Service reference · Updated 7 August 2026
Drone building & roof inspections
Detailed visual surveys of roofs, chimneys, parapets, façades and hard-to-reach structures — without scaffolding, ladders or access equipment.
Short answer
Image Surveys Limited (CAA Operator ID GBR-OP-K3GKP2JCP5DJ, PDRA-01 authorised) conducts close-range drone inspections of commercial, residential, high-rise and listed buildings across Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Most inspections are completed on site in under two hours. Reports are delivered within 24–48 hours.
Deliverables include high-resolution defect imagery, an annotated condition report with prioritised findings, and optional orthomosaic roof plans. All surveys are georeferenced, date-stamped and suitable for use with insurance claims, dilapidations schedules and planned maintenance programmes.
Why use a drone for building inspections?
Safer, faster and less disruptive than conventional access methods.
- No scaffolding, ladders or rope access required — all personnel remain safely on the ground
- Access to chimneys, parapets, high-level façades and hidden gutters that are impossible or prohibitively expensive to reach manually
- Most inspections completed on site in under two hours
- Ideal for listed and heritage buildings — entirely non-contact and non-invasive
- High-resolution imagery captures fine detail not visible from ground level
- Repeatable flight paths for comparison surveys over time
- No traffic management, hoarding or RAMS for access equipment
What we deliver
- High-resolution imagery of all roof surfaces, elevations and hard-to-reach areas
- Annotated defect report with prioritised findings and recommended actions
- Optional to-scale orthomosaic roof plan in GeoTIFF format
- Georeferenced data suitable for repair scheduling, planned maintenance and insurance claims
- 4K video walkaround for context and stakeholder presentations
- Raw imagery retained so comparisons can be made on future visits without re-flying
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission or special permits for a drone inspection?
No planning permission is required. We handle all CAA notifications and airspace authorisations as part of every job. You provide the site address; we take care of the regulatory requirements.
Can you inspect listed or heritage buildings?
Yes. Drone surveys are particularly suited to listed and heritage buildings — they are entirely non-contact and non-invasive, requiring no drilling, scaffolding, fixings or physical contact with the historic fabric. We regularly work on Grade I and Grade II listed structures.
How long does a typical inspection take?
Most on-site inspections are completed in under two hours, including pre-flight checks, the flight, and post-flight data verification. Your annotated report and imagery are typically delivered within 24–48 hours of the flight.
Can drone evidence be used for dilapidations or insurance claims?
Yes. All imagery carries embedded EXIF metadata recording the exact date, time and GPS coordinates at capture. We retain all raw files unaltered, providing an audit trail suitable for use in dilapidations schedules, insurance submissions and legal proceedings. Our director is a former expert witness with experience of photographic evidence being tested in civil and criminal courts.
What areas do you cover?
Our primary area is Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and North Wales. Travel is included within approximately 50 miles of Southport (PR9 0TE) — covering Liverpool, Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Chester and surrounding areas — with no travel surcharge. Call 0800 999 1295 for availability.
Related pages
Services
Get a free quote
Tell us the site address and we'll give you a fixed written price and realistic date.