Essex · London and the South East
Willows Green Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Willows Green, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Lead work pulling away at abutments
How a drone roof survey works in Willows Green
Every flight starts with an airspace check. Flight restriction zones around airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and London City need permission from the airport or air traffic control. Parts of central London have restricted areas too, where NATS permission is needed. If we cannot fly, we use other safe vantage points instead and explain why. Prison sites also have drone restriction zones. We are frequently asked to look into plant growth and moss on the roof and slipped or missing slates on a high roof, on chimney stacks, tall and steep roofs and fragile roofs.
Some older homes in villages like Willows Green are listed or in a conservation area. A look by drone or thermal camera does not touch the roof, which suits a building where any change needs care. Check with the council before planning any work on a listed building or one in a conservation area.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Willows Green (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Willows Green
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How big the roof is
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
What we look for on each type of roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
Steep slopes are hard to inspect safely on foot. A drone photographs them closely from a safe position, showing slipped, cracked and missing pieces.
Valleys and parapet gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. It’s almost impossible to see from the ground, but a drone shows it clearly.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Willows Green
Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so the council is the place to ask.
Whether the property is in Willows Green itself or nearby, the inspection covers whatever is safely visible, inside and out. Around Willows Green, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Willows Green is about 4 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. We carry out drone roof surveys in Willows Green for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Willows Green is one of the places in Essex we cover. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CM3 postcode area for drone roof surveys. If you need a drone roof survey at a property on Main Road and Evelyn Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for drone roof surveys include Bannister Green (2 miles north-west), Little Leighs (2 miles south), Watch House Green (2 miles north-west), Blake End (2 miles north-west) and Causeway End (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (8 miles south), Braintree (4 miles north-east), Maldon (11 miles south-east), Witham (7 miles south-east), Halstead (9 miles north-east) and Great Dunmow (6 miles west).
What’s near Willows Green
We work in homes and buildings around Cuckoo Wood, among other places. The nearest railway station is Braintree station, roughly 3.1 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (3.7 miles north-east) and William Julien Courtauld Hospital (2.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
Places near Willows Green
Other services in Willows Green
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older rural homes like those around Willows Green can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We confirm whether a drone suits your roof.
- We agree a date, including weekends, subject to the weather.
- The roof is photographed from the air, with the camera kept on your property.
- Where there is safe access, we check the loft as well.
- You get photos, findings and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Let us know what you want to see
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Give us the full address so we can check the airspace
Your report arrives by email, including the close-up photos taken by the drone. Each finding is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Willows Green: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Willows Green is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. 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 drone flying allowed in Willows Green?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
What happens next?
You’ll receive the report by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is 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.