West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Rackham
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Rackham. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Older cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Chimney stacks
The drone shows the outside of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if a specialist is needed.
About our drone roof survey in Rackham
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it can’t see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, since that is where leaks and condensation often show first. Together, the two give a fuller picture. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. If there’s no safe loft access, the report says so. Typical surveys look at cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below and cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots, across tall and steep roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and fragile roofs.
Villages like Rackham frequently stand in open country, where wind can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Rackham (RH20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Drone roof surveys in Rackham: local notes
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Parham House, about 0.7 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Rackham. For older roofs nearby, a look by drone or thermal camera is a hands-off way to check condition. The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Rackham is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Rackham and the rest of West Sussex. Rackham is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for drone roof surveys. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RH20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Cross Gate (1 mile west), Amberley (1 mile west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west), Bury (2 miles west) and Hardham (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Horsham (13 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
What’s near Rackham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Parham Park, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Amberley station, roughly 1.9 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Arundel and District Hospital (4.8 miles south-west) and Amberley Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
What happens on the day
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere as small as Rackham, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You give us the address and tell us about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is checked, with permission requested if required.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are looked at.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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.
It is useful 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.
Places near Rackham
More services for Rackham
How we price drone roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Why act early in Rackham
Faults on high roofs tend to be found late. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. A drone survey finds them sooner. Older and listed buildings around Rackham may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Visits on any day of the week
- Package prices that include VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
Rackham: your questions answered
Is Rackham within the area you cover?
Yes, Rackham is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is drone flying allowed in Rackham?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take about one to two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it is safe. We look at everything that can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Useful tips for Rackham property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Book early if you are near an airport
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- Let us know what you want to see
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
If you need work done, roofers can work from the photos. The photos show the location and extent of every problem.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, and early repairs keep water out.