Elsecar, BarnsleyMon–Sun, 7:30am–8pm AboutServicesNew Roofs & Re-RoofsSlate RoofsPitched RoofingTiled RoofsFlat RoofingRoof RepairsFascias & SoffitsGutteringPointing & ChimneysDrone Roof Surveys AreasBarnsleyElsecarHoylandWombwellWentworthTankersleyBlacker HillHarleyWest Melton Our WorkReviewsContact07936 755375Get a Free Quote Home / Roofing Services / Drone Roof Surveys # Drone Roof Surveysfor Homesin Barnsley See exactly what's happening on your roof without anyone climbing on it. I use a drone to photograph slates, tiles, ridges, chimneys and gutters up close, then talk you through what I've found in plain English. Get a Free Quote07936 755375 23 years on the tools · £2m insured · free, no-obligation survey 23 Years' experience 10yr Re-roof guarantee 12m Repair guarantee £2m Public liability Free Written quotes ## Drone roof inspections in Barnsley and South Yorkshire Most roof problems start where you can't see them from the ground: a cracked ridge tile, a slipped slate halfway up the slope, mortar washing out of a chimney stack or a valley gutter silting up behind a dormer. Traditionally, the only way to check was to put ladders up, walk the roof or pay for scaffolding before you even knew if there was a problem. A drone roof survey gets a camera right up close to every part of the roof in a fraction of the time, with nobody standing on fragile slates. I carry out drone surveys on all kinds of property across Barnsley and the surrounding villages, from stone terraces in Elsecar and Hoyland to 1930s semis and modern estate homes. They're particularly useful on tall gable ends, steep slate roofs, three-storey houses and chimney stacks, where getting a good look safely from a ladder simply isn't possible. Because I'm a roofer rather than just a drone pilot, I know what I'm looking at. The photos aren't just pretty pictures from above; I'm checking fixings, flashings, pointing and weathering, and I'll tell you honestly whether something needs doing now, can wait, or is nothing to worry about. After the survey you get the photos, so you can see the condition of the roof for yourself. If work is needed, I'll explain what and why, and give you a written quote with no obligation to go ahead. ### When you might need this - You've got a leak or damp patch but can't see the cause from the ground - You're buying a house and want to know the true condition of the roof - After a storm, to check for slipped slates, lifted ridges or chimney damage - The roof is too high, steep or fragile to inspect safely from a ladder - You want a record of the roof's condition before or after work is carried out ## What a drone survey can pick up Plenty of roof faults are invisible from the street but obvious from a few feet away. These are the things I look for most on roofs around Barnsley. ### Slipped, cracked and missing slates or tiles Nail fixings on older slate roofs corrode over time and slates start to slide. A single gap lets wind-driven rain onto the felt and timbers below. From above, slipped slates stand out clearly, even when they look fine from the pavement. ### Loose ridge and hip tiles Ridge tiles sit on mortar that cracks and washes out over the years. Once the bedding goes, ridges rock loose and can be lifted off in strong winds. Close-up photos show cracked joints and gaps long before a tile comes down. ### Chimney pointing and flashing problems Chimney stacks take the worst of the weather. Crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching around the pots and lifted lead flashing are some of the most common causes of leaks I see, and they're almost impossible to check properly without getting up high. ### Blocked valleys and gutters Moss, leaves and debris collect in valley gutters and along the eaves. When water can't get away, it backs up under the slates or spills down the walls. A drone view shows where water is pooling and where gutters need clearing or resetting. ### Common mistakes I see - Walking on an old slate roof to have a look, which can crack more slates than it finds - Paying for scaffolding before anyone knows what, or whether, work is needed - Patching the obvious damp patch inside without finding where the water is really getting in - Assuming a roof is fine because nothing looks wrong from the garden How I work ## My process, step by step - 1 ### Get in touch Call or send an enquiry with your address and what's worrying you, whether that's a leak, storm damage, a house purchase or just peace of mind. I'll arrange a time that suits you. - 2 ### Safety and site check On arrival I check the area around the property, the weather and any obstructions such as trees or cables, so the drone can be flown safely and the survey isn't rushed. - 3 ### Close-up roof survey I fly the drone around the roof, photographing every slope, the ridge, hips, valleys, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters from close range and from several angles. - 4 ### Review the findings with you I go through the photos with you, pointing out anything that needs attention and explaining in plain English what's urgent, what can wait and what's fine as it is. - 5 ### Photos and written quote You get the survey photos to keep. If repairs are needed, I give you a written quote for the work, with no obligation and no pressure to go ahead. ## What you get ### No ladders on fragile roofs Nobody needs to walk on your slates or tiles, so there's no risk of causing new damage while looking for the old. ### No scaffolding just to look You find out what's wrong before paying for access equipment, and only put scaffolding up if work actually needs doing. ### See it for yourself Instead of taking someone's word for it, you get clear photos of your own roof showing exactly what's been found. ### Quick and tidy Most surveys on a typical house are done in a short visit, with no mess, no disruption and nothing left on your