West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Highleigh
A careful look at the roof at your property in Highleigh, with photographs and a written report.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
Checking the roof from the ground
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
About our drone roof survey in Highleigh
We carry out drone roof surveys in Highleigh and across London and the South East, subject to airspace checks and the weather. We fly on any day of the week. Every address is checked for airspace restrictions first. You get a written report with close-up photos and recommendations. To check whether your roof suits a drone survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. Common reasons to book are tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack and lead work pulling away at abutments, on chimney stacks, large and complex roofs and valleys and parapet gutters.
Somewhere as small as Highleigh, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from the ground. Weather and airspace are checked ahead of the visit, and the journey is planned in advance. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Highleigh (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Highleigh
Highleigh lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help.
Take an older house close to St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. If you look after a building like Sidlesham Primary School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
Highleigh is about 3 miles north of Selsey, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Highleigh. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We work across PO20 for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Critchel's Lane, Highleigh Road and Green Lane, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Highleigh, we cover Almodington (1 mile west), Birdham (2 miles north-west), Somerley (2 miles west), Earnley (2 miles west) and Shipton Green (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north), Selsey (3 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Near you in Highleigh
Highleigh’s nearest station is Chichester station, roughly 3.9 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Chichester Castle (4.5 miles north) and Selsey Lifeboat Museum (3.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Pilsey Island.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Highleigh
Leaving a high roof unchecked means relying on what you can see from below. A drone replaces that guesswork with clear photos. It is far easier to plan work when you can see the problem. For older village homes like those around Highleigh, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Highleigh
- Surveys seven days a week
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Places near Highleigh
Also in Highleigh
Surveys for landlords and agents in Highleigh
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Highleigh
Is my home in Highleigh listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are there drone restrictions around Highleigh?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
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 freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Highleigh?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will recommend the right survey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
What happens on the day
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Older rural homes like those around Highleigh can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
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Practical tips
Getting the most from a drone roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Move stored items away from the hatch
Keep the photos with your property records. They give you something to compare against later, and they help if you sell.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet.
Different roofs, different checks
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. We record what we see of their condition.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep roofs are risky to walk on. A drone photographs them closely from a safe position.