We fly roofs right across Hampshire and hand back images plus a plain-English report. No scaffold, no ladders leaning against gutters, and no relying on somebody's description of what they think they saw.
What a survey finds on Hampshire roofs
The county runs from dense Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton to large tile-hung houses in the Test and Meon valleys, and each fails in its own way. The survey looks for the specific defect, not just a general impression.
- Slipped plain tiles and cracked slates on steep terrace roofs where nothing is reachable by ladder
- Ridge and hip bedding broken down after years of salt-laden wind along the Solent
- Lead flashing lifted or split at parapets, party walls and dormer cheeks
- Chimney flaunching cracked and pointing eroded on shared stacks between terraces
- Blocked parapet and box gutters that back water under the covering
- Storm damage across large rural roof planes where one displaced tile is invisible from below
Why the ground view is not enough
On a Hampshire terrace, the front slope you can see from the pavement is often the sound one. The rear slope, the parapet gutter and the shared chimney stack are where the real money is, and none of them are visible without getting above the roof.
- 1The drone surveys the whole roof from above — nobody goes onto it
- 2Ridge, hips, valleys and flashings photographed in detail
- 3Chimney head, flaunching, pots and back gutter
- 4From the ground you see the lower slope and gutter line — and very little else
Common reasons Hampshire clients book one
Before buying
A homebuyer's report will usually say the roof couldn't be inspected in detail. On a 1960s estate house where the whole street's due for re-roofing, the difference between 'fine for now' and 'budget for it next year' is worth knowing before you exchange.
Chasing a leak
On a large or complex roof with dormers, valleys and multiple abutments, aerial imagery narrows the search down dramatically and saves you paying for exploratory access.
Portfolio and block management
Landlords and agents use surveys to record condition across multiple properties, prioritise spend and evidence maintenance.
What the report covers
- Condition of tiles or slates, including delamination and slippage
- Ridge, hip and verge fixings and mortar condition
- Valleys, back gutters and abutment flashings
- Chimney masonry, pots, flaunching and lead work
- Rooflights, dormer cheeks and tops
- Gutters, fascias, soffits and the eaves line
- Moss and vegetation, and where it is holding water against the covering
Airspace and practicalities in Hampshire
Hampshire has a lot of controlled and restricted airspace — Southampton Airport, Farnborough, Solent maritime activity and several military establishments. Every flight's planned against current restrictions and conditions, and we'd rather reschedule than fly in wind or rain that would compromise the imagery.
Survey first, quote second
Where the survey turns up work, we quote from the evidence rather than a guess. You keep the imagery and the report whether or not you use us for the repair — it's useful to your insurer, your surveyor or the next contractor you ask.
How a Hampshire survey is run
1. Brief
You tell us what's prompted the survey — a leak, a storm, a purchase, or a quote you want checked.
2. Flight
A short flight over each elevation, the ridge, valleys, flashings and chimney — nobody needs to go onto the roof.
3. Imagery
High-resolution stills of the surveyed external areas, with close-ups where something needs a closer look.
4. Findings
A plain-English write-up: what's sound, what needs attention now, and what we can just keep an eye on.
5. Quotation
Only if work's needed, and priced against what the images show rather than a guess.
The limits of an external survey
The flight covers everything outside. Timbers, underlay and insulation call for a loft inspection, and an active leak usually needs both before anyone can say honestly where the water's coming in.
| What you want to know | Drone survey | Also needs |
|---|---|---|
| Outer covering — tiles, slates, ridge, flashings | Photographed in detail from above | No access needed |
| Chimney head, flaunching and pots | Photographed from above and each side | Otherwise needs scaffold or tower |
| Roof timbers, underlay and insulation | Not visible — a drone works outside only | Loft inspection from inside |
| Whether a leak is active right now | Shows likely entry points, not the water path | Internal check, sometimes a water test |
Common questions
What homeowners in Hampshire usually want to know about drone roof surveys.
Ask us anything