Kent · London and the South East
Sheldwich Drone Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Sheldwich. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
How a drone roof survey works in Sheldwich
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Near protected airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If permission isn’t given, we inspect by other means and tell you. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. We are frequently asked to look into flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and moss building up on slopes and in gutters, across tall and steep roofs, large and complex roofs and flat roofs on upper floors.
In a small place like Sheldwich, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Sheldwich (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Flying and imaging in Sheldwich
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
Belmont House and Gardens, about 1.6 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Sheldwich. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey from above or with a thermal imager does not touch the roof itself. The streets around a church like Church of St James are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
Sheldwich is about 3 miles south of Faversham, in Kent. Roofs in Sheldwich get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Sheldwich and the places around it. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: ME13. You’ll find streets such as Ashford Road and Lees Court Road, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Sheldwich Lees (1 mile south-east), North Street (1 mile north), Badlesmere (1 mile south), Throwley (1 mile south-west) and Throwley Forstal (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles west), Ashford (9 miles south), Canterbury (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (8 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east) and Faversham (3 miles north).
What’s near Sheldwich
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Abbey School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Selling station, roughly 2.6 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Newnham Castle (3.6 miles west).
Places near Sheldwich
What else we do in Sheldwich
Do you need a drone roof survey in Sheldwich?
The top of a stack is the most exposed part of many roofs. Cracked flaunching, loose pots and eroded pointing are frequently invisible from below. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Look out for signs like these:
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
Take a building like Sheldwich Primary School: big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their insurance cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
Useful tips for Sheldwich property owners
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
We email the report to you, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside frequently shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
Sheldwich questions
How do I find out if my home in Sheldwich is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover smaller places like Sheldwich?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Does the weather affect a drone survey?
Safety comes first, so the weather decides. Strong wind and heavy rain both rule out flying. If the weather turns, we will discuss another date.
Will the drone film my neighbours?
We take care around neighbouring homes. We photograph your roof, not your neighbours’ property. Letting neighbours know in advance helps.
Will the drone show what’s under the tiles?
No. The drone photographs the outer surfaces, but not the loft or the underside. Where there is safe access, we check the loft space from inside.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Rural addresses near Sheldwich can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
What a drone roof survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
Different roofs, different checks
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. From above, we can see the linings, the joints and any debris.
Chimney stacks
From the air, a lean or a loose pot is easy to see. We record what we find with photos.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.