Essex · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Theydon Garnon
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Theydon Garnon from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Loose ridge and hip tiles
- Plant growth and moss on the roof
About our drone roof survey in Theydon Garnon
Some roofs are hard or unsafe to reach. A drone takes close-up photos of those roofs from the air. It shows coverings, ridges, chimneys, valleys and gutters clearly. The photos go into a written report. It also suits roofs that would be damaged by someone walking on them. Where a flight isn’t possible, we explain why. We survey chimney stacks, flat roofs on upper floors and tall and steep roofs, and people most frequently book us about storm damage on steep or tall roofs and chimney tops in poor condition.
Older buildings in small places like Theydon Garnon may be listed or in a conservation area. Neither a drone survey nor a thermal survey involves any work on the roof, so it is a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Location
- Theydon Garnon (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Theydon Garnon can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- We check the airspace and seek any permission needed.
- Before take-off, the wind, the weather and the launch spot are looked at.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Before the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
Why get it checked now?
Photos from a drone survey show how the roof looks today. Next time, you can compare and see what has moved or worn. It helps when you plan ahead. In a small place like Theydon Garnon, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £400, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT.
Why us?
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Visits on any day of the week
- 20+ years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Questions from Theydon Garnon
Are there drone restrictions around Theydon Garnon?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Stapleford Aerodrome is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Theydon Garnon?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Will you check the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Checking the roof from ground level
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. Do not go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Roof area
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Useful tips for Theydon Garnon property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Tell us the exact address when booking
- Allow time for permission if you’re in a flight restriction zone
- Let us know what you want to see
- Allow for a change of day in poor weather
We email the report to you, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- A flight on a day when the weather isn’t safe
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
What a drone roof survey looks like in Theydon Garnon
Stapleford Aerodrome is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. About 1.2 miles east lies Hill Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Theydon Garnon has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of All Saints, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Theydon Bois Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Theydon Garnon is about 3 miles north-east of Loughton, in Essex. Surveys in Theydon Garnon work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London.
Here we cover the CM16 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Hobbs Cross (1 mile east), Steward's Green (1 mile north), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile north), Abridge (1 mile south) and Ivy Chimneys (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Harlow (7 miles north), Brentwood (8 miles east), Billericay (13 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (5 miles west) and Harold Wood (7 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Theydon Garnon
In Theydon Garnon, that means homes and buildings near Davenant Foundation School and The Bull Public House, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Epping Signalling Museum (1.6 miles north) and St. Margaret's Hospital (2.3 miles north). For a walk, there’s Home Mead and Lippitts Hill.