Roof Survey Cost

Looking into the cost of a roof survey in 2026?

Most homeowners can expect to pay between £100 and £500 for a roof survey. The final price depends on the type of survey you have, the size and height of the property and how easy it is to access the roof.

How Much Does a Roof Survey Cost?

The average cost of a roof survey in the UK is around £300.

What moves that figure most is the survey type you choose. A basic visual check from ground level sits at the bottom of the range, while a full survey with roof access, photographs and a written report sits at the top.

An emergency inspection after storm damage costs more again, because you are paying for a same-day callout.

What type of roof survey are you looking for?

Basic visual inspection

1 votes - 14%14% of votes

Full roof report

2 votes - 29%29% of votes

Drone roof survey

4 votes - 57%57% of votes

Thermal or moisture scan

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

7 votes See results Hide results

Cheaper surveys will not have the same level of detail. A more expensive survey usually includes a written report and, in many cases, advice and costings if repairs are necessary.

Roof Survey Prices

Cost of Roof Inspection Labour and Timescales

Almost all of a roof survey cost is labour and professional time. What you pay depends on who carries out the survey, how much detail you need and whether a written report is included.

Roof inspections are carried out by roofing contractors, chartered surveyors, building surveyors, and specialist roof inspection companies. If all you need is a visual check to confirm missing tiles, a roofing contractor can do it. If you have a complex problem that needs investigating and writing up, a surveyor is the better choice.

Specialist drone companies also carry out roof surveys. Drone cameras are safer than climbing up and can reach areas that are hard to see from a ladder.

How long the inspection takes depends on the survey type.

The written report takes longer than the visit itself. Expect it a few days afterwards, and allow extra time in poor weather, because a drone survey cannot fly in high wind or heavy rain.

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Additional Roofing Survey Costs

As well as the initial cost of a roof survey, you may also have to budget for some additional costs to carry out the survey or as a result of any recommendations the surveyor makes in the report.

For example, it may be necessary to hire scaffolding or a cherry picker so that the surveyor can gain access to the roof.

• Scaffolding — £640 to £1,200.
• Cherry picker hire — £150 to £300 per day.
• Same-day callout — £200 to £350.
• Drone photography upgrade — £400 to £500.

Householders who choose a drone inspection may decide to upgrade to a 3D model to calculate measurements precisely and pinpoint complex damage that may be difficult to detect using standard drone photography.

Finally, there is the added cost of any work flagged up by the surveyor. This could be to install new guttering, replace roof tiles, remove a damaged chimney stack or fit replacement flashing. It might also involve timber treatment or a full roof replacement.

• Fit new guttering — £40 to £92 per metre, depending on the guttering material.
• Replace roof tiles — £35 to £55 per tile, depending on whether they are clay, concrete or slate.
• Remove chimney stack — £1,200 to £1,400 for the chimney stack only.
• Fit new flashings — £350 to £920, depending on whether scaffolding is required.
• Timber treatment — £200 to £300.
• Full roof replacement — £4,250 to £7,250 average cost, depending on roof type.

What Imapacts the Cost of a Roof Survey?

A handful of things push a roof survey price up or down.

• Property size and roof height — Larger homes have bigger roofs, which take longer to inspect.
• Roof access — If a ladder will not reach, or the design is complicated, the surveyor may need scaffolding, a tower or drone photography.
• Roof features — Chimneys, valleys, skylights, and multiple levels all add inspection time.
• Reason for the survey — A routine check costs less than a pre-purchase survey or an emergency callout after storm damage.
• Report detail — A short verbal summary costs less than a full written report with photographs and costings.
• Location — London and the South East tend to cost more than other parts of the UK.

Types of Roof Survey

There are several types of roofing surveys available. The survey you choose will very often depend on the reason for the survey and the budget available.

Visual Roof Inspection Cost

This is the most basic type of roof inspection and the most affordable. It is normally carried out at ground level or in accessible areas.

Visual inspections are often used for routine maintenance checks and can highlight issues such as missing tiles, blocked gutters or damaged flashing.

• Timescale — 30 to 60 minutes.
• Cost — £100 to £200.

Full Roof Report Cost

This type of survey requires the surveyor to access the roof by using ladders, scaffolding or a cherry picker. The report highlights the structure and condition of the roof and is a combination of a roof structural survey and a roof condition survey.

It will include photographs and a detailed report, often with recommendations for repairs or renewals.

• Timescale — 2 to 4 hours.
• Cost — £250 to £400.

Drone Roof Inspection Cost

Drone cameras capture images of the roof, which is useful for hard-to-reach areas or tall buildings. A drone can only work when weather conditions are suitable, which might mean there are delays in carrying out the survey.

A drone company using cameras in a commercial setting must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

• Timescale — 1 to 3 hours.
• Cost — £200 to £350.

Thermal Imaging/Moisture Scan Cost

Thermal imaging and moisture scans are often used for a flat roof survey where there are difficult-to-find leaks or problems with insulation. Infrared cameras detect temperature variations that indicate insulation gaps, moisture ingress and heat loss.

• Timescale — 2 to 3 hours.
• Cost — £300 to £500.

Signs You Need a Roof Inspection

Most roof problems show up inside the house before anyone spots them on the roof. Book an inspection if you notice any of the following.

• Damp patches, staining or peeling paint on upstairs ceilings and walls.
• Tiles that have slipped, cracked or gone missing, particularly after a storm.
• Gutters that overflow or sag, or grit collecting in them.
• Daylight showing through the boards when you look up in the loft.
• Sagging along the roofline or around the chimney.
• Heating bills climbing without an obvious cause, which can point to failed insulation or ventilation.

You may also want an inspection before buying a property, especially one that needs renovating, so you know what new roof tiles or a chimney repair would cost before you commit.

A survey is not always necessary. If the seller has kept up-to-date roof maintenance records, an inspection may add little.

The same goes when the damage is obvious enough to quote from directly and you can go straight to roof repair quotes. Even then, a survey may confirm the full extent of the problem so you avoid unexpected costs later.

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Checklist: Hiring a Roof Surveyor in the UK

Post your roof survey job on MyJobQuote and you should get up to 3 no-obligation quotes from surveyors near you. Consider these key points before you pick one:

• Are they RICS registered? A surveyor registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is held to a set standard, which matters most when the report needs to support a purchase.
• What does the inspection actually cover? Check whether the loft space and roof structure are included, or whether they are only looking at the outside.
• Do you get a written report, and when? Confirm whether photographs come with it and how many days it takes, because the report usually lands well after the visit.
• Do they have public liability insurance? Anyone climbing onto your roof should hold it, in case something is damaged while they are up there.
• Is access equipment included in the quote? Ladders, scaffolding or a cherry picker can be charged separately, so ask before the day rather than after it.
• Are they CAA registered for drone work? Anyone flying a drone commercially must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority.

It is also worth reading reviews from previous customers, which you can do on MyJobQuote.

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