Surrey · London and the South East
Staines-upon-Thames Drone Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out drone roof surveys in Staines-upon-Thames and across Surrey.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- A structural engineer’s report
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Staines-upon-Thames
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
How a drone roof survey works in Staines-upon-Thames
Before any flight, we check the airspace. Near protected airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If permission isn’t given, we inspect by other means and tell you. Prisons have their own drone restriction zones too. Typical surveys look at storm damage on steep or tall roofs and coverings that have slipped high up on the roof, across chimney stacks, large and complex roofs and tall and steep roofs.
Around a town like Staines-upon-Thames, steep roofs, tall gables and rear slopes are often hidden from ground level. Close-up drone photos and thermal images show what binoculars from the pavement can’t. Both depend on the weather on the day, so the date is set with the forecast in mind. Rear slopes over back additions are a common example, as they’re rarely visible from the street.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Staines-upon-Thames (TW18, TW20, TW19)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Staines-upon-Thames
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Staines-upon-Thames and across Surrey can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Also near Staines-upon-Thames
More services for Staines-upon-Thames
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. A typical visit in Staines-upon-Thames begins with the street side of the roof and then moves round the building. The back garden is often where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Staines-upon-Thames questions
How do I find out if my home in Staines-upon-Thames is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Staines-upon-Thames?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Staines-upon-Thames is about 1 mile from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Heathrow Airport. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Will you check the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Flying and imaging in Staines-upon-Thames
The flight restriction zone around Heathrow Airport comes within about 1 mile of Staines-upon-Thames. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from ground level, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Botleys Mansion, about 4 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Staines-upon-Thames. Close-up aerial shots and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Riverbridge Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Staines-upon-Thames is about 7 miles south-west of Hayes, in Surrey. Wherever you are in Staines-upon-Thames, we can come and survey your property. Our area takes in places right across Surrey. Guildford is in our area too.
All of TW18, TW20 and TW19 is covered for drone roof surveys. You’ll find streets like High Street, Goring's Square and London Road, and we cover them all. With the A308 and A320 close by, Staines-upon-Thames is easy for us to reach for drone roof surveys. Other places close to Staines-upon-Thames include Egham Hythe (1 mile south-west), Penton Hook (2 miles south), Hythe End (2 miles north-west), Egham (2 miles west) and Thorpe (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (13 miles south), Woking (8 miles south), Camberley (12 miles south-west), Epsom (12 miles south-east), Ewell (12 miles south-east) and Walton-on-Thames (5 miles south-east).
Around Staines-upon-Thames
We work in homes and buildings around The Star pub, Penton Park and The Magna Carta School and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Staines-upon-Thames itself: Staines station. Other landmarks nearby include Ashford Hospital (1.8 miles north-east) and Spelthorne Museum (0.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Staines-upon-Thames includes Staines Reservoirs and Kempton Park Reservoirs.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Staines-upon-Thames
A drone survey disturbs nothing on the roof. Fragile slates and tiles stay as they are, so the survey doesn’t create new problems. Around Staines-upon-Thames, water from a roof defect often goes unseen for a while, such as the loft insulation, the top of a wall or the roof timbers. By the time it shows inside, the job has grown.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- 20+ years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Flat roof coverings wear out at different rates. Photos show how the covering is wearing.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep roofs are risky to walk on. A drone photographs them closely from a safe position.