West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Horsted Keynes
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach for Horsted Keynes, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Flashings that have come away
Drone roof survey in Horsted Keynes
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see under the coverings or into the loft. Where there’s safe access, we look in the loft space too, since that is where leaks and condensation frequently show first. Inside and out together tell you far more. Your report shows the drone photos alongside what we saw in the loft. Where the loft can’t be reached safely, we note it. If you’ve noticed lifted or split lead flashings and wind damage high on the roof, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Horsted Keynes may be listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch 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.
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
- Horsted Keynes (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Drone roof surveys in Horsted Keynes: local notes
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions.
Take an older house close to St Giles' Church: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. Anyone responsible for a site like St Giles CofE Primary School will know that big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. Priest House, about 3 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Horsted Keynes. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Horsted Keynes is about 4 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Horsted Keynes can all book drone roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. There’s also a page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH17 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Station Road, Rixons Orchard and Leighton Road. We also cover the places around Horsted Keynes: Danehill (1 mile east), Birchgrove (2 miles north-east), Highbrook (2 miles north-west), Chelwood Common (2 miles east) and Furner's Green (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-west), Horsham (13 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-west), East Grinstead (6 miles north) and Broadfield (9 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Horsted Keynes
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Green Man pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Haywards Heath station, roughly 4 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Waterbury Castle (less than half a mile north-west) and Princess Royal Hospital (4.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Horsted Keynes
Is my home in Horsted Keynes listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover smaller places like Horsted Keynes?
Yes, Horsted Keynes is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
What if it’s windy or raining on the day?
Bad weather means no flight. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so a new date is agreed with you, or look from other safe viewpoints if you’d rather.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
Why it’s worth a survey now in Horsted Keynes
A drone record gives you a baseline. Comparing them with later photos shows what has changed. It’s useful for planning maintenance over the years. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: 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.
Why book us in Horsted Keynes
- Visits on any day of the week
- 20+ years’ experience
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Book early if you’re near an airport
The Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation to go through what the drone showed. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
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.
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Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around Horsted Keynes frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
Widespread slipping on slate typically means nail fatigue. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks and loose pots are easier to judge from above. Each defect is photographed for the report.