Essex · London and the South East
New England Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in New England, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
Wind lifts loose ridge and hip tiles. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. You cannot see it from the street at all, but it is plain to see from the air.
How a drone roof survey works in New England
We carry out drone roof surveys in New England and across London and South East England, subject to airspace checks and the weather. Flights take place on weekdays and at weekends. We check the airspace for your address before booking a flight. You get a written report with close-up photos and recommendations. To check whether your roof suits a drone survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We survey large and complex roofs, fragile roofs and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are plant growth and moss on the roof and chimney tops in poor condition.
Somewhere as small as New England, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- New England (CO9)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- 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
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from New England
Are there drone restrictions around New England?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in New England?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
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 in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes between one and two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The report follows by email.
Do you work in New England?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes New England.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the location and extent of every problem.
Plan a drone survey every few years for tall or large roofs. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, and early repairs keep water out.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Planning roof work without seeing the roof is a gamble. You get photographs of every part we can see. That helps you put the work in order. Around New England, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Visits on any day of the week
- 20+ years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. The survey usually takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around New England often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we’re surveying.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Read more
Places near New England
What else we do in New England
Flying and imaging in New England
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up photos from the air and thermal images help. We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Leonard, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. Whatever the street in New England, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
New England is in Essex. New England is one of many places we visit across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. New England is one of the places in Essex where we work for drone roof surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across CO9 for drone roof surveys and the streets around it. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Birdbrook (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Braintree (13 miles south), Saffron Walden (11 miles west), Halstead (10 miles south-east), Great Dunmow (14 miles south-west), Great Notley (14 miles south) and Bocking (12 miles south).
Near you in New England
We work in homes and buildings around Haverhill Railway Walks, among other places. A little further out are Clare Castle (4.2 miles east) and Haverhill and District Local History Centre (2.5 miles north-west).