Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Hillway Drone Roof Survey
Drone roof surveys in Hillway from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Prices for drone roof surveys in Hillway
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
We’ll typically ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
How a drone roof survey works in Hillway
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. We never fly where it is not safe. We survey fragile roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roofs on upper floors, and common reasons people get in touch are coverings that have slipped high up on the roof and tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack.
Some older homes in villages like Hillway are listed or in a conservation area. A look by drone or thermal camera does not touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. 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, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Hillway (PO35)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Hillway: your questions answered
Is drone flying allowed in Hillway?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Hillway is about 1 mile from Bembridge Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How do I find out if my home in Hillway is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details as you book.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it’s agreed before booking.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll confirm the timing when you book.
How quickly is the report sent?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.
Useful tips for Hillway property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Book early if you’re near an airport
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
There is a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year.
Plan a drone survey every few years for tall or large roofs. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, so small faults are dealt with early.
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep slopes are hard to inspect safely on foot. A drone photographs them closely from a safe position.
When to book a survey in Hillway
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. The drone covers the surface area by area, showing patterns of wear that are hard to spot up close. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
Take an older house close to Bembridge Methodist Church: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether VAT is added on top
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Also in Hillway
Airspace, weather and Hillway roofs
Hillway is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Hillway is about 1 mile from Bembridge Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly.
Anyone responsible for a site like Bembridge Church of England Primary School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. Yaverland Manor, about 1.6 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hillway. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Hillway is about 4 miles south-east of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. Wherever you are in Hillway, we can carry out drone roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across the Isle of Wight, we cover Hillway and the places around it. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
Every address in PO35 is within our area for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Hillway Road and Jenny Streets Lane. If you are just outside Hillway, we cover Bembridge (1 mile north-east), Foreland Fields (1 mile north-east), St Helens (2 miles north-west), Gaskins (2 miles north-west) and Yaverland (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (9 miles west), Ryde (4 miles north-west), Cowes (11 miles north-west), Sandown (3 miles south-west), Shanklin (5 miles south-west) and Ventnor (7 miles south-west). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so let us know where you are when booking.
Near you in Hillway
In Hillway, that means homes and buildings near The Propeller Inn and Bembridge School. Hillway’s nearest station is Brading station, about 1.8 miles west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Sandown Castle (2.6 miles south-west) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (4.7 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Bembridge Down and Brading Marshes RSPB reserve.
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Somewhere as small as Hillway, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it’s checked too.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.