property. ### Checked by a roofer With 23 years on the tools, I know what a failing fixing, flashing or mortar joint looks like, so you get an honest view of what matters. ### Fully insured I carry £2 million public liability insurance, so you're covered while I'm working at your property. ## Why drone surveys make sense for Barnsley roofs The mix of older stone properties, steep slate roofs and exposed Pennine weather around Barnsley makes a close look at the roof more valuable than most people realise. ### Older slate roofs and chimneys A lot of the housing around Barnsley, Elsecar, Hoyland and Wombwell is Victorian or Edwardian, with natural slate roofs and tall brick or stone chimney stacks. These roofs can last a very long time, but the nails, mortar and lead that hold them together wear out well before the slate does. The trouble is that the first signs are small: a slate slipped by an inch, a hairline crack in the flaunching, a lifted edge of lead. Walking on an old slate roof to find these faults is risky and can break more than it fixes. A drone lets me get close enough to see individual fixings and joints without putting any weight on the roof at all. ### Buying a house A standard house survey often notes the roof was 'viewed from ground level only'. That leaves a big unknown on one of the most expensive parts of any property. A drone survey before you commit gives you photos of the actual condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters, so you know what you're taking on. If I find problems, I can give you a written quote for putting them right, which you can use when deciding whether to go ahead or when talking to the seller. ### After storms and high winds Barnsley sits on the edge of the Pennines and takes its share of strong wind and driving rain. After a storm, slipped slates, loose ridges and damaged chimney pots are common, but it isn't always obvious from the ground whether anything has moved. A quick drone survey shows whether there's any damage and how serious it is. If repairs are needed, the photos also give you a clear record of the damage, which can help if you decide to speak to your insurer. ### Finding the real cause of a leak Water rarely comes in exactly where the stain appears on the ceiling. It can run along felt and timbers some distance before it drips through, so the cause may be a chimney, a valley or a slipped slate well away from the damp patch. By photographing the whole roof rather than one spot, a drone survey helps me trace the likely source, so the repair fixes the problem the first time rather than patching the symptom. ### Related services - Roof Repairs → - Pointing & Chimneys → - Slate Roofs → ### Areas I cover - Barnsley - Elsecar - Hoyland - Wombwell - Wentworth - Tankersley - Blacker Hill - Harley - West Melton ## Drone Roof Surveys: questions answered ### How much does a drone roof survey cost? +It depends on the size and layout of the property and what you need the survey for. Get in touch with your address and I'll give you a price before I come out. ### How long does a drone roof survey take? +On a typical house the flying itself is fairly quick. I'll then go through the findings with you. Larger or more complicated roofs take a bit longer. ### Do I get to see the photos? +Yes. You get the survey photos so you can see the condition of your roof for yourself, and I'll explain anything that needs attention. ### Can a drone survey find the cause of a leak? +It often can. Close-up photos of the whole roof show slipped slates, cracked ridges, chimney and flashing faults and blocked valleys, which are the most common causes. Some leaks also need a look inside the loft to confirm. ### Is a drone survey useful when buying a house? +Yes. Many house surveys only view the roof from the ground. A drone survey shows the real condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters before you commit, and I can quote for any work needed. ### Can you fly in any weather? +No. Strong wind and heavy rain make flying unsafe and the photos less useful. If the weather isn't suitable on the day, I'll rearrange for the next suitable time. ### Do I have to use you for any repairs? +No. You're under no obligation. If work is needed I'll give you a written quote, and it's entirely up to you whether you go ahead. ### What areas do you cover for drone roof surveys? +I work across Barnsley, Elsecar, Hoyland, Wombwell, Wentworth, Tankersley, Blacker Hill, Harley and West Melton, and further afield including Sheffield and Leeds. ## Book a drone roof survey Want to know what's really happening on your roof? Get in touch to book a drone survey. I'll photograph the roof up close, talk you through what I find and give you a written quote if anything needs doing. Get a Free Quoteor call 07936 755375 10-year re-roof guarantee · 12-month repair guarantee · £2m insured Pitched, flat and slate roofing across Barnsley and South Yorkshire. One roofer, from quote to completion. ### Contact - 07936 755375 - info@alexmacroofing.co.uk - 5 Gray St, Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8JR - Mon–Sun, 7:30am–8pm ### Roofing Services - New Roofs & Re-Roofs Barnsley - Slate Roofs Barnsley - Pitched Roofing Barnsley - Tiled Roofs Barnsley - Flat Roofing Barnsley - Roof Repairs Barnsley - Fascias & Soffits Barnsley - Guttering Barnsley - Pointing & Chimneys Barnsley - Drone Roof Surveys Barnsley ### Areas Covered - Roofers in Barnsley - Roofers in Elsecar - Roofers in Hoyland - Roofers in Wombwell - Roofers in Wentworth - Roofers in Tankersley - Roofers in Blacker Hill - Roofers in Harley - Roofers in West Melton ### Site - All Roofing Services - Areas We Cover - Our Roofing Work - Reviews - About Alex - Free Quote - Facebook - Checkatrade © 2026 Alex Mac Roofing. Fully insured: £2m public liability.Privacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsCookie Policy Call AlexFree Quote