Essex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Shelley
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Shelley, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
Leave it or get it looked at?
Planning roof work without seeing the roof is a gamble. Our report shows the condition of each area. That helps you put the work in order. For older village homes like those around Shelley, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Shelley
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs can’t always be inspected up close. A drone takes close-up photos of those roofs from the air. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. Everything we find goes into a written report with photographs. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and moss building up on slopes and in gutters, across tall and steep roofs, chimney stacks and valleys and parapet gutters.
In a small place like Shelley, open ground can mean strong wind. High 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. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Shelley (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Shelley property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Share the postcode so we can check for restrictions
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
Your report arrives by email, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation, and it is something only an inside check will show. Check insulation does not block the airflow.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older roofs in small places like Shelley can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- 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.
- We email a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
How to book
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
Drone roof surveys around Shelley
Historic houses such as Hill Hall, about 4.8 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Shelley goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Where a roof is steep, tall or hard to see from ground level, drone photos and thermal images add detail.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ongar Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Shelley is about 7 miles south-east of Harlow, in Essex. We carry out drone roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Shelley and the surrounding area. Our Essex coverage includes Shelley. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CM5 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Whether your property is on St Peter's Avenue, Bewlay Close and Queensway or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Shelley include Chipping Ongar (1 mile south), Greensted (1 mile south-west), High Ongar (1 mile south-east), Bobbingworth (1 mile north-west) and Greensted Green (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles east), Basildon (14 miles south-east), Harlow (7 miles north-west), Brentwood (7 miles south-east), Billericay (10 miles south-east) and Loughton (9 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Shelley
Around Shelley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Ongar Academy and The Cock Tavern, among other places. Nearby you’ll also find Willingale Doe (4 miles north-east) and St. Margaret's Hospital (5.1 miles west). For a walk, there’s Gernon Bushes.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Towns and villages near Shelley
More services for Shelley
Questions from Shelley
Is my home in Shelley listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are there drone restrictions around Shelley?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
How much does a drone roof survey cost in Shelley?
Our price is from £400, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Do you work in Shelley?
Yes, we do. Shelley is part of the area we cover.
How long will you be at the property?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report follows by email.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What affects the price in Shelley
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Roof area
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The property’s address and postcode
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
When you need someone else
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Shelley
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks