Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Totland
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a drone roof survey in Totland and across the Isle of Wight.
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
Common questions in Totland
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Totland?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. 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 Totland within the area you cover?
Yes. Totland is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
How do I book a survey in Totland?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Are there drone restrictions in central London?
It depends where in central London. Restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs need NATS permission before a flight. We check each address first, and fall back on other viewpoints if we cannot fly.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Drone roof surveys for homes and businesses in Totland
Drone surveys suit tall houses, blocks of flats, steep roofs and large commercial roofs. They also suit fragile roofs that nobody should walk on, such as old slate, clay tiles or cement sheets. The roof is photographed without being disturbed. We check the airspace for your address ahead of the visit. We will tell you if another approach would work better. Common reasons to book are ridge pieces that have lifted and storm damage on steep or tall roofs, on fragile roofs, large and complex roofs and tall and steep roofs.
Around Totland, lots of roofs are low enough to see partly from the garden or the street. The parts you can’t see, such as rear slopes, valleys and chimney tops, are where a drone or thermal camera adds detail. The forecast decides the day, as calm, dry conditions suit both. Close-up images frequently show wear on ridges, verges and flashings that can’t be judged properly from the ground.
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.
- Where
- Totland (PO39, PO40)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Drones, thermal imaging and Totland roofs
Totland is within about 1 mile of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Thatch survives on some older Isle of Wight buildings, and the whole island is open to sea air and wind. Steep or complicated roofs are often hard to see from the ground, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Christ Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from the ground, and that’s where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps.
Totland is about 5 miles south of Lymington, in the Isle of Wight. In Totland, as across the Isle of Wight, every roof gets the same careful survey. Totland is one of the places in the Isle of Wight we cover. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Drone roof surveys in PO39 and PO40 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Meadow Barn Close, Ward Road and Weston Road or a nearby road, we can help. Main roads around Totland include the B3322, which makes travel easy. Close by, we survey roofs in Colwell (1 mile north-east), Freshwater (1 mile east), Easton (1 mile east), Norton Green (1 mile north-east) and Afton (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (11 miles east), Cowes (12 miles north-east), East Cowes (12 miles north-east), Barton (11 miles east), Hunny Hill (11 miles east) and Cross Lane (11 miles east). Harder-to-reach addresses take a little more planning, so tell us where you are when booking.
Landmarks near Totland
In Totland, that means homes and buildings near Colwell Bay Inn, among other places. A little further out are Yarmouth Castle (2.5 miles north-east) and Dimbola Museum And Galleries (1.2 miles south-east). Open spaces near Totland include Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve and Tennyson Down.
What we can’t see
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Photos in conditions too poor to fly
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Chimney tops are hard to see from ground level. A drone gets close to the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
Steep slate and tile slopes
Widespread slipping on slate normally means nail fatigue. We can see the extent of it from above.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Our price is from £400, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Anything about access we should know
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Common roof problems in Totland
From the pavement, most of a tall roof is out of sight. Rear slopes, valleys and the tops of chimneys are hidden. Problems in those places often go unseen until they leak.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Moss building up on slopes and in gutters
Anyone responsible for a site like St Saviour's Catholic Primary School will know that a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Before you book anyone
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What they will not be able to tell you
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a smaller place like Totland, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- If permission is needed, we ask for it before the visit.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The sub-250g drone takes close-up photos of the roof, kept in sight throughout.
- We email a written report with the photographs and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
For a price for drone roof surveys in Totland, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.