Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Swinford Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach around Swinford, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Eroded pointing on a chimney stack
- Flashings that have come away
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for the job before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Roof area
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
What to let us know when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
How a drone roof survey works in Swinford
Drones need reasonable weather. Strong wind or heavy rain rules out a flight, because control and safety come first. If the day turns out unsuitable, we’ll talk about another date or inspect what we can by other means. The forecast is checked ahead of the visit and again on the day. Light wind and dry weather give the clearest close-up photos. Waiting for a better day is better than a rushed flight. If you are worried about storm damage on steep or tall roofs and lead work pulling away at abutments, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, tall and steep roofs and valleys and parapet gutters alike.
In a small place like Swinford, open ground can mean strong wind. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with little wind. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Where
- Swinford (OX29)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about drone roof surveys in Swinford
Is drone flying allowed in Swinford?
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. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Is my home in Swinford listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. We will confirm the timing when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
What we are asked to look at in Swinford
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. Cracked flaunching, loose pots and eroded pointing are often invisible from below. A drone gets close enough to see them in detail.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
If you look after a building such as Eynsham Community Primary School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Questions to ask before you book
- When you’ll get the report
- What insurance they carry
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
Landlords, agents and block managers in Swinford
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Drone roof surveys in Swinford: local notes
Appleton Manor, about 4.4 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Swinford. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Steep or complicated roofs are frequently hard to see from ground level, which is where close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Leonard, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Swinford is about 6 miles west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Swinford, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Swinford is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for drone roof surveys. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in OX29 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you are just outside Swinford, we cover Eynsham (1 mile north-west), Farmoor (1 mile south-east), Cassington (1 mile north-east), Filchampstead (2 miles south) and Wytham (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (6 miles east), Didcot (12 miles south-east), Bicester (12 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south-east), Witney (6 miles west) and Carterton (10 miles west).
Near you in Swinford
Around Swinford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Talbot Public House and Attached Stable and Bartholomew School, among other places. Swinford’s nearest station is Hanborough station, about 3.6 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Oxford Castle and earlier settlement remains (4.4 miles east) and Oxford Bus Museum (3.6 miles north). The countryside around Swinford includes Cumnor Hill and Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around Swinford often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You give us the address and let us know about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
The drone shows the outside of the stack, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If the flue needs a specialist, we’ll tell you.
Large commercial roofs
Fragile roof sheets and roof lights can be dangerous to walk on. A drone keeps everyone off them.