Define the brief
We confirm the building, known concerns, areas to inspect and the decisions the survey must support. Available drawings, reports and maintenance history are reviewed before attendance.
Inspection · Quantification · Cost planning
Drone building surveys
A practical high-level survey service that turns aerial imagery into clear defect information, quantities, priorities and indicative repair costs.
A useful survey—not simply drone photographs
Evidence for better maintenance and investment decisions
Restorex combines high-resolution aerial capture with practical knowledge of stone, slate, leadwork, joinery and traditional building defects. The purpose is to help clients understand what appears to be wrong, where it is located, how much work may be involved and what should happen next.
The service can support a single property concern, planned maintenance, budget forecasting, consultant investigations or early definition of a larger restoration programme. The scope and reporting level are agreed around the intended decision.
Who the service is for
- Private building and tenement owners
- Property managers and factors
- Chartered surveyors and architects
- Structural and civil engineers
- Hotels and commercial estates
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Public, heritage and institutional clients
From brief to prioritised repair plan
Plan safe access and capture
The proposed flight and ground operation are assessed against the site, surrounding property, people, weather and applicable aviation restrictions. Alternative access is identified where drone operation is unsuitable.
Capture roofs and elevations
High-resolution photographs and video record inaccessible roofs, chimneys, gutters, parapets, façades and junctions. Coverage is systematic so observations can be located and revisited.
Map and classify defects
Visible defects are marked against photographs or drawings and grouped by element, location, apparent condition and priority. Limitations and areas that could not be confirmed are stated clearly.
Quantify the work
Where the captured information allows, affected areas, lengths and numbers are measured or scheduled to create an initial quantified scope rather than a collection of unexplained photographs.
Cost and prioritise
The report sets out recommended next steps, indicative budget costs and suggested priorities. It distinguishes immediate safety or weathering concerns from planned maintenance and longer-term renewal.
Typical outputs
A report designed to be acted upon
Visual evidence
Selected high-resolution roof and elevation imagery with annotated defect locations and concise observations.
Defect schedule
A structured register identifying building element, location, apparent defect, suggested response and priority.
Quantified scope
Initial quantities for visible repair items where image quality, scale and access allow dependable measurement.
Indicative costs
Budget allowances to support planning and prioritisation. These are not a fixed quotation or tender return unless specifically developed and agreed as one.
Drone evidence is powerful—but it does not see inside the building fabric
A drone survey is a visual, non-intrusive inspection. It cannot confirm concealed decay, the condition beneath roof coverings, internal moisture routes or structural causes that are not externally visible. Close-access inspection, internal investigation, opening-up, sampling or specialist engineering advice may still be recommended.
The report will distinguish observed defects from suspected causes and clearly identify where further investigation is required. This protects the client from false certainty and creates a sensible route from initial evidence to a properly defined repair project.
Drone building survey FAQs
Can every building be surveyed by drone?
No. Location, airspace, nearby people, weather, privacy, physical obstructions and site restrictions all affect whether and how a flight can proceed. These constraints are reviewed during planning.
Are the costs in the report a contractor quotation?
Normally they are indicative budget costs based on the visible information and agreed assumptions. A firm quotation requires a sufficiently defined scope and may require closer inspection or opening-up.
Can you work with our architect, surveyor or engineer?
Yes. The capture brief and report format can be coordinated with the appointed professional team so the information supports their wider investigation or specification.
Can the survey cover roofs and stone façades together?
Yes. Restorex’s multi-trade experience allows roof, chimney, leadwork, masonry, joinery and rainwater defects to be considered as connected parts of the external envelope.
Need a clear restoration proposal?
Tell us about the building, the problem and your timescale. Restorex will advise on the appropriate next step.
Request a quotation