West Sussex · London and the South East
Watersfield Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach across Watersfield, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Storm damage on steep or tall roofs
What a drone roof survey looks like in Watersfield
Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight.
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Giles: steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from above or with a thermal imager helps.
Watersfield is about 8 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We carry out drone roof surveys in Watersfield for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our West Sussex coverage includes Watersfield. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: RH20. That includes homes and businesses on London Road, Chapel Close and River Lane. We also cover the places around Watersfield: Coldwaltham (1 mile north-east), Lower Horncroft (1 mile north), West Burton (1 mile south-west), Coates (2 miles north-west) and Bury (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Watersfield
Around Watersfield, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St James' CofE Primary School and The Labouring Man pub, among other places. The closest station to Watersfield is Pulborough station, about 2.5 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (2.5 miles south) and Coates Castle (1.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
Drone roof survey in Watersfield: what you get
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. We keep the camera on the roof we are surveying, not on neighbouring homes and gardens. If your roof is joined to a neighbour’s, it is worth letting them know about the visit. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we are there to survey. If you’ve noticed lead work pulling away at abutments and cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Watersfield, open ground can mean strong wind. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. The visit is planned around the forecast, along with the journey and access. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Watersfield (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Watersfield
What else we do in Watersfield
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Let us know about any leaks or concerns
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Check there’s room outside for the drone to take off
Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos from the flight. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in the loft can damage timbers and insulation, and it is something only an inside check will show. Keep insulation clear of the eaves.
What we cannot see
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Flying in a flight restriction zone without the airport’s permission
- Close-up photos of next door’s property
- The underside of the roof (that needs an inside check)
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Large and complex roofs
Checking the roof from the ground
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Signs you need a drone roof survey in Watersfield
Not every roof can take a person’s weight. Older slates and tiles break easily, and some sheet roofs are fragile. A drone lets us see them closely without touching them.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Slates or tiles shifted by high winds
- Cracked slates and tiles out of sight from below
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
Bignor Roman Villa, about 1.8 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Watersfield. Photos from the air and thermal images let an old roof be checked without anyone disturbing it.
What to check before booking
- What the survey won’t cover
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
FAQs for Watersfield
Is drone flying allowed in Watersfield?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Do you cover smaller places like Watersfield?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are 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.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. The written report follows by email.
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It normally takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. In a hamlet or village like Watersfield, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the address and what you’d like checked.
- Airspace restrictions are checked and permission sought where needed.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- The drone photographs the roof closely, kept in sight throughout.
- The findings, photos and recommendations reach you by email.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
Related advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
From ground level, you’re guessing about most of a tall roof. A drone replaces that guesswork with clear photos, slope by slope. Seeing the problem makes it easier to decide what to do. Around Watersfield, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- 20+ years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.