Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in The Willows, Hertfordshire
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in The Willows. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Ponding and splits on a high flat roof
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in The Willows
The weather decides whether a drone can fly. We do not fly in strong wind or a downpour, because control and safety come first. If the day turns out unsuitable, we will talk about another date or inspect what we can by other means. We check the forecast ahead of the visit and again on site. Calm, dry conditions give the sharpest close-up photos. A short delay is better than a rushed flight. We are frequently asked to look into blistered or cracked flat roof coverings and lifted or split lead flashings, on flat roofs on upper floors, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs.
Somewhere as small as The Willows, older roofs are often steep and partly hidden by trees or outbuildings. Close-up drone photos and thermal images help show what can’t be reached safely. Both the forecast and the airspace are checked first. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- The Willows (SG9)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in The Willows
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Older slates and tiles break easily, and fragile sheet roofs are dangerous to walk on. With a drone, the roof is photographed without anyone stepping on it.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Moss and weeds taking hold up top
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Furneux Pelham Church of England School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you get a written report with photos
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
For a price for your roof in The Willows, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Anything about access we should know
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Nearby places to The Willows
Also in The Willows
Drones, thermal imaging and The Willows roofs
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so check with the council.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
The Willows is about 5 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in The Willows can all book drone roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
All of SG9 is covered for drone roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Ginns Road and The Wash, and we cover them all. If you are just outside The Willows, we cover Stocking Pelham (1 mile north-east), Berden (2 miles north-east), Uppend (2 miles south-east), Starling's Green (2 miles north-east) and Mount Pleasant (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles south-east), Hoddesdon (13 miles south), Hertford (12 miles south-west), Letchworth (14 miles west) and Ware (10 miles south-west).
Near you in The Willows
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Cock pub, among other places. The closest station to The Willows is Stansted Mountfitchet station, roughly 4.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Brent Pelham (2.2 miles north-west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (5.6 miles south-east). The countryside around The Willows includes Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.
Can I check my roof myself?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Around The Willows, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by checking the airspace and any restrictions at your address.
- Where a flight restriction zone or restricted area applies, we seek permission first.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photographs of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Find any records of previous roof work
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically, so nothing is skipped.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber around 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We record the signs of age we can see.
Your questions about drone roof surveys in The Willows
Can you fly a drone over a roof in The Willows?
It depends on the exact address and the weather 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 strong wind or heavy rain.
How do I find out if my home in The Willows is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Will you check the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Do you work in The Willows?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes The Willows.
Landlord and commercial surveys in The Willows
Landlords and letting agents in The Willows book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.