West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Plaistow, West Sussex
Drone roof surveys in Plaistow, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photos.
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Tell us the exact address when you book
- Allow time for permission if you are in a flight restriction zone
- Make sure the loft can be reached
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
Premium also includes a 12-month follow-up. It shows whether anything has moved or worn since the first visit.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Take photos of any changes.
About our drone roof survey in Plaistow
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Flight restriction zones around airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Central London has restricted areas of its own, which need NATS permission. If permission is not given, we inspect by other means and tell you. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. We’re frequently asked to look into tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack and plant growth and moss on the roof, on tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and valleys and parapet gutters.
In a small place like Plaistow, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Plaistow (RH14)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Common roof problems in Plaistow
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically. That gives a clearer picture of the roof as a whole.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
Anyone responsible for a site like Plaistow and Kirdford Primary School will know that big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
Before booking anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What follow-up you get after the report
Airspace, weather and Plaistow roofs
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight.
If you live in an older home near Holy Trinity Church, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Plaistow is about 11 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Bookings from Plaistow are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Across West Sussex, we cover Plaistow. We also survey roofs in Guildford.
We survey roofs across RH14 for drone roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, Loxwood Road and Oakfield and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Durfold Wood (1 mile north-west), Ifold (1 mile east), Mackerel's Common (2 miles south), Loxwood (2 miles east) and Kirdford (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Horsham (11 miles east), Storrington (11 miles south-east), Billingshurst (6 miles south-east), Bewbush (15 miles east), Roffey (12 miles east) and Southwater (10 miles east).
Near you in Plaistow
Open spaces near Plaistow include Shillinglee Lake.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
How it works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, it usually takes about one to two hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Somewhere like Plaistow needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
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Leave it or get it looked at?
Photos from a drone survey show how the roof looks today. Comparing them with later photos shows what has changed. It is useful for planning maintenance over the years. Older and listed buildings around Plaistow may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT.
Why us?
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- PI and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
Common questions in Plaistow
Do you cover smaller places like Plaistow?
Yes. Plaistow is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Plaistow?
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.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do drone rules differ in central London?
Some areas need permission from NATS before any flight. Where we can’t fly, we use other safe vantage points and explain what we could see.
How long does a drone roof survey take?
Expect it to take between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Pre-flight checks of the site and the weather are part of that.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.