Kent · London and the South East
Old Tree Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Old Tree, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
How a drone roof survey works in Old Tree
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 we can’t fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and tell you. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. If you’re worried about outlets choked with leaves and silt and tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Old Tree, older roofs are frequently steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you cannot get from ground level. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first, and the journey is planned in advance. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Old Tree (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check there’s room outside for the drone to take off
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Shut pets inside while we fly
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
With the Premium Survey, the report arrives the same day. It includes the drone photos where a flight was possible, alongside the other checks in the package.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On high roofs, leave clearing to a professional. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
Also near Old Tree
Also in Old Tree
Drone roof surveys in Old Tree: local notes
Old Tree is within about 3 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 can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of the Holy Cross, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Old Tree is about 3 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Old Tree gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Old Tree is one of the places in Kent where we work for drone roof surveys. Canterbury is in our area too.
Drone roof surveys in CT3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Maypole (1 mile west), Hoath (1 mile south-west), Millbank (1 mile north-west), Knave's Ash (1 mile south-west) and Hollow Street (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (6 miles south-west), Margate (10 miles east), Dover (15 miles south), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles west).
Near you in Old Tree
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Curtis Wood and Spires Academy. Old Tree’s nearest station is Herne Bay station, roughly 2.9 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Old Tree
How do I find out if my home in Old Tree is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Old Tree within the area you cover?
Yes, Old Tree is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Will I get photos?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you as you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Do you hold CAA registration for the drone?
We are. Our Flyer ID and Operator ID come from the CAA, and we fly a drone that weighs under 250g, kept within sight on every flight.
The survey, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. In a hamlet or village like Old Tree, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- We email a written report with the photographs and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
How we price drone roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- Anything about access we should know
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Old Tree, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
What we are asked to look at in Old Tree
Hidden gutters and valleys are easy to overlook. Leaves, silt and plant growth build up unseen, until it causes a leak inside. From above, they’re easy to see.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Flashings that have come away
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Hoath Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their insurance cover
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Which limits apply to the survey
Why get it checked now?
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Every price we give includes VAT. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Old Tree
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent view of the roof