West Sussex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Thakeham
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Thakeham from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
Drone roof survey in Thakeham: what you get
A drone shows the outside of a roof very well, but it cannot see under the coverings or into the loft. We check the loft from inside where it’s safe, because the underside tells its own story. Inside and out together tell you far more. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. Where the loft can’t be reached safely, we note it. We survey fragile roofs, chimney stacks and tall and steep roofs, and people most often book us about flat roofs on upper floors that hold water and cracked mortar along the ridge.
In a small place like Thakeham, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Thakeham (RH20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
- Flights in strong wind or heavy rain
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Thakeham
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Also near Thakeham
What else we do in Thakeham
Drones, thermal imaging and Thakeham roofs
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Many roofs like these can’t be judged properly from the pavement, and that is where a view from above or a thermal image earns its place.
Parham House, about 3.6 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Thakeham. A drone or thermal survey does not involve any work on the roof, which suits older buildings. Take a building like Rydon Community College: big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help.
Thakeham is about 8 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. Thakeham is one of many places we visit across West Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Thakeham is one of the places in West Sussex where we work. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the RH20 postcode area for drone roof surveys. You’ll find streets like The Street, Bramble Lane and Cray's Lane, all of which we cover. Other places close to Thakeham include Abingworth (1 mile south-west), Warminghurst (1 mile south-east), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), West Chiltington (1 mile north-west) and Heath Common (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Crawley (15 miles north-east), Horsham (9 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (13 miles east) and Littlehampton (10 miles south-west).
Around Thakeham
For rail, the closest station is Pulborough station, about 4.1 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include The Storrington And District Museum (2.2 miles south-west). Not far away are Knepp Wildland and Chanctonbury Hill.
Common questions in Thakeham
Is my home in Thakeham listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Is Thakeham within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it is safe. We look at everything that can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Will the drone film my neighbours?
We point the camera at your roof only. Next door’s windows and gardens are kept out of shot as far as possible, and flights are kept short. It’s useful to tell neighbours beforehand.
Roof by roof
Ridges and hips
Loose ridge pieces can be lifted in a storm. Finding them early keeps them from coming down.
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. A drone shows linings, joints and build-ups of debris.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere like Thakeham needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- A date is fixed, with a fallback in case the weather turns.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- If the loft can be reached safely, it is checked too.
- Everything is written up, with the aerial photos and our advice.
How to prepare
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £400, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Thakeham. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
If you need work done, roofers can work from the photos. The photos show the location and extent of every problem.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. On tall buildings, use a professional with the right access equipment. Blocked hidden gutters cause many leaks.
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.