Hampshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Houghton, Hampshire
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Houghton. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around Houghton frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
About our drone roof survey in Houghton
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. Our drone roof survey gets a camera close to them without anyone climbing. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly, including slopes that cannot be seen from the street. Everything we find goes into a written report with photographs. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. If you are worried about lead work pulling away at abutments and cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on valleys and parapet gutters, chimney stacks and large and complex roofs alike.
Older buildings in small places like Houghton may be listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t 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.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Houghton (SO20)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Houghton
More services for Houghton
Tips that help
Getting the most from a drone roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Book early if you’re near an airport
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It shows whether anything has moved or worn since the first visit, and whether work has done its job.
After a storm, check from the garden and the street. Debris in the garden is a sign to act on. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
Drones, thermal imaging and Houghton roofs
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. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Test Valley School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once. Historic houses like Mottisfont Abbey, about 3.2 miles south, show how far back building around Houghton goes. A drone or thermal survey doesn’t involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Houghton is about 6 miles north of Romsey, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Houghton and the rest of Hampshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Houghton is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire where we work for drone roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
We cover every part of the SO20 postcode area for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Kents Orchard, Houghton Farm Close and Stevens Drove, all of which we cover. If you are just outside Houghton, we cover Horsebridge (1 mile south-east), Broughton (2 miles west), Stonymarsh (3 miles south), Mottisfont (3 miles south) and Michelmersh (4 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Winchester (9 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles south-east), Andover (9 miles north), Totton (12 miles south), Chandler's Ford (9 miles south-east) and Hedge End (15 miles south-east).
What’s near Houghton
Around Houghton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Boot Inn, among other places. Houghton’s nearest station is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, about 3.8 miles south of the centre.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Outlets, edges and roof plant are common problem areas. They’re all captured in close-up.
Ridges and hips
Ridges and hips are the most exposed parts of a pitched roof. From above, we can see loose ridges and missing mortar.
What we’re asked to look at in Houghton
Walking on some roofs does more harm than good. Old slates and clay tiles crack underfoot, and fragile sheet roofs are dangerous to walk on. With a drone, the roof is photographed without anyone stepping on it.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Before you book anyone
- What experience they bring
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What they will not be able to tell you
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Houghton
Do you cover smaller places like Houghton?
Yes, Houghton is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is drone flying allowed in Houghton?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
What do I do with the report?
You’ll get the report by email. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Houghton
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
How we price drone roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Height and safe access
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
What to tell us when you contact us
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.