Greater London · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Old Ford, Greater London
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a drone roof survey in Old Ford and across Greater London, with plain-English findings.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
What a drone roof survey looks like in Old Ford
Old Ford is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London City Airport. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
Anyone responsible for a site like Mulberry UTC will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. With Sutton House about 1.5 miles north-west, the area around Old Ford has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey by drone or thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself.
Old Ford is about 2 miles west of Plaistow, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in Old Ford, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Old Ford is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover for drone roof surveys.
Drone roof surveys in E3, E15 and E9 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Bow Road, Wick Lane and Dace Road, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Old Ford, we cover Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile west), Fish Island (1 mile north), Bow (1 mile south-west), Hackney Wick (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
What’s near Old Ford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Lea Tavern, Grove Hall Park and Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Old Ford is Hackney Wick station, roughly 0.6 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Tower of London (3 miles south-west) and St Clement's Hospital (0.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
About our drone roof survey in Old Ford
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable, with a same-day report, structural analysis and an in-person consultation. There’s a 12-month follow-up as well. We will tell you if a drone is not the right tool for your roof. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. We survey flat roofs on upper floors, tall and steep roofs and valleys and parapet gutters, and the problems we are asked to look at most are tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack and damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below.
London airspace is busy and tightly controlled: there are flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Before a drone goes up in Old Ford, the address is checked against all of them, and where permission is needed, the flight waits for it.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Old Ford (E3, E15, E9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
Also near Old Ford
What else we do in Old Ford
Common roof problems in Old Ford
Steep and tall roofs are hard to inspect safely. Three-storey houses, blocks of flats and tall commercial buildings are common examples. We fly from ground level and bring the camera close to the roof.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Take an older house close to St Paul Old Ford: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Questions to ask before booking
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How soon the report will arrive
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs. On timing, it usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. If that applies to your building, it helps to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Otherwise, the visit in Old Ford runs like any other.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
From ground level, you are guessing about most of a tall roof. Close-up photos show what’s really there. It is far easier to plan work when you can see the problem. London’s older roofs often have bitumen felt underlay or none at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Photos and a written report every time
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Old Ford: your questions answered
Are there drone restrictions around Old Ford?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Old Ford is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London City Airport. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Old Ford?
It rarely stops a survey, but it is worth planning. Let us know what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. For a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Let us know what you want to see
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
- Make sure the loft can be reached
With the Premium Survey, the report arrives the same day. Drone photos are included where we could fly, alongside the other checks in the package.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor airflow lets condensation build up, and it’s something only an inside check will show. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.