south) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Netley Common.
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Check the loft can be reached
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos from the flight. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, so small faults are dealt with early.
Different roofs, different checks
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates frequently point to corroded nails. We can see the extent of it from above.
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.
Also near Highfield
More services for Highfield
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
Common questions in Highfield
Is my home in Highfield listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Highfield?
Yes. Highfield is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Can you survey a roof inside a flight restriction zone?
Only with the right permission. Airports such as Gatwick, Luton and Southampton have flight restriction zones, where the airport or air traffic control must give permission first. Without it, we inspect from other safe viewpoints.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We check everything that can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Will the drone show what’s under the tiles?
No. The drone sees the roof from outside only. The loft space is checked separately, where there is safe access, as damp and daylight often show there first.
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Highfield, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we’re surveying.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Before the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Getting a price
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’ll explain the options and the price.