Drone chimney surveys
See every part of your chimney up close in UHD 4K, without ladders, scaffolding or anyone setting foot on the roof.
Available Files: 4K Imagery & Thermal Reports
4K
Imagery & Video
None
Access Required
48hr
Imagery Delivery
0
Days of Scaffold
Drone Chimney Surveys
Drone chimney surveys provide an accurate and cost-effective way of inspecting your chimney. Chimneys are an essential part of the majority of homes across the UK, and an issue with yours can cause a myriad of problems.
The difficult part about fixing chimney problems is getting up close to see any damage. That’s where a drone chimney survey helps. We have a large range of drones and cameras to view your chimney up close from a variety of angles in UHD 4K.
A chimney survey gives you all the information you need to pass to a local roofer. Because the images are delivered digitally, you can even ask multiple roofers for a quote and pick the best one for you.
Example Image Quality
Click each image to view example image quality
What Your Chimney Survey Includes
Every chimney survey is delivered digitally, ready to share with as many roofers as you like.
| Deliverable | What it is | Included |
|---|---|---|
| UHD 4K chimney imagery | Close-up stills of the stack, pots, flaunching and flashings from a variety of angles, geotagged and date-stamped. | Standard |
| Organised by roof section | Images sorted into colour-coded folders, so any defect can be pinpointed at a glance. | Standard |
| Survey paperwork | Your RAMS, airspace map and pre-flight documents, filed alongside the imagery. | Standard |
| Digital delivery | Shareable access, so you can send the images to multiple roofers and pick the best quote. | Standard |
| Thermal chimney inspection | Thermal cameras scan the stack and highlight exactly where heat is escaping from the system. | Optional |
| Full thermal survey | Extend the thermal survey to look for issues in your roof, walls, doors and windows. | Optional |
| Written report | A written report highlighting defects and priorities, prepared by our qualified surveyors. | Optional |
Thermal options can be captured on the same visit. Just let us know at quote stage.
At a Glance
Capture
UHD 4K stills
Access required
Usually none
Imagery issued
Within 48 hours
Thermal inspection
Optional
Scaffold needed
None
Coverage
Mainland UK
Get a Quote
Send us an address. We will come back the same working day with a price and a scope.
Parts of Your Chimney That Can Fail
There are many parts of your chimney that can fail. Here are just a few that can cause you an issue:
Any issue with these can cause water ingress, heat escaping or even birds nesting where they shouldn’t. As it can be expensive and dangerous to put someone on the roof, a drone survey is ideal: without ever setting foot on a ladder, we can show you every aspect of your chimney so you can see any damage for yourself.
The result?
A clear view of your chimney’s condition, helping keep your home watertight and energy efficient.
Thermal inspection
Thermal chimney inspection
If you have, or suspect, an issue with your chimney, it’s not always possible to see it with a standard drone camera. Because the system carries hot fumes, the inside of the flue can erode and contribute to the problem.
To find these faults and pinpoint exactly where they are, we use drones equipped with thermal cameras. A thermal survey can also look for issues in your roof, walls, doors and windows.
A thermal camera scans the chimney stack and highlights where heat is escaping, so you can stop unnecessary bills and get the root cause repaired.
CAA
CAA Operational Authorisation 11363
Fully insured, with £10m public liability and specialist UAV cover
Why drones
Why use a drone for your chimney survey?
Getting up close to a chimney usually means ladders, scaffolding and someone on the roof. A drone gets the same view, and more, from the ground.
- No one on the roof. We show you every aspect of your chimney without ever setting foot on a ladder.
- Accurate and cost-effective. There is no scaffolding or access equipment to pay for.
- Close-up detail. Our range of drones and cameras capture your chimney from a variety of angles in UHD 4K.
- Multiple quotes. Digital delivery means you can share the images with several roofers and choose the best one.
- Energy efficiency. Spotting faults early helps stop heat escaping and keeps your home watertight.
Chimney Detail capture
Flaunching, cowls and flashings recorded close-up, with no one working at height.
Why choose us
Why choose Drone Site Surveys?
Chimneys are among the most exposed and difficult-to-access parts of any building, yet deterioration can easily go unnoticed until water ingress, loose masonry or structural concerns become apparent.
