What Does a Roof Survey Involve? (Plus Drone Surveys Explained)
By Leonard Walton, owner & lead roofer3 min read
Before you spend a penny on a roof, someone needs to look at it properly — and a good survey is what stops you paying for the wrong thing. A proper roof survey checks the covering, the flashings and chimney, the valleys and gutters, and the loft below, then tells you honestly whether you need a repair, a section renewed, or a full re-roof. Ours is free, no-obligation, and where it helps we do it from the air.
What we're actually looking at
- The covering — slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates, and the state of the fixings.
- Flashings and the chimney — the lead detailing, flaunching and pointing where most roofs leak first.
- Valleys and gutters — blockages and splits that back water up under the tiles.
- Inside the loft — timbers, underlay, and signs of damp or condensation.
- Ventilation — whether the roof can breathe, or whether trapped moisture is the real problem.
How a drone survey works
Where access is tricky or the roof is steep, we survey it with a CAA-registered drone — a Permission for Commercial Operations, flown properly and legally. It captures full, high-resolution images of every ridge, valley, hip and chimney top, so we can see exactly what's going on without scaffolding, ladders or disturbing your roof. You get to see it too: faults on a chimney top or a high valley become obvious on screen, rather than being taken on trust.
When you'd want one
A survey earns its keep when you've got a leak that's hard to pin down, when a roof's age has you wondering repair-or-replace, or when you're buying a house and want to know what you're taking on before you exchange. For a home you don't yet own, we can do a standalone drone inspection and hand you a clear picture of the roof's real condition.
Free when we're quoting
For any job we might carry out, the inspection and quote are free and no-obligation — you get an honest assessment and a fixed written figure, and you're under no pressure to go ahead. Standalone surveys with no work attached are a priced service, agreed up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is a roof survey free?
Ours is. We inspect and quote free and with no obligation. You get an honest assessment and a fixed written price with nothing to pay for the visit.
What's the point of a drone survey?
A drone gives full high-resolution coverage of the whole roof — ridges, valleys, chimney tops — without scaffolding or ladders. It's faster, safer, and it shows you faults you'd otherwise never see from the ground.
Do you charge for a drone survey?
As part of quoting a job, no. A standalone drone survey where no work is booked — for example on a property you don't yet own — is a chargeable service, priced up front.
Can a survey tell repair from replacement?
Yes — that's much of the point. A proper look at the covering, flashings, timbers and ventilation tells us whether a targeted repair will do or whether the roof is genuinely at the end of its life.
Not sure what your roof needs? Book a free, no-obligation survey across Hull, Beverley, Hessle and the East Riding — on the ground or by drone — and get an honest answer in writing. Call 07447 352091.