West Berkshire · London and the South East
Thatcham Drone Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Drone roof surveys in Thatcham, with photos and a clear written report.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have gone
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Thatcham
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail, including slopes that cannot be seen from the street. The photos go into a written report. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. Where a flight is not possible, we explain why. Typical surveys look at debris building up in hidden gutters and ridge and hip pieces working loose, on large and complex roofs, fragile roofs and flat roofs on upper floors.
Around a town like Thatcham, steep roofs, tall gables and rear slopes are often hidden from the ground. A drone can take close-up photos of them, and thermal imaging can show patterns of heat loss or trapped moisture. Each needs the right weather, so the date is set with the forecast in mind. A typical example is the rear slope over a back addition, which can’t be seen from the street.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Thatcham (RG19, RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Be ready to move the date if the weather turns
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Book early if you’re near an airport
- Tell us the exact address as you book
File the report and photos with your home documents. They’re a useful baseline for future surveys.
Every so frequently, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. The underside often shows problems before the outside does. Photograph anything new.
Different roofs, different checks
Ridges and hips
The ridge takes wind from both sides. From above, we can see loose ridges and missing mortar.
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates frequently point to corroded nails. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Thatcham
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Common questions in Thatcham
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Thatcham?
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, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Thatcham?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you look in the roof space?
Typically, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
How do I arrange a drone roof survey in Thatcham?
To book, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Airspace, weather and Thatcham roofs
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up aerial photos and thermal images help. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near United Reformed Church, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where aerial photos and thermal images help. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Spurcroft Primary School, big roofs are where photos from the air and thermal images show the most at once. Historic houses such as Shaw House, about 2.7 miles west, show how far back building around Thatcham goes. For older roofs nearby, a look from above or with a thermal imager is a hands-off way to check condition.
Thatcham is about 12 miles north-west of Basingstoke, in West Berkshire. We visit Thatcham as part of our work across West Berkshire, for homes and businesses alike. Thatcham is one of the places in West Berkshire where we work for drone roof surveys. There is also a page for Reading.
We work across RG19 and RG18 for drone roof surveys. We offer drone roof surveys to properties on High Street, Station Road and Flagstaff Square. Thatcham sits on or near the A4. Close by, we survey roofs in Benham Hill (1 mile west), Ashmore Green (2 miles north-west), Cold Ash (2 miles north), Upper Bucklebury (2 miles north-east) and Stone Copse (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Newbury (3 miles west), Burghfield Common (8 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles west), Hungerford (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (12 miles east) and Calcot (9 miles east). As one of the bigger places in West Berkshire, Thatcham has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Near you in Thatcham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Kennet School and The Old Chequers Public House and the streets around them. Thatcham’s nearest station is Thatcham station, roughly 0.9 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.2 miles south-west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.5 miles west). Not far away are Nature Discovery Centre.
How it works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can be seen safely, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. In Thatcham, many roofs join a neighbour’s, so we look at what can be seen of the shared parts from your side. Tell us about any known leaks, past repairs or building work when you book.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
Why it is worth a survey now in Thatcham
From the ground, you are guessing about most of a tall roof. Close-up photos show what’s really there. It is far easier to plan work when you can see the problem. Once water reaches the loft insulation in a home in Thatcham, it loses much of its value and is slow to dry. That is an extra cost on top of the roof work itself.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why book us in Thatcham
- A report with photographs
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.