West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Poling
Independent drone roof surveys in Poling. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
Drone roof survey in Poling: what you get
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, and well below the 120-metre height limit. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it is not safe. We survey valleys and parapet gutters, large and complex roofs and fragile roofs, and the problems we are asked to look at most are blocked valleys and parapet gutters and eroded pointing on a chimney stack.
Some older homes in villages like Poling 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.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Poling (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. For a village or hamlet like Poling, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £400, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a drone roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
- Tell us the exact address as you book
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly where each defect is.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, so small faults are dealt with early.
When to book a survey in Poling
Walking on some roofs does more harm than good. Old slates and clay tiles crack underfoot, and fragile sheet roofs are dangerous to walk on. A drone lets us see them closely without touching them.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Flat roofs on upper floors that hold water
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near The Parish Church of St Nicholas, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the survey will not cover
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Towns and villages near Poling
Other services in Poling
Flying and imaging in Poling
Poling is within about 3 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
If you look after a building such as The Littlehampton Academy, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it. Ecclesden Manor, about 2 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Poling. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings.
Poling is about 2 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We provide drone roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Poling. Our West Sussex coverage includes Poling. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Drone roof surveys in BN18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Close by, we survey roofs in Crossbush (1 mile north-west), Warningcamp (1 mile north-west), Toddington (1 mile south-west), Lyminster (2 miles west) and Rustington (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Worthing (5 miles east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles west), Selsey (14 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles east) and Lancing (8 miles east).
What’s near Poling
The nearest railway station is Arundel station, about 1.6 miles north-west. A little further out are Rustington Museum (2 miles south) and Zachary Merton Hospital (2.1 miles south). The countryside around Poling includes Highdown Hill and WWT Arundel.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
We’ll usually ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Common questions in Poling
How do I find out if my home in Poling is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are there drone restrictions around Poling?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. The written report follows by email.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Poling?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. The drone covers the roof area by area, so nothing is skipped.
Chimney stacks
From the air, a lean or a loose pot is easy to see. Each defect is photographed for the report.