West Sussex · London and the South East
West Thorney Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in West Thorney, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Damage after a storm that cannot be seen from below
- Chimney tops in poor condition
- Ridge pieces that have lifted
What you can safely check yourself
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.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.
How a drone roof survey works in West Thorney
A drone can see more than your roof, so we take care. The camera stays on your roof, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is shared, a word with next door beforehand helps. We survey the roof you’ve asked us to look at. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we are there to survey. Common reasons to book are chimney tops in poor condition and flat roofs on upper floors that hold water, on valleys and parapet gutters, tall and steep roofs and flat roofs on upper floors.
Somewhere as small as West Thorney, 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. Weather and airspace are looked at before the visit. Older roofs with steep slopes and tall chimneys are where the extra view helps most.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- West Thorney (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for West Thorney
Is drone flying allowed in West Thorney?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions 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.
Is my home in West Thorney listed or in a conservation area?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £400, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Do you cover West Thorney?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes West Thorney.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Somewhere as small as West Thorney, access is frequently 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, we check whether a drone is the right tool.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting.
- We fly over the roof, keeping the camera on the property we are surveying.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the loft as well.
- The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Drone roof survey starts from £400, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in West Thorney
Landlords and letting agents in West Thorney book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Prices for drone roof surveys in West Thorney
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Helping us price your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- When you need the report by
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Places near West Thorney
More services for West Thorney
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Flights in strong wind or a downpour
- A structural engineer’s report
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in West Thorney
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Fragile roofs
- Tall and steep roofs
- Large and complex roofs
Roof by roof
Valleys and parapet gutters
Valleys and parapet gutters are hidden from the street. From above, we can see the linings, the joints and any debris.
Large commercial roofs
Large commercial roofs cover a lot of ground. A drone photographs the whole surface methodically.
What a drone roof survey looks like in West Thorney
West Thorney lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Older coverings on steep or tall roofs are hard to judge from below, so close-up close-up aerial shots and thermal images help.
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Nicholas: tall stacks and steep slopes are easier to judge with close-up aerial photos than from the pavement. Take a building like Thorney Island Community Primary School: a drone or thermal camera can show a large roof in a single visit. Warblington Castle lies about 3.1 miles north-west, so building around West Thorney goes back a long way. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from the ground, and a survey by drone or thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
West Thorney is about 5 miles south-east of Havant, in West Sussex. We cover West Thorney and the rest of West Sussex. West Thorney is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
All of PO10 is within our area for drone roof surveys. We also cover the places around West Thorney: Thorney Island (1 mile north-west), Tye (2 miles west), Southbourne (2 miles north), North Hayling (2 miles west) and Northney (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (10 miles east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west), Portfield (7 miles east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in West Thorney
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Eames Farm and Bourne Community College, among other places. West Thorney’s nearest station is Southbourne station, roughly 2.2 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Emsworth Museum (2.5 miles north-west) and Warblington Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near West Thorney include Nutborne Marshes.