Kent · London and the South East
Ratling Drone Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Ratling. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
How a drone roof survey works in Ratling
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. High wind or heavy rain rules out a flight, because the drone has to stay safely under control. If the day turns out unsuitable, we’ll talk about another date or inspect what we can by other means. We check the forecast before the visit and again on site. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. Waiting for a better day is better than a rushed flight. We survey tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and large and complex roofs, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are ridge pieces that have lifted and plant growth and moss on the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Ratling may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it’s 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.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Ratling (CT3)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. We record what we see of their condition.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. Outlets and any debris around them are photographed.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Leaving a high roof unchecked means relying on what you can see from below. A drone replaces that guesswork with clear photographs, slope by slope. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. Outbuildings and barns around Ratling are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book.
What you get with us
- Surveys on any day of the week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Every finding written up with photos
- An independent look at the roof
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Ratling questions
Is Ratling within the area you cover?
Yes, Ratling is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Are there drone restrictions around Ratling?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Normally, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
What will the report tell me?
A photo-illustrated written report, covering the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, in order of urgency where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
How much is a survey?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a small place like Ratling, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Drone roof surveys around Ratling
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. Goodnestone Park, about 1 mile north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ratling. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as St Peter are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Ratling is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. We visit Ratling as part of our work across Kent. Across Kent, we cover Ratling. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Every address in CT3 is within our area for drone roof surveys. We also cover Nonington (1 mile south-east), Snowdown (1 mile south), Goodnestone (1 mile north-east), Chillenden (2 miles east) and Woolage Village (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Ramsgate (11 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (13 miles north-east).
Around Ratling
Ratling’s nearest station is Adisham station, about 0.5 miles north-west. A little further out are St Martins Hospital (5.2 miles north-west).
What we’re asked to look at in Ratling
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Older slates and tiles break easily, and some sheet roofs are fragile. With a drone, the roof is photographed without anyone stepping on it.
Look out for signs like these:
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
Take a building like St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Questions to ask before you book
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What exactly goes into their report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Ratling. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
To get a price for drone roof surveys in Ratling, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.