Greater London · London and the South East
Smithfield Drone Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Drone roof surveys in Smithfield, with photos and a clear written report.
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
- Chimney tops in poor condition
Drone roof survey in Smithfield: what you get
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it is not safe. If you’ve noticed flashings that have come away and outlets choked with leaves and silt, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
London’s roofs are frequently hard to see from the street: butterfly roofs behind parapets, dormer tops and flat roofs over back additions. That’s where a view from the air or a thermal camera helps, by showing what can’t be reached safely. The weather decides the day: both drones and thermal cameras need the right conditions. What a thermal image shows is temperature, so anything that looks like moisture is checked with a meter.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Smithfield (EC1V, EC1P, EC1R)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in Smithfield
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Any roof job in Smithfield means planning around parking, neighbours and access. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Package prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Also near Smithfield
Also in Smithfield
Flying and imaging in Smithfield
Smithfield is about 1 mile from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. If a roof falls inside it, we apply for permission before flying, and the flight only goes ahead if it’s granted. Within a mile and a half or so of Smithfield there are several hotels. If you look after one, a large roof can be surveyed without guests having anyone working above them.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Charterhouse Square School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. For hotels and guest houses around Smithfield, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest.
Smithfield is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. In Smithfield, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Smithfield is one of the places in Greater London where we work.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: EC1V, EC1P and EC1R. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Smithfield is on the A1 and A4, so it is easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Smithfield: Farringdon (1 mile north), Blackfriars (1 mile south), Holborn (1 mile west), Temple Bar (1 mile south-west) and Clerkenwell (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
Around Smithfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near London Nautical School, Barts Health Archives and St Alban's Church of England Primary School. You’ll also find St Mary-at-Hill (1 mile south-east), Oriole pub (within half a mile south-west) and Postman's Park (less than half a mile south-east). There is a railway station in Smithfield itself: Farringdon station. Well-known places in the area include Montfichet's Tower (under half a mile south) and Postal Museum (less than half a mile south-east). Green spaces nearby include Ludgate Hill and St. James's Park Lake.
Common roof problems in Smithfield
Steep and tall roofs are hard to inspect safely. Tall townhouses, blocks of flats and offices are typical. We fly from the ground and bring the camera close to the roof.
Look out for signs like these:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
If you live in an older home near St Bartholomew-the-Less, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What happens after the report arrives
Smithfield questions
Is parking a problem for a survey in Smithfield?
It can be, so it’s useful to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Is my home in Smithfield 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.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The conditions on the day decide whether a flight goes ahead. We will not fly in strong wind or heavy rain. If the weather turns, we will discuss another date.
How do I book a survey in Smithfield?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In Smithfield, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they frequently give the best view of a rear addition.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- We fly the drone close to the roof to photograph it in detail, always in sight.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
How to book
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
Checking the roof from the ground
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Tall and steep roofs
How the survey changes by roof type
Steep slate and tile slopes
Old slates and clay tiles can crack underfoot. The drone sees them without touching them, so the survey does not add damage.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Hidden gutters and valleys sit out of sight. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.