Reading · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Shinfield, Reading
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Shinfield. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
For landlords and managing agents
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
Drone roof survey in Shinfield: what you get
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs cannot always be inspected up close. Our drone roof survey gets a camera close to them without anyone climbing. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. Everything we find goes into a written report with photos. It’s also a good option where walking on the roof could break slates or tiles. Where a flight isn’t possible, we explain why. If you’ve noticed ridge and hip pieces working loose and vegetation in valleys and gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In smaller places like Shinfield, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from the ground. Chimney tops, valleys and rear slopes are where close-up or thermal images help most. Both depend on the weather on the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images frequently show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that can’t be judged properly from the ground.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Shinfield (RG2)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Shinfield
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
What affects the price in Shinfield
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Which survey package you book
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £400, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- The address and postcode of the property
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Nearby places to Shinfield
What else we do in Shinfield
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take an hour or two at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Shinfield, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
Flying and imaging in Shinfield
The drone we use is under 250g, flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: 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 Shinfield Infant and Nursery School, big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once. Stratfield Saye House, about 4.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shinfield. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey by drone or thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. In Shinfield, as across Reading, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Reading, large and small.
All of RG2 is covered for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Shinfield include Ryeish Green (1 mile south-west), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-west), Three Mile Cross (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile west) and Arborfield (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Caversham (5 miles north), Norcot (5 miles north-west), West Reading (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (3 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (5 miles north). Shinfield is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading.
Landmarks near Shinfield
We work in homes and buildings around Pearman's Copse, Ryeish Green School and Oakbank. The closest station to Shinfield is Reading Green Park station, about 2.6 miles north-west. Nearby you’ll also find Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Longwater and Sonning Hill.
Why get it checked now?
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Nothing is cracked or dislodged by footsteps, so you see the roof exactly as it is. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Shinfield, so it helps to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. A survey gives you that notice.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
- A photo-illustrated written report
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Questions from Shinfield
Is drone flying allowed in Shinfield?
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, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Is my home in Shinfield listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What’s in the survey report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
What happens after the survey?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Do you test for asbestos?
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 and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks and loose pots are easier to judge from above. Each defect is photographed for the report.
Ridges and hips
Ridges may be bedded in mortar or mechanically fixed. Their condition is noted in the report.