A roof inspection focuses on the parts of the building that keep water out from above, whereas a façade inspection focuses on the vertical faces of the building. The roof inspection looks at all roof coverings, junctions and details at or above the gutter line. The façade inspection looks at walls, windows and cladding down the full height of the building where requested.
Not always. Many clients only need a roof inspection, for example when they are concerned about leaks or the general condition of the roof coverings. A façade inspection is usually added where there are concerns about brickwork, render, cladding, balconies or windows, or where a more complete external condition survey is required.
As standard, a roof inspection will include high resolution drone imagery of:
To assess roof performance properly we must see where the roof coverings meet the walls, gutters and parapets. Capturing this area means the upper part of the façade is naturally included in the roof imagery. This avoids gaps in the inspection and prevents problems at junctions being missed.
A standard roof inspection does not normally include:
These items can often be added as part of a façade inspection or a wider building survey if required.
Yes. The roof inspection includes visible parts of chimneys, rooflights, vents, cowls and fixed plant on the roof where it can be safely accessed by the drone. We will capture close up images of these features where airspace and safety constraints allow.
A façade inspection focuses on the vertical faces of the building and usually includes:
No. A façade inspection is focused on the walls, windows and cladding. Roof areas are covered under a separate roof inspection. In practice most clients who need façade imaging also commission a roof inspection so that the whole external envelope is covered.
Before the flight we will agree which elevations are to be covered: for example street facing elevations only, internal courtyard elevations or the entire perimeter. The inspection can be restricted to specific problem areas, or it can be carried out as a full façade condition survey depending on your needs and budget.
Roof inspections are priced primarily on the footprint area of the building. Façade inspections are priced on the area of wall inspected, which is calculated from the height and perimeter of the building or the specific elevations requested. Where both are carried out together, the work is combined into a single, more efficient flight plan and priced accordingly.
Yes. There is a minimum charge for small projects to cover pre flight planning, risk assessment, travel and reporting. For larger buildings the fee is based on the measured areas and the agreed scope of inspection.
For both roof and façade inspections you will receive a set of high resolution images and, if requested, a written summary highlighting notable defects or areas of concern. Where appropriate we can also supply annotated images or integrate the results into your existing reporting format.
Yes. The imagery can be shared with your surveyor, structural engineer or insurer to support their assessment. If you tell us in advance what they are interested in we can plan the flight pattern to capture the specific views or details they are likely to need.
All flights are subject to safety, airspace rules and privacy considerations. In some locations or weather conditions it may not be possible to capture every angle that would be ideal. If any significant limitation applies at your site we will explain this and agree alternative options where possible.