At Drone Site Surveys, we go beyond simply flying a camera around a chimney. Our pilots approach each inspection with a clear understanding of what building surveyors and roofing contractors need to see, capturing detailed, close-range imagery of chimney stacks, brickwork, pointing, flaunching, pots, flashings and junctions with the roof.
From individual domestic chimneys to complex stacks on commercial, historic and listed buildings, we deliver organised, high-resolution visual evidence that helps identify defects, establish repair priorities and avoid unnecessary access costs.
Need a closer look at a chimney without the cost and disruption of scaffolding? Speak to our team about a professional drone chimney inspection and discover how targeted imagery can give you a clearer understanding of its condition before committing to repairs or further investigation.
Clients choose Drone Site Surveys for our specialist experience, professional standards and independent approach:
How it works
Our drone chimney survey process
From first enquiry to secure delivery, every survey follows the same six steps, so you always know what happens next and when.
Tell us about the property
Email us the address with postcode and what you need, whether that’s a visual chimney survey or a thermal inspection. We’ll come back with the options available.
Planning and quote
We carry out a desktop assessment of the property and the surrounding airspace, check the survey against current UK drone regulations, and prepare your quote. You receive it by email with no obligation, along with the airspace map for your site and an example delivery so you can see exactly what you’ll be getting.
Booking your date
Once you’re happy with the quote we add your job to the schedule and start monitoring the Met Office forecast. In the meantime we prepare the pre-flight paperwork, including our risk assessment and method statement (RAMS), which we can send over for your records. As soon as we have a clear weather window and pilot availability, we confirm your attendance date. You don’t normally need to be on site.
The survey
Our CAA approved pilot captures the chimney and surrounding roof from a variety of angles in UHD 4K, with thermal capture where specified.
Processing
Every image is checked and organised into colour-coded folders. Any thermal analysis or reporting you’ve asked for is completed at this stage.
Delivery
We email you a link to our secure online portal, where your imagery, reports and any other agreed outputs are ready to view, download and share with your team or contractors. Alongside the deliverables you’ll find a folder containing the pre-flight paperwork, a copy of the drone airspace map for your site and any other relevant documents, so everything from the survey is in one place.
Request a Quote
Request a drone chimney survey quote
Whether you have a known problem or simply want peace of mind, we can tailor the survey to your chimney and your requirements.
Send us the address and a brief description of what you need, and we will come back with clear pricing and deliverable options.
Prefer to Speak to Us?
If you’d rather speak to one of the team, that’s no problem. Simply call the number below and one of our team will be more than happy to help.
Get a Quote
In The Know
Frequently Asked
Questions
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about drone chimney surveys. If yours is not covered here, give us a call.
What is a drone chimney survey?
A drone chimney survey uses drones and cameras to view your chimney up close from a variety of angles in UHD 4K. It is an accurate and cost-effective way to see any damage without anyone climbing onto the roof.
Which parts of a chimney can fail?
Common problem areas include the chimney stack, pots, flaunching, lead flashing, cowls and caps, and the hidden lead soakers at the base of the stack. Any of these can lead to water ingress, heat escaping or birds nesting where they shouldn’t.
Can you find problems inside the flue?
Not always with a standard camera. Because the flue carries hot fumes, it can erode from the inside. We use drones with thermal cameras to scan the stack and highlight exactly where heat is escaping, so you know where the issue is.
Can I use the survey to get quotes from roofers?
Yes. A chimney survey gives you all the information you need to pass to a local roofer, and because the images are delivered digitally you can ask multiple roofers for a quote and pick the best one.
Can a thermal survey look at the rest of my home?
Yes. As well as chimneys, a thermal survey can look for issues in your roof, walls, doors and windows.
How do I know if my chimney needs a survey?
Common signs include damp patches on the chimney breast, water staining in the loft, pieces of pot or mortar in the garden or fireplace, a leaning stack, or damage after a storm. A drone survey shows the cause without anyone climbing onto the roof.
Do you carry out chimney repairs?
No. We’re independent and only survey, so there’s no incentive to find work. You can share the images with any roofer or chimney specialist to get accurate quotes.
Do I need to be at home during the survey?
Not usually. We need access to the ground around the property and a point of contact, but no one needs to accompany the pilot.