How Drone Roof Inspections Work (And Why They’re Worth It)

Most people don’t think about their roof until something goes wrong. A damp patch appears on the bedroom ceiling. Tiles end up in the garden after a storm. By that point, the damage is done and the repair bill is already climbing.

The thing is, regular roof inspections can catch problems early. But traditional inspections mean scaffolding, ladders, and someone walking around on your roof. That’s expensive, time-consuming, and not always safe. Which is why we started using drones.

What Actually Happens During a Drone Inspection?

It’s simpler than you might think. We turn up with a small camera-equipped drone, do a quick check for any obstacles like overhanging trees or power lines, and then get airborne.

The drone does a slow sweep of your entire roof while we control it from the ground. We can hover over specific areas to get closer shots, fly around chimneys to check all sides, and capture angles that would be impossible to see from a ladder. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes for a typical London terrace or semi.

Afterwards, you get the actual footage plus a report breaking down what we found. No jargon, just clear explanations of any issues and what needs doing.

Why Bother? Your Roof Looks Fine From the Street

Here’s the problem with roofs: they’re designed to hide their issues. From ground level, everything can look perfectly normal while water is quietly finding its way through cracked flashing or a slipped tile.

Take chimney stacks. We recently worked on a property in Archway where the homeowner had no idea there was a problem until damp started appearing inside. Turned out the flaunching (the mortar around the chimney pots) had cracked and there were no lead flashings in place at all. Water had been getting in for months. That’s exactly the kind of thing a drone spots in seconds but gets missed from the ground. You can see the before and after on our projects page.

A drone gives us a bird’s eye view of everything: tiles, valleys, gutters, flat roof sections, the lot. We can see where moss is building up, where pointing has failed, where that patch repair from five years ago is starting to lift.

What Problems Can a Drone Actually Pick Up?

Pretty much anything visible from above:

Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates. Damaged lead flashing around chimneys and abutments. Blocked gutters full of leaves and debris. Chimney issues like cracked flaunching, loose pots or failed pointing. Flat roof problems including blistering, splits and ponding water. Fascia and soffit damage. Ridge tiles that have lost their mortar bedding.

We can also spot drainage issues that cause long-term damage. Water pooling in a valley or behind a chimney stack will eventually find a way in. Better to catch it now than deal with rotten timbers later.

Do You Still Need Someone on the Roof?

Sometimes, yes. Drones can’t lift a tile to see what’s underneath or physically test whether a fixing is secure. If we spot something that needs closer investigation, we’ll let you know.

But for a general health check? A drone inspection covers more ground, faster, and without anyone needing to set foot on your roof. That matters for older properties with fragile tiles, steep pitches that are risky to walk on, or listed buildings where you want to minimise any potential damage.

It also means no scaffolding. In London, scaffold hire plus the council permit can easily add £500 or more to a job before any actual work happens. For a straightforward inspection, that’s money better spent elsewhere.

When Does a Drone Inspection Make Sense?

Before buying a property. Surveyors often can’t access roofs properly. A drone inspection shows you exactly what you’re taking on, which gives you negotiating room or helps you budget for repairs.

After a storm. High winds and heavy rain can shift tiles, damage flashings and block gutters with debris. A quick drone flight confirms whether everything’s still intact.

If you’ve noticed damp inside. Rather than paying for scaffolding just to investigate, a drone can often pinpoint the source of a leak within minutes.

As routine maintenance. We’d recommend an inspection every three to five years, more often for older roofs. Catching a small problem before it becomes a big one is always cheaper.

The Honest Answer on Cost

A drone inspection costs less than one involving scaffolding. The exact price depends on your property, but you’re typically looking at a fraction of what a scaffolded inspection would run you.

The real value is in what it prevents. Roof repairs tend to escalate. A cracked tile lets water in, water rots the batten, then the felt, then you’re dealing with interior damage as well. Spending a bit on an inspection now can save thousands later.

Why We Use Drones

We invested in drone technology because it lets us do a better job for our customers. You get clear footage showing exactly what’s happening on your roof. No guesswork, no taking our word for it. If there’s a problem, you’ll see it yourself.

It also means we can inspect roofs that would otherwise need expensive access equipment. Victorian terraces with limited rear access, properties backing onto railways, buildings where neighbours won’t allow scaffolding on their land. The drone doesn’t care about any of that.

Book a Free Inspection

We offer free drone roof inspections across North and West London. Whether you’ve spotted something concerning, you’re buying a property, or you just want to know what state your roof is in, we’re happy to take a look.

Get in touch to arrange a time that works for you.