Essex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in The Green
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in The Green. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Coverings that have slipped high up on the roof
- Chimney tops in poor condition
Airspace, weather and The Green roofs
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons.
Take a building like Cressing Primary School: big roofs are where close-up aerial shots and thermal images show the most at once.
The Green is about 3 miles south of Braintree, in Essex. We carry out drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in The Green. Our Essex coverage includes The Green and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We cover every part of CM8 for drone roof surveys. We also cover the places around The Green: Black Notley (1 mile north-west), Tye Green (1 mile north-east), Hawbush Green (1 mile north-east), White Notley (1 mile south-east) and Long Green (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (14 miles east), Chelmsford (8 miles south-west), Braintree (3 miles north), Maldon (9 miles south-east), Witham (4 miles south-east) and Camulodunum (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in The Green
In The Green, that means homes and buildings near Braintree Sixth Form and The Plough pub, among other places. The Green’s nearest station is Cressing station, about 0.5 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include William Julien Courtauld Hospital (2.4 miles north-west) and Cressing Temple (1.7 miles east). The countryside around The Green includes Sandylay and Moat Woods.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in The Green
Tall, steep, large or fragile roofs cannot always be inspected up close. A drone takes close-up photographs of those roofs from the air. You see slates, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters in detail. The photos go into a written report. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. If we can’t fly, we tell you why. We survey chimney stacks, valleys and parapet gutters and large and complex roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and coverings that have slipped high up on the roof.
Somewhere as small as The Green, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. A drone and a thermal camera each give a view you can’t get from the ground. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- The Green (CM8)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- A structural engineer’s report
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Large and complex roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Chimney stacks
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around The Green often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You give us the address and tell us about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are checked.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- You receive a written report with the photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Getting a price
Prices start from £400, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Related advice
Signs you need a drone roof survey in The Green
The top of a stack is the most exposed part of many roofs. From the ground, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Flashings that have come away
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Barnabas, tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Will the report include photos?
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
What happens if roof problems are left?
It’s hard to plan maintenance for a roof nobody has looked at. Our report shows the condition of each area. That helps you put the work in order. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like The Green, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Why book with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Plain-English reports with photos
- An independent look at the roof
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Read our cost guide or our case studies.
Common questions in The Green
Can you fly a drone over a roof in The Green?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
Do you cover smaller places like The Green?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect what can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Also near The Green
Also in The Green
Useful tips for The Green property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
- Let neighbours know about the flight if your roof is shared
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Shut pets inside while we fly
There is a follow-up after 12 months with the Premium Survey. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year.
Look at the roof from the ground after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile on the ground mean something has moved. A drone can show exactly what has moved.