Reading · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Norcot, Reading
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Norcot. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
Drone roof survey in Norcot: what you get
Neighbours’ privacy matters on every flight. We keep the camera on the roof we’re surveying, not on neighbouring homes and gardens. If your roof is joined to a neighbour’s, it’s worth letting them know about the visit. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we’re there to survey. If you’re worried about vegetation in valleys and gutters and storm damage on steep or tall roofs, we can find out what’s behind it.
Places like Norcot can be near small airfields or other airspace restrictions, so the Drone Safety Map is checked before any flight. Exposed sites can be windy, and a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind. Neighbours’ privacy is part of planning each flight, along with the airspace and the weather.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Norcot (RG30, RG31)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Norcot
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. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you look after a building such as Meadow Park Academy, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. If you live in an older home near Tilehurst Methodist Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Norcot is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. We cover Norcot and the rest of Reading. We cover towns and villages across Reading.
Here we cover the RG30 and RG31 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Ash Road, Tay Road and Tyle Road. If you’re just outside Norcot, we cover Tilehurst Within (1 mile south-west), Tilehurst (1 mile west), Horncastle (1 mile south), Little Heath (1 mile west) and Fords Farm (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Caversham (3 miles north-east), Shinfield (5 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (8 miles south-east), Whitley Wood (4 miles south-east), Sonning Common (4 miles north-east) and Whitley (4 miles south-east). As one of the bigger places in Reading, Norcot has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Local landmarks in Norcot
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Butchers Arms, Prospect School and Round Copse and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Tilehurst station, roughly 0.8 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (1 mile east). Green spaces nearby include South Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
When to book a survey in Norcot
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically, showing patterns of wear that are hard to spot up close. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
We are often asked to look at:
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Broad Street Mall, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it.
Before booking anyone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys and parapet gutters
Hidden gutters and valleys sit out of sight. From above, we can see the linings, the joints and any debris.
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. The drone covers the roof area by area.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Norcot
Will you come out to Norcot?
Yes. Norcot is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in Norcot listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is a drone roof survey a thermal survey?
No, the drone survey is photographic. For thermal imaging, look at the Premium Survey or our thermal roof survey, and its findings are checked with moisture readings.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Norcot
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Nearby places to Norcot
Other services in Norcot
Prices for drone roof surveys in Norcot
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Anything about access we should know
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. A visit to a smaller place like Norcot is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we’re surveying.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Norcot, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.