Kent · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Rough Common, Kent
Drone roof surveys in Rough Common and the rest of Kent. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Flashings that have come away
How a drone roof survey works in Rough Common
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. We keep the camera on the roof we’re surveying, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is shared, a word with next door beforehand helps. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we are there to survey. Common reasons to book are worn lead at chimneys and walls and ridge and hip pieces working loose, across fragile roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roofs on upper floors.
Older buildings in small places like Rough Common may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Rough Common (CT2)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take about one to two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a small place like Rough Common, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Rough Common
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
Surveys for landlords and agents in Rough Common
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Flying and imaging in Rough Common
Rough Common lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
Take a building like Blean Primary School: big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. If you run a business near Whitefriars Shopping Centre, thermal images can show trapped moisture across a wide commercial roof. Take an older house close to Church of St. Gabriel: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Rough Common is about 2 miles north-west of Canterbury, in Kent. We cover Rough Common and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. Rough Common is one of the places in Kent where we work.
Drone roof surveys in CT2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Ross Gardens, Firtree Close and Rough Common Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover Harbledown (1 mile south-east), Upper Harbledown (1 mile south-west), Hales Place (1 mile east), Wincheap (2 miles south-east) and Thanington (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (13 miles south-west), Dover (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles west), Folkestone (15 miles south), Whitstable (4 miles north) and Faversham (7 miles west).
What’s near Rough Common
We work in homes and buildings around St Edmund's School, The Archbishop's School and The Dog and Bear pub. Rough Common’s nearest station is Canterbury West station, about 1.3 miles south-east. A little further out are Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (1.6 miles south-east) and Canterbury Castle (1.6 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Common questions in Rough Common
Are there drone restrictions around Rough Common?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Will you come out to Rough Common?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the roof, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Rough Common?
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Why act early in Rough Common
On a tall building, problems are frequently found only when water comes in. By then, timbers, ceilings and insulation may be wet. A drone survey finds them sooner. In a place like Rough Common, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Prices that include VAT
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, 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.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Also near Rough Common
Also in Rough Common
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. It is almost impossible to see from ground level, but it is plain to see from the air.
Ridges and hips
Some ridges are fixed with mortar, others with dry-fix systems. Their condition is noted in the report.