Kent · London and the South East
Smarden Drone Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Smarden, with photos and a written report.
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Smarden
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see under the coverings or into the loft. Where there is safe access, we look in the loft space too, since that is where leaks and condensation often show first. Inside and out together tell you far more. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. Where the loft can’t be reached safely, we note it. Common reasons to book are storm damage on steep or tall roofs and lifted or split lead flashings, across tall and steep roofs, chimney stacks and large and complex roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Smarden are listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Smarden (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Smarden questions
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Smarden?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Smarden is about 3 miles from Headcorn Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
Do you cover smaller places like Smarden?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How soon will I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Places near Smarden
What else we do in Smarden
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Smarden often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You give us the address and let us know about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so you see the roof exactly as it is. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Smarden
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Prices that include VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we are surveying
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
Flying and imaging in Smarden
Smarden is about 3 miles from Headcorn Aerodrome, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help.
Take a building like Smarden Primary School: a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Wherever you are in Smarden, we can carry out drone roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Smarden is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
We work across the TN27 postcode area for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Smarden
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Chequers Inn, among other places. The closest station to Smarden is Pluckley station, roughly 2.6 miles east. A little further out are Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
Common roof problems in Smarden
Large roofs take a long time to see on foot. A drone can photograph a large roof methodically. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
Take an older house close to Church of St Michael: thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Before you book anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Let us know what you want to see
- Expect us to rearrange if it’s too windy or wet
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
You get an in-person consultation with the Premium Survey to talk through the photos and findings. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, so small faults are dealt with early.