FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about our Aerial Drone Surveys

Our surveyors are all CAA approved drone pilots and experienced in flying drones for the purpose of carrying out building inspections. If you require further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Why would I need An Aerial Drone Suervey?

An aerial survey is an efficient way of carrying out inspections of your roof, gutters, spire, clock towers and even chimneys.

An aerial drone survey prevents the need to have unsightly and often expensive access equipment erected.

Within an hour of our surveyor arriving the issue could be diagnosed and recommendations to rectify put into a report. This is a huge time and effort saving over dated methods such as mechanical access equipment or scaffold.

How long does an aerial drone survey take?

On arrival the surveyor will carry out a risk assessment and ensure it is safe to fly the drone, complying with all relevant laws.

Once this has been carried out, the flight often takes 20 mins, with additional flights possibly needed depending on the size and complexity of the building.

What locations do your aerial drone surveyors cover?

Our aerial drone surveyors cover Greater London and the South of England

Do you undertake the works after the aerial drone survey has been carried out?

As we are specialist independent building surveyors, we do not work in conjunction with contractors, or builders, therefore we do not undertake the remedial works, but do list the specific works needed in the comprehensive report.

This makes us unique in the way that we offer an unbiased, honest and realistic report as we have no financial gain from any remedial work conducted following the outcome of our findings

Will I get a survey report afterwards?

After every single aerial drone survey that we conduct here at Alpine Surveys, within 72 hours you’ll receive an in-depth and detailed report explaining all of our surveyors findings and a list of recommendations for the rectification works. 

Are the surveyors qualified?

The surveyor who will be carrying out the drone survey on your property is a qualified building surveyor. 

They are also CAA approved and certificated and undergo regular training and exams to ensure that their knowledge and skills provide the highest level of expertise

Do you offer a guarantee?

We guarantee our reports will resolve your issues, providing that you follow the advice provided in the report and any work advised to remedy the problem is completed by a reputable builder, or repairer within a reasonable timeframe following our report.

Are Drones safe?

In the hands of a competent and trained pilot, yes, drones are safe. Our surveyors undergo many hours of training to ensure the safety of the public and property

Will the drone survey be noisy?

Most drones give off a noticeable buzzing sound when hovering lower to the ground (less noticeable when at higher altitude) but the sound it omits rarely disturbs neighbours or even animals.

Can I be on site and watch the survey?

Yes, you can. Obviously our surveyor will factor your presence into the pre-flight risk assessment. If he is equipped with a headset, you may even be able to view the live footage of the drone, which, often helps when the surveyor explains the source of the issue.

aerial drone survey
What is the maximum flying height?

Aerial surveys using a drone must be flown no higher than 120m (400ft)

I live near an airport, is this going to be a problem?

We carry out many aerial drone surveys near airports or within areas designated as “No fly zones” but only once we have sought clearance from the CAA and obtained a permit to fly. We will do all this on your behalf.

How much does a drone survey cost?

The cost of an aerial drone survey is far less than the cost of mechanical access or scaffold. Call us for a quote or get in touch.

How long does it take to complete an aerial survey?

The time it takes to conduct an aerial survey depends on the size of the property and how much footage needs to be captured.

It also depends on how long it takes for our surveyor to set up the drone and conduct risk assessments. Typically, it takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete the survey.

What will an aerial survey show me?

An aerial survey will be able to show detailed images and footage in high quality format of your building, the roof, chimney area and can even detect thermal signatures to pin point loss of heat.

This is ideal if you are attempting to improve the efficiency of the buildings heating system and insulation.

Will I need to be present on site for the survey to be carried out?

Not necessarily, our surveyors can carry out the survey as long as we have access to all the grounds of the property.

This is to ensure our surveyors have sight of the drone at all times during the aerial survey.

Are you insured?

Yes, all our drone pilots and Alpine Sky are fully insured and hold £5,000,000 liability insurance cover.

Are you registered with a drone organisation?

Yes indeed, we are registered with Drone Safe and all our aerial surveyors are CAA approved pilots with permits to fly drones for commercial use.

Are the drone pilots experienced qualified users?

Yes they are. They are also qualified surveyors, most with more than 15 years surveying experience.

I have pets, will the drones scare or disturb them?

Most pets are unaffected by drones, the machines themselves do give off a buzzing sound when in flight or on the ground but to date we have not experienced any distress caused to animals when carrying out aerial surveys.

Our drone pilots may well advise that any pets outside be brought into the property during the survey as a precautionary measure and to allow the pilot to fully concentrate.

What if the drone crashes into my house or property?

We have never experienced this due to the expertise and experience of our pilots, however, we do undertake a vast number of safety checks and precautions before attempting take off.

We also ensure that all safety protocols are in place and fully working.

When will I receive my aerial survey report?

Typically, our clients receive their aerial survey report within 48 hours. However, depending on the complexity of the building or the issues found, the surveyor may call to discuss with you in person also.

Do you carry out the repair work if needed, after the aerial survey is complete?

No, we do not. We are totally independent, which, provides you with peace of mind that our reports are unbiased, impartial and have no further financial gain by doing the work.

We recommended you have any remedial works carried out by a reputable tradesperson, which, can be found on websites such as Checkatrade.

Make an enquiry

Get in touch to book a survey or if you require some friendly expert advice