Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Lake
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out drone roof surveys in Lake.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Surveys for landlords and agents in Lake
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lake
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we are 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. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it is not safe. If you’ve noticed eroded pointing on a chimney stack and hidden gutters full of leaves, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, flat roofs on upper floors and large and complex roofs alike.
Older cottages and houses around Lake may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. A thermal image can show where heat is escaping or where moisture may be trapped, and drone photos show the roof surfaces themselves. Findings are checked with moisture readings where needed. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Lake (PO36, PO37)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Lake
Is my home in Lake listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is drone flying allowed in Lake?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Sandown Airport is about 1 mile away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it is safe. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
How long does the survey take?
It usually takes an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs. As for time on site, it usually takes about one to two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a smaller place like Lake, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it ahead of the visit.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
More services for Lake
Common roof problems in Lake
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Historic houses such as Rylstone Manor, about 1.7 miles south, show how far back building around Lake goes. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Questions to ask before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their report turnaround times
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Are they insured for the work?
Drones, thermal imaging and Lake roofs
Lake is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Sandown Airport is about 1 mile away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight.
Anyone responsible for a site like Broadlea Primary School will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Hotels and guest houses near Lake cannot easily close rooms for a leak, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Lake is about 1 mile south-west of Sandown, in the Isle of Wight. We visit Lake as part of our work across the Isle of Wight, for homes and businesses alike. Our area takes in places right across the Isle of Wight, large and small. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
We work across PO36 and PO37 for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include Lea Road, New Road and Percy Road, all of which we cover. Being close to the A3055, Lake is easy for us to reach. If you’re just outside Lake, we cover Sandown (1 mile north-east), Alverstone (1 mile north-west), Queen's Bower (1 mile north-west), Shanklin (1 mile south) and Alverstone Garden Village (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Newport (7 miles north-west), Ryde (5 miles north), Cowes (10 miles north-west), Ventnor (4 miles south-west), East Cowes (9 miles north-west) and Oakfield (5 miles north). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so please mention your location when you call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landmarks near Lake
In Lake, that means homes and buildings near Sandown Bay Academy, The Old Comical pub and The Bay Church of England School, among other places. There’s a railway station in Lake itself: Lake station. Well-known places in the area include National Poo Museum (under half a mile east) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (1.2 miles south-west). Open spaces near Lake include Brading Down and Alverstone Mead.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Check the loft can be reached
- Allow time for permission if you are in a flight restriction zone
- Check there’s room outside for the drone to take off
Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos from the flight. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look at the roof from the ground after strong winds. Debris in the garden is a sign to act on. A drone survey can show what has shifted.
What we cannot see
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks