Essex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Marks Gate
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out drone roof surveys in Marks Gate.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Drone roof survey in Marks Gate
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. Everything we find goes into a written report with photos. It’s also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. Where a flight is not possible, we explain why. We survey fragile roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roofs on upper floors, and the problems we are asked to look at most are chimney tops in poor condition and blocked valleys and parapet gutters.
Some older homes in villages like Marks Gate are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Marks Gate (RM7, RM5, RM6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
Airspace, weather and Marks Gate roofs
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and a good many post-war and modern estates besides. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from the ground, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
If you look after a building such as Crownfield Infant School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Take an older house close to St Mark's: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. With Hare Hall about 2.8 miles east, the area around Marks Gate has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Marks Gate is about 2 miles north-west of Romford, in Essex. If you’re in Marks Gate, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. We also survey roofs in London.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: RM7, RM5 and RM6. We cover properties on Walton Road, Hamlet Road and Hog Hill Road and the roads around them. Marks Gate sits on or near the A1112. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Chadwell Heath (1 mile south), Little Heath (1 mile south-west), Collier Row (1 mile east), Rise Park (2 miles east) and Romford (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Basildon (14 miles east), Harlow (12 miles north), Brentwood (7 miles east), Billericay (12 miles east), Loughton (5 miles north-west) and Waltham Abbey (9 miles north-west).
Around Marks Gate
In Marks Gate, that means homes and buildings near The Warren School, Fairlop Waters and Colley Rowe Inn and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Chadwell Heath station, about 1.9 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Redbridge Museum (3.8 miles south-west) and Romford Shopping Hall (1.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Marks Gate include Hainault Lodge.
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Many commercial roofs have fragile sheets or roof lights. A drone keeps everyone off them.
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. We record what we see of their condition.
Also near Marks Gate
Other services in Marks Gate
Prices for drone roof surveys in Marks Gate
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- What made you get in touch
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Leave it or get it looked at?
From the ground, you are guessing about most of a tall roof. Close-up photos show what’s really there. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. In a place like Marks Gate, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
See our cost guide or our case studies.
Questions from Marks Gate
Is drone flying allowed in Marks Gate?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
How do I find out if my home in Marks Gate is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We will confirm the timing when you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
What’s the best way to book?
Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, sent to you by email. On timing, it normally takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Marks Gate can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it ahead of the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- We email a written report with the photographs and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
How to book
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.