Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Preston, Kent
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach around Preston, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Preston, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
How a drone roof survey works in Preston
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. It stays within sight for the whole flight, 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 tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and flat roofs on upper floors, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are flashings that have come away and chimney tops in poor condition.
Older cottages and houses around Preston may have little insulation, and some have extensions with their own roofs. Thermal patterns and close-up photos together give a fuller picture of the roof. Anything that looks like moisture is checked with a meter. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
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
- Preston (ME13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a drone roof survey does not cover
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Flights in strong wind or a downpour
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Preston
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
Towns and villages near Preston
Other services in Preston
Drones, thermal imaging and Preston roofs
Preston is within about 4 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight.
Belmont House and Gardens, about 3.3 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Preston. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself. Take an older house close to St Catherine's Church: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. If you look after a building such as The Abbey School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Preston is about 7 miles south-west of Whitstable, in Kent. In Preston, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Kent. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Here we cover the ME13 postcode area for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on Back Lane, Quay Lane and Park Road. With the A2 and A251 close by, Preston is easy for us to reach for drone roof surveys. If you’re just outside Preston, we cover Faversham (1 mile north-west), The Brents (1 mile north), Davington (1 mile north-west), Ospringe (1 mile west) and Whitehill (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (12 miles south), Canterbury (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (7 miles west), Whitstable (7 miles north-east), Herne Bay (11 miles east) and Minster (8 miles north-west).
What’s near Preston
In Preston, that means homes and buildings near Ethelbert Road Primary School, Oare Meadow and The Elephant pub and the streets around them. Preston has its own railway station: Faversham station. A little further out are Newnham Castle (4.3 miles south-west).
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
FAQs for Preston
How do I find out if my home in Preston is listed?
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.
Is drone flying allowed in Preston?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies.
Is Preston in your area?
Yes. We cover Preston and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
What’s in the report?
A written report with photos, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Preston and across Kent can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Different roofs, different checks
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We do not test for it, but we flag it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check.
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. It is almost impossible to see from ground level, but a drone shows it clearly.
Why it is worth a survey now in Preston
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so you see the roof exactly as it is. Around Preston, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls, particularly where trees overhang. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Plain-English reports with photos
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.