West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Houghton, West Sussex
Drone roof surveys in Houghton, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Standing water on a flat roof
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Houghton
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs can’t always be inspected up close. Our drone roof survey gets a camera close to them without anyone climbing. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. The photos go into a written report. It is also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. We survey tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and ridge and hip pieces working loose.
Older buildings in small places like Houghton may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Houghton (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Houghton property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Check there is room outside for the drone to take off
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
Your report arrives by email, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Every so frequently, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The roof’s overall size
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Questions from Houghton
Are there drone restrictions around Houghton?
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. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you cover smaller places like Houghton?
Yes, Houghton is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The written report follows by email.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Houghton?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
When you need someone else
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
What a drone roof survey looks like in Houghton
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Dorset House School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Bignor Roman Villa lies about 2.8 miles north-west, so building around Houghton goes back a long way. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey by drone or thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Nicholas: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Houghton is about 6 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We cover Houghton and the rest of West Sussex. Houghton is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for drone roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
We work across BN18 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. If you’re just outside Houghton, we cover Arundel (3 miles south), Warningcamp (3 miles south-east), Crossbush (3 miles south), Tortington (4 miles south) and Poling (4 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (9 miles south-west), Chichester (11 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
What’s near Houghton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Arundel Park, among other places. Houghton’s nearest station is Amberley station, about 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Arundel and District Hospital (2.7 miles south) and Amberley Castle (1.2 miles north-east). Open spaces near Houghton include Amberley Wild Brooks and Bignor Hill.
Also near Houghton
Other services in Houghton
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is usually out of view. Close-up photos show the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Leaks often start at outlets, edges and around plant. We photograph them closely, as far as the flight allows.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Older rural homes like those around Houghton can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are looked at.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Leave it or get it looked at?
Leaving a slipped slate or a blocked valley can turn a small fault into a leak. Finding them now means less to put right, whatever height the roof is. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Houghton, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What you get with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.