Greater London · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Isle of Dogs
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out drone roof surveys in Isle of Dogs, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
Drone roof survey in Isle of Dogs
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. Safety comes first on every visit. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and slates or tiles shifted by high winds, on valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs.
London’s roofs are often hard to see from the street: valley gutters behind parapets, dormers and flat-roofed rear additions. That is where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what can’t be reached safely. Weather on the day decides whether it goes ahead, in Isle of Dogs as anywhere. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Isle of Dogs (E14, SE8, SE10)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Roof area
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- House, block, shop or office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What to tell us when you contact us
There’s no need for technical words. It is enough to tell us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The address and postcode of the property
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
Common questions in Isle of Dogs
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Isle of Dogs?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Isle of Dogs?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. The flight restriction zone around London City Airport comes within about 1 mile of Isle of Dogs. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. The restricted area over the Isle of Dogs, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from Isle of Dogs. If a roof falls inside it, we apply for permission before flying, and the flight only goes ahead if it’s granted. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
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, ready to forward.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Isle of Dogs?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it is safe. We check everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
What we are asked to look at in Isle of Dogs
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. 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.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Take an older house close to Church of St Nicholas: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What exactly goes into their report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Drone roof surveys around Isle of Dogs
The restricted area over the Isle of Dogs, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from Isle of Dogs. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which isn’t always given. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces frequently have Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
A roof leak in a hotel or guest house around Isle of Dogs means lost rooms as well as repairs. If you look after a building such as Harbinger Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Isle of Dogs is about 1 mile north-west of Greenwich, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Isle of Dogs and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. Isle of Dogs is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for drone roof surveys.
Every address in E14, SE8 and SE10 is covered for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Creek Road, Wynan Road and Undine Road or anywhere close by, we can help. If you’re just outside Isle of Dogs, we cover North Greenwich (1 mile north-west), Millwall (1 mile west), Cubitt Town (1 mile north-east), Deptford (1 mile south-west) and Greenwich (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (3 miles west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (4 miles north-west).
Around Isle of Dogs
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Ferry House Public House, Laban Centre and St. Paul's, among other places. Other local landmarks include Mudchute Park and Farm (within half a mile north-east) and Canary Wharf College 3 (under half a mile north). The nearest railway station is Greenwich station, roughly 0.7 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Greenwich Castle (1 mile south-east) and Surrey Quays Shopping Centre (1.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Tower Hill and Sue Godfrey Nature Park.
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Isle of Dogs we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- You give us the address and tell us 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.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Useful tips for Isle of Dogs property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Move stored items away from the hatch
The Premium Survey report comes the same day. Drone photographs are included where we could fly, alongside the other checks in the package.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor airflow lets condensation build up. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Isle of Dogs
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.