West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Ifold, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Ifold, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
How a drone roof survey works in Ifold
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies, along with structural analysis, a same-day report and an in-person consultation. There is a 12-month follow-up as well. We will tell you if a drone is not the right tool for your roof. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. We survey flat roofs on upper floors, chimney stacks and large and complex roofs, and people most often book us about wind damage high on the roof and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water.
In a small place like Ifold, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Ifold (RH14)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Around Ifold, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Airspace, weather and Ifold roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. A drone or thermal camera adds most on the steep, tall and hidden parts of roofs like these. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Loxwood Primary School, big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St John the Baptist, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Ifold is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Ifold can all book drone roof surveys. Our West Sussex coverage includes Ifold and the places around it. Our Guildford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RH14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Birchwood Close, The Drive and Wildacre Close, all of which we cover. If you are just outside Ifold, we cover Loxwood (1 mile north-east), Plaistow (1 mile west), Alfold Bars (2 miles north-east), Mackerel's Common (2 miles south) and Durfold Wood (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (15 miles east), Horsham (9 miles east), Broadfield (14 miles east), Storrington (11 miles south), Billingshurst (5 miles south-east) and Bewbush (14 miles east).
What’s near Ifold
The countryside around Ifold includes Shillinglee Lake.
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
You get an in-person consultation with the Premium Survey to talk through the photos and findings. You can ask about anything that isn’t clear.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, especially in autumn. On high roofs, leave clearing to a professional. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Planning roof work without seeing the roof is a gamble. You get photos of every part we can see. That helps you put the work in order. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Ifold, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What you get with us
- A report with photographs
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- An independent look at the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Common questions in Ifold
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ifold?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is drone flying allowed in Ifold?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us when booking.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
What does the report include?
A written report with photos, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Letting agents and landlords in Ifold book surveys as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ifold
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks