West Sussex · London and the South East
Southbourne Drone Roof Survey
Drone roof surveys around Southbourne, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Flashings that have come away
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Blistered or cracked flat roof coverings
Southbourne: your questions answered
Is my home in Southbourne listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is drone flying allowed in Southbourne?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we will explain what’s needed.
When does the report arrive?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
How long does the survey take?
It usually takes between one and two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
How a drone roof survey works in Southbourne
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see inside. Where there is safe access, we look in the roof space too, since that is where leaks and condensation frequently show first. Inside and out together tell you far more. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. If there’s no safe loft access, the report says so. We survey large and complex roofs, valleys and parapet gutters and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are vegetation in valleys and gutters and ponding and splits on a high flat roof.
Around Southbourne, older homes can have thin loft insulation and later additions with roofs of their own. A thermal image can show where heat is escaping or where moisture may be trapped, and drone photos show the roof surfaces themselves. Findings are checked with moisture readings where needed. Results depend on the weather, so the visit is planned around the forecast.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Southbourne (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Southbourne
Planning roof work without seeing the roof is a gamble. Our report shows the condition of each area. That helps you put the work in order. In a smaller place like Southbourne, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further.
For a price for your roof in Southbourne, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Let us know what you want to see
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
We email the report to you, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Keep the roof space ventilated. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Outlets, edges and roof plant are common problem areas. We photograph them closely.
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from the ground. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Drones, thermal imaging and Southbourne roofs
Southbourne is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. 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.
The streets around a church such as St. John's are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. With Warblington Castle about 2.5 miles west, the area around Southbourne has a long history. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera doesn’t touch the roof itself. If you look after a building such as Southbourne Junior School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Southbourne is about 4 miles east of Havant, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys in Southbourne for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Southbourne is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for drone roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Surveys in PO10 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Lodgebury Close, Manor Road and Northcote Gardens or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Southbourne include Woodmancote (1 mile north), Lumley (1 mile west), Westbourne (1 mile north-west), Emsworth (1 mile west) and Thorney Island (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (11 miles south-east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (10 miles south-east), Portfield (6 miles east), Yapton (13 miles east) and East Wittering (6 miles south).
Near you in Southbourne
Around Southbourne, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Traveller's Joy Public House, Eames Farm and Bourne Community College, among other places. Southbourne has its own railway station: Southbourne station. Well-known places in the area include Warblington Castle (2.5 miles west) and Emsworth Museum (1.3 miles west). Not far away are Stoke Down and Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
How the survey works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Southbourne, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- 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
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.