Essex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Little Burstead
Wondering about the roof at a property in Little Burstead? We carry out drone roof surveys in Little Burstead and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Drone roof survey in Little Burstead: what you get
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. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. We never fly where it is not safe. We survey fragile roofs, chimney stacks and valleys and parapet gutters, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are worn lead at chimneys and walls and cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots.
Somewhere as small as Little Burstead, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Weather and airspace are checked ahead of the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Little Burstead (CM12)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Little Burstead
The wider area around Little Burstead has a long history of building, with Ingatestone Hall about 4 miles north. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help.
If you run a business near Eastgate Shopping Centre, big, flat commercial roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images help most. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Little Burstead is about 2 miles south of Billericay, in Essex. We cover Little Burstead and the rest of Essex. Little Burstead is one of the places in Essex we cover. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Every address in CM12 is within our area for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Broomhills Chase, Laindon Common Road and Clock House Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Great Burstead (1 mile east), Billericay (2 miles north), Crays Hill (3 miles east), Ramsden Bellhouse (3 miles east) and Ramsden Heath (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (10 miles north), Basildon (3 miles south-east), Brentwood (5 miles west), Maldon (14 miles north-east), Canvey Island (9 miles south-east) and Rayleigh (8 miles east).
Near you in Little Burstead
In Little Burstead, that means homes and buildings near The Billericay School. Little Burstead’s nearest station is Billericay station, about 1.7 miles north. A little further out are Eastgate Shopping Centre (3.2 miles south-east) and Mayflower Community Hospital (1.2 miles north). Not far away are Norsey Wood.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere as small as Little Burstead, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by making sure a drone flight makes sense for the roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- We also look inside the loft space where it’s safe.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Getting a price
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Roof by roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
When a parapet outlet blocks, water can come inside. Outlets and any debris around them are photographed.
Chimney stacks
The drone shows the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If the flue needs a specialist, we’ll tell you.
Common questions in Little Burstead
Is Little Burstead within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is drone flying allowed in Little Burstead?
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. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The report follows by email.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
Premium also includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation, and it is something only an inside check will show. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Little Burstead
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Little Burstead?
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. It’s hard to tell from below what has shifted. Close-up photos make it clear what has been disturbed.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
For site and facilities teams at buildings like South Green Junior School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Are they insured for the work?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Is VAT included in the price?
What happens if roof problems are left?
Photographing a roof from the air doesn’t touch it. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey does not create new problems. In a small place like Little Burstead, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why book us in Little Burstead
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A written report with photos
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
See our cost guide or two real surveys.