West Sussex · London and the South East
Somerley Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Somerley, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
- Blocked valleys and parapet gutters
Surveys for landlords and agents in Somerley
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Drone roof survey in Somerley
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. The camera stays on your roof, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is joined to a neighbour’s, it is worth letting them know about the visit. We survey the roof you’ve asked us to look at. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we’re there to survey. We survey flat roofs on upper floors, chimney stacks and tall and steep roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below and chimney tops in poor condition.
Somewhere as small as Somerley, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what cannot be reached safely. Weather and airspace are checked before the visit. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Somerley (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Somerley
Parapet gutters, box gutters and central valleys sit out of sight. Leaves, silt and plant growth build up unseen, until it causes a leak inside. From above, they’re easy to see.
People usually book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
Take a building like Birdham CE Primary School: big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Which limits apply to the survey
Nearby places to Somerley
Other services in Somerley
What we can’t see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A structural engineer’s report
- Flights in a restricted zone without permission
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roofs on upper floors
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Tell us about any leaks or concerns
- Tell us the exact address when you book
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
The Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation to go through what the drone showed. You can ask about anything that is not clear.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Regular photos make changes easy to spot, so small faults are dealt with early.
Drone roof surveys around Somerley
Somerley is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Take an older house close to St James' Church: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that’s where a view by drone or thermal camera helps.
Somerley is about 4 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. We cover Somerley and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across West Sussex, we cover Somerley and the places around it. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO20 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Bell Lane and Hundredsteddle Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover Almodington (1 mile south-east), Birdham (1 mile north-east), Shipton Green (1 mile north-west), Earnley (1 mile south) and East Wittering (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (4 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Local landmarks in Somerley
In Somerley, that means homes and buildings near The Birdham Public House, among other places. The closest station to Somerley is Fishbourne station, about 4 miles north. A little further out are Chichester Castle (4.9 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (5.2 miles north-east). The countryside around Somerley includes Pilsey Island.
Questions from Somerley
Do you cover smaller places like Somerley?
Yes, Somerley is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Somerley?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
When does the report arrive?
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 does a drone roof survey take?
It typically takes between one and two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Time for the pre-flight checks is included.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Does your drone take thermal images?
Not as part of the drone survey, which is about close-up photos. For thermal imaging, look at the Premium Survey or our thermal roof survey, and its findings are checked with moisture readings.
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes about one to two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a hamlet or village like Somerley, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are looked at.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Why it is worth a survey now in Somerley
Photographing a roof from the air doesn’t touch it. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Around Somerley, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Somerley
- Photographs and a written report every time
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent look at the roof
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.