West Berkshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Silchester, West Berkshire
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Silchester. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Wind damage high on the roof
Drone roof survey in Silchester: what you get
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Flight restriction zones around airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Central London has restricted areas of its own, which need NATS permission. If permission isn’t given, we inspect by other means and explain why. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. Typical surveys look at ridge and hip pieces working loose and lead work pulling away at abutments, across chimney stacks, tall and steep roofs and fragile roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Silchester are listed or in a conservation area. A look from above or with a thermal imager does not touch the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof, before anyone decides what work it needs. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Silchester (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Silchester
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
DIY checks: what’s safe
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.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What affects the price in Silchester
We confirm the price for your survey before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Our price is from £400, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What to let us know when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. In a small place like Silchester, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. 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.
- Aerial photos are taken of your roof only, not the neighbours’.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it’s checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Silchester
From the pavement, most of a tall roof is out of sight. You cannot see the back slope, the valleys or the chimney tops. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
If you look after a building such as Silchester Church of England Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before booking anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Drone roof surveys around Silchester
The wider area around Silchester has a long history of building, with The Vyne about 3.3 miles south. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Saint Luke's Church, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Silchester is about 2 miles east of Tadley, in West Berkshire. If you’re in Silchester, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
All of RG7 is within our area for drone roof surveys. Streets in the area include Little London Road, Romans Field and Dukes Ride, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Pamber Heath (1 mile north-west), Aldermaston Soke (1 mile north-west), Old Warren (2 miles north-west), Little London (2 miles south) and Pamber Green (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (10 miles west), Thatcham (8 miles north-west), Burghfield Common (4 miles north-east), Speenhamland (10 miles west), Spencers Wood (6 miles north-east) and Calcot (6 miles north).
Local landmarks in Silchester
Around Silchester, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Padworth Common Local Nature Reserve. The nearest railway station is Bramley (Hants) station, about 2.4 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital (5.1 miles south) and Calleva Museum (under half a mile north-east). Open spaces near Silchester include Hosehill Lake.
Places near Silchester
Other services in Silchester
Common questions in Silchester
Are there drone restrictions around Silchester?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
Will you come out to Silchester?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
What do I do with the report?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Why act early in Silchester
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 small place like Silchester, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Package prices that include VAT
- Photographs and a written report every time
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.