Kent · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Plaxtol
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Plaxtol, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a village or hamlet like Plaxtol, the journey is planned in advance: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Plaxtol
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Before every flight, we check the airspace and the weather. Safety comes first on every visit. We survey flat roofs on upper floors, fragile roofs and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are chimney tops in poor condition and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water.
Some older homes in villages like Plaxtol are listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Plaxtol (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Plaxtol
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Plaxtol?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Plaxtol within the area you cover?
Yes, Plaxtol is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Plaxtol?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out 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. Each one is emailed.
Can you fly a drone near an airport?
Only with the right permission. Airports like Gatwick, Luton and Southampton have flight restriction zones, and a flight inside one needs the airport’s or air traffic control’s say-so. If permission is not given, the roof is inspected from other safe viewpoints.
Why get it checked now?
Faults on high roofs tend to be found late. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. A drone survey finds them sooner. Around Plaxtol, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Plaxtol
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- PI and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Common roof problems in Plaxtol
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.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
Anyone responsible for a site like Plaxtol Primary School will know that thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before you book anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Are they insured for the work?
What a drone roof survey looks like in Plaxtol
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. About 0.7 miles north-east lies Old Soar Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Plaxtol has been built on. 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For an older house near a landmark such as Plaxtol Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Plaxtol is about 4 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. We survey roofs in Plaxtol and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Surveys in TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on The Street, St Hildas and Long Mill Lane and the roads around them. We also cover Dunk's Green (1 mile south), Roughway (1 mile south-east), Claygate Cross (1 mile north), Crouch (1 mile north) and Basted (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles east), Dartford (13 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (9 miles south), Gravesend (12 miles north) and Tonbridge (4 miles south).
Near you in Plaxtol
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Kentish Rifleman Public House and Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve. The closest station to Plaxtol is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 2.4 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Ightham Court (2.6 miles north) and Sevenoaks Hospital (5.2 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Barden Lake.
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
Large commercial roofs
Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Useful tips for Plaxtol property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Make sure the loft can be reached
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
Keep the photos with your property records. They give you something to compare against later.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On high roofs, leave clearing to a professional. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.