West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Patching, West Sussex
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a drone roof survey in Patching and across West Sussex.
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
About our drone roof survey in Patching
Prices start from £400, including VAT. A drone inspection, where it applies, is also part of our Premium Survey, along with structural analysis, a same-day report and an in-person consultation. It also includes a follow-up after 12 months. If a drone will not help on your roof, we will say so. You get a written report with the close-up photos from the flight. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, chimney stacks and flat roofs on upper floors, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack and ponding and splits on a high flat roof.
Some older homes in villages like Patching are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Patching (BN13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey does not create new problems. Older cottages and farmhouses around Patching can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
Why book us in Patching
- 20+ years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
What we can’t see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Airspace, weather and Patching roofs
Patching lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off 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. Ecclesden Manor, about 1.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Patching. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St John the Divine, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help. Anyone responsible for a site like Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. Roofs in Patching get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Across West Sussex, we cover Patching. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Here we cover the BN13 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include The Street and Coldharbour Lane, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
Local landmarks in Patching
Around Patching, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Fox pub, The Angmering School and Clapham Wood. The nearest railway station is Goring-By-Sea station, about 2.3 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere like Patching needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it ahead of the visit.
- 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 photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Advice
Useful tips for Patching property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
Premium also includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year.
Plan a drone survey every few years for tall or large roofs. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, so small faults are dealt with early.
Patching questions
Do you cover smaller places like Patching?
Yes. Patching is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Patching?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect what can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email.
What else we do in Patching
How the survey changes by roof type
Ridges and hips
Ridges and hips are the most exposed parts of a pitched roof. A drone shows cracked mortar and loose ridge tiles.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. The drone sees them without touching them.