Medway · London and the South East
Drone Roof Survey in Upper Upnor
An experienced roof surveyor for drone roof surveys in Upper Upnor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
How a drone roof survey works in Upper Upnor
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Near protected airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, flight restriction zones mean permission is needed first. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If permission is not given, we inspect by other means and explain why. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. We are often asked to look into moss building up on slopes and in gutters and wind damage high on the roof, across valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and tall and steep roofs.
In a small place like Upper Upnor, open ground can mean strong wind. High wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. A change in the forecast can mean moving the visit to another day.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Upper Upnor (ME2)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of drone roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- 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
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- What’s prompted the survey
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
When you need someone else
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Flights in strong wind or a downpour
- Roofs and gardens beyond the one we’re surveying
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Tall and steep roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Large and complex roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Valleys and parapet gutters
What we look for on each type of roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. You can’t see it from the street at all, but a drone shows it clearly.
Large commercial roofs
Many commercial roofs have fragile sheets or roof lights. With a drone, nobody has to go near them.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Somewhere as small as Upper Upnor, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- We assess the conditions and the take-off spot first.
- 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
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Drone roof surveys around Upper Upnor
Upper Upnor is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. With Restoration House about 1.6 miles south-west, Upper Upnor sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
For hotels and guest houses around Upper Upnor, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition. For an older house near a landmark such as St Philip & St James, older roofs can be steep and hard to see from the street, which is where photos from the air and thermal images help. Anyone responsible for a site like Wainscott Primary School will know that a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit.
Upper Upnor is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. We visit Upper Upnor as part of our work across Medway, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Upper Upnor is one of the places in Medway we cover for drone roof surveys. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Surveys in ME2 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on High Street, Upnor Road and Castle Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Upnor (1 mile north-east), Wainscott (1 mile north-west), Chattenden (1 mile north), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles north-east) and Cooling Street (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Chatham (3 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Luton (3 miles south), Park Wood (5 miles south-east) and Lordswood (5 miles south).
What’s near Upper Upnor
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Kings Arms, Lower Lines Park and Waterfront University Technical College. Other local landmarks include Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (1.4 miles south) and Waterfront UTC (1.3 miles south-east). The closest station to Upper Upnor is Strood station, roughly 1.2 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find French Hospital (1.5 miles south-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.6 miles south). Open spaces near Upper Upnor include Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
Questions from Upper Upnor
Is drone flying allowed in Upper Upnor?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Upnor?
Yes, Upper Upnor is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Why it is worth a survey now in Upper Upnor
With drone photos, everyone can see the same thing. You can show exactly where the problem is, which helps when you ask for quotes. Older and listed buildings around Upper Upnor may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Photos and a written report every time