West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Lumley
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Lumley. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
FAQs for Lumley
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lumley?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are there drone restrictions around Lumley?
Usually 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. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photos, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, with the most urgent first where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lumley
We fly a sub-250g drone, 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. Every flight is planned around the roof, the site and the people nearby. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. We never fly where it is not safe. We survey chimney stacks, large and complex roofs and fragile roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and moss and weeds taking hold up top.
Somewhere as small as Lumley, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Lumley (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Lumley property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Allow time for permission if you are in a flight restriction zone
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
With the Premium Survey, the report arrives the same day. It includes the drone photos where a flight was possible.
Plan a drone survey every few years for tall or large roofs. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, and early repairs keep water out.
What happens on the day
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Lumley frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- 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
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Also near Lumley
Other services in Lumley
Flying and imaging in Lumley
Lumley lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
Historic houses such as Warblington Castle, about 1.6 miles west, show how far back building around Lumley goes. For older roofs nearby, a look from above or with a thermal imager is a hands-off way to check condition. Take a building like St James Church of England Controlled Primary School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Lumley is about 1 mile east of Emsworth, in West Sussex. In Lumley, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our West Sussex coverage includes Lumley and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
We survey roofs across the PO10 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Lumley Road and Northlands Park, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Emsworth (1 mile west), Westbourne (1 mile north), Southbourne (1 mile east), Woodmancote (1 mile north-east) and Denvilles (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (12 miles east), Chichester (7 miles east), Selsey (10 miles south-east), Portfield (7 miles east), Yapton (14 miles east) and East Wittering (7 miles south-east).
Near you in Lumley
Around Lumley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Eames Farm, Bourne Community College and Lord Raglan P.H. Pub, among other places. There is a railway station in Lumley itself: Emsworth station. Well-known places in the area include Warblington Castle (1.6 miles west) and Emsworth Museum (under half a mile south-west). The countryside around Lumley includes Stoke Down and Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
When to book a survey in Lumley
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. The drone covers the surface area by area. That gives a clearer picture of the roof as a whole.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
If you live in an older home near Church of St James, 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.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What they will not be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What follow-up you get after the report
Roof by roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. We check outlets and photograph any build-up.
Chimney stacks
The top of a stack is typically out of view. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Why act early in Lumley
With drone photos, everyone can see the same thing. They show the location and extent of each defect, which helps when you ask for quotes. In a place like Lumley, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Lumley
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Checking the roof from the ground
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.