West Sussex · London and the South East
Southwater Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Southwater, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Drone roof survey in Southwater: what you get
They suit tall buildings, steep or large roofs and roofs that are hard to see from ground level. They’re useful where walking on the roof could damage it or is not safe. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. Ahead of the visit, we check the address for any airspace restrictions that apply. If a drone isn’t the right tool, we will say so. We survey flat roofs on upper floors, valleys and parapet gutters and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below and vegetation in valleys and gutters.
Around Southwater, older homes can have thin loft insulation and later additions with roofs of their own. Thermal patterns and close-up photos together give a fuller picture of the roof. Anything that looks like moisture is checked with a meter. Calm, dry weather suits both methods, so the date is set with the forecast in mind.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Southwater (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Southwater
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 around your tenants.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Southwater
Big commercial and industrial roofs cover a lot of ground. The drone covers the surface area by area. You see the whole roof, not just the parts near an access point.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Take an older house close to Holy Innocents Church: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Places near Southwater
Other services in Southwater
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Being in a smaller place like Southwater doesn’t change how the visit works: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. It is useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we’re surveying.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
There’s a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It shows whether anything has moved or worn since the first visit, and whether work has done its job.
Have high or hard-to-reach roofs surveyed every few years. Comparing surveys shows what is wearing, so small faults are dealt with early.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Southwater
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. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Southwater Infant Academy, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys in Southwater for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Southwater is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the RH13 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Whether your property is on Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
Local landmarks in Southwater
In Southwater, that means homes and buildings near The Lintot pub and The Doyle School of Design and Technology. For rail, the closest station is Christs Hospital station, roughly 1.9 miles north-west. Nearby you’ll also find Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). The countryside around Southwater includes Knepp Wildland.
What we look for on each type of roof
Large commercial roofs
Cement sheet roofs on buildings from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag it in the report and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Blocked outlets in hidden gutters cause many leaks. Outlets and any debris around them are photographed.
FAQs for Southwater
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Southwater?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in Southwater listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photos. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
What affects the price in Southwater
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £400, including VAT.
What we need to know
What helps most when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.