Kent · London and the South East
Printstile Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Printstile, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Flights in high wind or heavy rain
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Drone roof survey in Printstile: what you get
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. The camera stays on your roof, not on neighbouring homes and gardens. If your roof is joined to a neighbour’s, it is worth letting them know about the visit. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Flights are kept as short as the job allows and focused on the roof in question. We survey chimney stacks, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roofs on upper floors, and people most often book us about flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and debris building up in hidden gutters.
In a village or hamlet like Printstile, roofs can be steep, old and hard to see from the lane. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from ground level. Weather and airspace are checked before the visit. Steep slopes and tall chimney stacks are where a close-up view adds the most.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Printstile (TN3)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Check there’s room outside for the drone to take off
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
File the report and photos with your home documents. They give you something to compare against later.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, so small faults are dealt with early.
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Also near Printstile
Other services in Printstile
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a hamlet or village like Printstile, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You give us the address and tell us about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
Our drone check of a chimney is visual, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. We will say if a specialist is needed.
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. Photos show how the covering is wearing.
Flying and imaging in Printstile
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place. About 1.4 miles west lies Penshurst Place, a reminder of how long the area around Printstile 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.
For an older house near a landmark like Parish Church of St Lawrence, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps. If you run a business near Royal Victoria Place, a commercial roof can be photographed from above without anyone walking on it.
Printstile is about 3 miles north-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Printstile is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Surveys in TN3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Penshurst Road and Barden Road. Printstile sits on or near the B2176, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Printstile: Bidborough (1 mile east), Speldhurst (1 mile south), Poundsbridge (1 mile south-west), Stockland Green (1 mile south-east) and Bullingstone (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (15 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (3 miles south-east), Tonbridge (3 miles north-east), Kings Hill (11 miles north-east) and Paddock Wood (8 miles east).
Local landmarks in Printstile
The nearest railway station is Leigh (Kent) station, about 1.7 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (2.6 miles east) and The Milne Museum (3.2 miles north-east). Open spaces near Printstile include Barden Lake and Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve.
FAQs for Printstile
How do I find out if my home in Printstile 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.
Are there drone restrictions around Printstile?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
What’s in the survey report?
A report with photographs, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, by urgency where it matters. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Printstile?
Strong winds can lift slates, tiles and ridge pieces. It is hard to tell from below what has shifted. A drone shows what has slipped, lifted or gone.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
Anyone responsible for a site like St Gregory's Catholic School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- What happens after the report arrives
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the price includes VAT