West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Merston, West Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Merston. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
Flying and imaging in Merston
Merston is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Merston is about 3 miles from Goodwood Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly.
Goodwood House, about 3.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Merston. Aerial photos and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. If you live in an older home near Church of St Giles, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as North Mundham Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We visit Merston as part of our work across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Merston is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover for drone roof surveys. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
Drone roof surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover the places around Merston: Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Near you in Merston
We work in homes and buildings around Chichester High School For Girls and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 2.3 miles west of the centre. A little further out are The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
Drone roof survey in Merston: what you get
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Flight restriction zones around airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If permission is not given, we inspect by other means and explain why. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. If you’ve noticed cracked mortar along the ridge and worn lead at chimneys and walls, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on valleys and parapet gutters, tall and steep roofs and fragile roofs alike.
In a village or hamlet like Merston, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Merston (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Merston
Also in Merston
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Fragile roof sheets and roof lights can be dangerous to walk on. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Walking on fragile coverings can break them. The drone sees them without touching them, so the survey doesn’t add damage.
What we can’t see
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
FAQs for Merston
Do you cover smaller places like Merston?
Yes, Merston is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in Merston listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when you book.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s 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.
Is a drone roof survey a thermal survey?
Not as part of the drone survey, which is about close-up photos. Thermal imaging is a separate check in the Premium Survey.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
Keep the photos with your property records. They give you something to compare against later.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, and early repairs keep water out.
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Older rural homes like those around Merston can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You give us the address and let us know about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
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What affects the price in Merston
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The roof’s overall size
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.