Hampshire · London and the South East
Sway Drone Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Drone roof surveys in Sway.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Wind damage high on the roof
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Sway
Drones need reasonable weather. We do not fly in strong wind or heavy rain, because control and safety come first. If the weather turns, we will agree another day or inspect what we can by other means. We check the forecast before the visit and again on site. Light wind and dry weather give the clearest close-up photos. Waiting for a better day is better than a rushed flight. If you’re worried about flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and slipped or missing slates on a high roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In smaller places like Sway, many homes are bungalows and houses with roofs you can partly see from the ground. The parts you cannot see, like rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. Both depend on the weather on the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images frequently show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that can’t be judged properly from ground level.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Sway (SO41)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Leaving a high roof unchecked means relying on what you can see from below. Close-up photos show what’s really there. It’s far easier to plan work when you can see the problem. In an older home around Sway, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £400, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Sway
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- A written report with photos
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Other services in Sway
Drones, thermal imaging and Sway roofs
Sway is within about 4 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Many roofs like these cannot be judged properly from the pavement, and that’s where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
If you live in an older home near St Luke's Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps. Take a building like St Luke's Church of England Primary School: thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Sway is about 3 miles north-west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Surveys in Sway work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Sway is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. There’s also a page for Southampton.
Every address in SO41 is within our area for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Station Road, Anderwood Drive and Cruse Close and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Mead End (1 mile west), Tiptoe (1 mile south-west), Hordle (2 miles south), Ashley (2 miles south-west) and Bashley (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Totton (10 miles north-east), Lymington (3 miles south-east), Romsey (15 miles north), Hythe (10 miles north-east), New Milton (3 miles south-west) and Ringwood (9 miles north-west).
What’s near Sway
In Sway, that means homes and buildings near Forest Heath Hotel and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Sway itself: Sway station. Nearby you will also find Lymington New Forest Hospital (2.9 miles south-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (3.3 miles south-west). The countryside around Sway includes Milford on Sea LNR.
How the survey changes by roof type
Steep slate and tile slopes
Walking on fragile coverings can break them. The drone sees them without touching them.
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Spotting them early stops them falling.
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a smaller place like Sway, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- We assess the wind, the weather and the surroundings before take-off.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- We email a written report with the photographs and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
What affects the price in Sway
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The size of the roof
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
- Mention anything you’ve noticed on the roof
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Let us know the exact address when booking
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly where each defect is, so their quotes cover the same ground.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor airflow lets condensation build up, and it’s something only an inside check will show. Make sure insulation does not block the airflow.
Sway: your questions answered
Will you come out to Sway?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Sway is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What happens next?
You’ll get the report by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Can a drone see inside my loft?
No. The drone photographs the outer surfaces, but not the loft or the underside. Where there’s safe access, we check the roof space from inside.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.