Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in St Margarets, Hertfordshire
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in St Margarets, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
About our drone roof survey in St Margarets
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see inside. We check the loft from inside where it is safe, since that’s 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. If there’s no safe loft access, the report says so. If you’re worried about outlets choked with leaves and silt and tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a small place like St Margarets, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- St Margarets (SG12)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
We’ll usually ask about:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What made you get in touch
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Landlords and agents in St Margarets book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
Flying and imaging in St Margarets
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like The Cranbourne Primary School, a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
St Margarets is about 2 miles south-east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in St Margarets and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes St Margarets and the places around it. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in SG12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Station Road, Woodham Way and Folly View and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Stanstead Abbotts (1 mile east), Great Amwell (1 mile north-west), Hailey (1 mile south-west), Little Amwell (1 mile west) and Woollensbrook (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (11 miles north-west), St Albans (14 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (9 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles west), Harpenden (15 miles west) and Cheshunt (6 miles south).
Near you in St Margarets
We work in homes and buildings around The John Warner School and Jolly Fisherman Public House and the streets around them. There is a railway station in St Margarets itself: St Margarets (Herts) station. A little further out are Barrowfield (2.1 miles north-west) and Museum of Street Lighting (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near St Margarets include Amwell Quarry.
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes between one and two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around St Margarets often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- We fly the sub-250g drone close to the roof and photograph each area.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know the cost up front. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Move stored items away from the hatch
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
There is a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Keep the roof space ventilated. Poor airflow lets condensation build up, and it’s something only an inside check will show. Make sure insulation doesn’t block the airflow.
FAQs for St Margarets
Do you cover smaller places like St Margarets?
Yes, St Margarets is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Is my home in St Margarets listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access as you book.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
When to book a survey in St Margarets
Many roofs are never seen properly from ground level. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Problems in those places frequently go unseen until they leak, which is why owners turn to a drone.
Common reasons to book include:
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Andrew: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their insurance cover
- What the survey will not cover
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Nearby places to St Margarets
What else we do in St Margarets
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from the ground. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Hidden gutters and valleys sit out of sight. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.