Greater London · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Plaistow, Greater London
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Plaistow from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
How the survey works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a visit in Plaistow, parking and access are the things to plan: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at whatever is safely visible from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- 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 are surveying.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the loft as well.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Related advice
About our drone roof survey in Plaistow
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs cannot always be inspected up close. A drone takes close-up photos of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail. Everything we find goes into a written report with photographs. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. If we cannot fly, we tell you why. If you’ve noticed blocked valleys and parapet gutters and slipped or missing slates on a high roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Many London roofs are hidden from the pavement: valley gutters behind parapets, dormers and flat-roofed rear additions. That’s where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what cannot be reached safely. The weather decides the day: both drones and thermal cameras need the right conditions. Thermal images show surface temperature, not water itself, so findings are checked with moisture readings.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Plaistow (BR1, BR2, BR3)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Plaistow and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Towns and villages near Plaistow
Also in Plaistow
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking.
Plaistow questions
Is drone flying allowed in Plaistow?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. 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. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How do I find out if my home in Plaistow is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How quickly is the report sent?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Drones, thermal imaging and Plaistow roofs
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. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
For an older house near a landmark like St Mary’s Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. If you look after a building such as Burnt Ash Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof. Parking in Plaistow, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised.
Plaistow is about 1 mile north of Bromley, in Greater London. We carry out drone roof surveys in Plaistow for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Plaistow is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover for drone roof surveys. There’s also a page for London.
Surveys in BR1, BR2 and BR3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Saxon Road, Arcus Road and Croft Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Downham (1 mile north), Sundridge (1 mile east), Grove Park (1 mile north-east), Bromley (1 mile south) and Chinbrook (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover London (7 miles north-west), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (8 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Plaistow
Typical jobs here are in homes near Holy Trinity College Bromley, The Railway Tavern and Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy. For rail, the closest station is Sundridge Park station, about 0.6 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Greenwich Castle (4.1 miles north) and Prefab Museum (1.3 miles north-west). Open spaces near Plaistow include Downham Woodland Walk and Summer Hill.
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- Flights in strong wind or a downpour
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Plaistow
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber around 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We record the signs of age we can see.
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from ground level. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Why get it checked now?
With drone photos, everyone can see the same thing. You can show exactly where the problem is, which helps when you ask for quotes. Any roof job in Plaistow means planning around parking, neighbours and access. That’s a good reason to find problems early, while there’s time to plan.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
What you get with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.