Drone surveys in Durham: roof surveys and inspections across County Durham
Drone roof surveys, building inspections, thermal surveys and measured surveys across Durham and County Durham.
From the World Heritage cathedral city to former mining villages, farms and new housing, we survey roofs and high-level details without scaffolding. We handle the permissions, fly the site and deliver everything to your online portal.
Drone surveys across Durham and County Durham
The city, its villages and the towns of County Durham.
Durham’s centre is dominated by the cathedral and castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by listed buildings, university colleges and steep, narrow streets where scaffolding is difficult and expensive.
Beyond the city we survey former colliery villages, social housing, schools, farms and industrial sites across County Durham, from Chester-le-Street to Bishop Auckland and Consett.
- Durham city centreCathedral quarter and listed buildings
- University collegesCollege and student buildings
- Gilesgate & BelmontHousing east of the city
- Framwellgate Moor & Newton HallHousing estates
- Chester-le-StreetTown centre and housing
- Bishop AucklandTown centre and historic buildings
- Spennymoor & Newton AycliffeHousing and business parks
- Consett & StanleyTowns and housing
- Seaham & PeterleeCoastal towns and housing
- Barnard CastleMarket town and farms
Listed building or heritage site? Drone surveys are ideal for historic buildings: nothing touches the building and you get a full photographic record. See church and heritage roof surveys.
What we survey in Durham
Every service we offer is available in Durham. These are the ones Durham clients book most.
Roof surveys
Close-up imagery of every slope, valley, flashing and gutter on pitched and flat roofs, with an optional written condition report.
Terraces, blocks of flats, commercial roofsRoof surveys in Durham
Building surveys
Façades, parapets and high-level details captured from the air to support your survey, with no scaffold or cherry picker.
Surveyors, managing agentsBuilding surveys in Durham
Thermal surveys
Radiometric thermal imaging to find heat loss, missing insulation, damp and roof leaks. Best carried out between October and March.
Retrofit, social housing, commercialThermal surveys in Durham
Drone inspections
Live-streamed inspections of roofs, chimneys, towers and structures. Direct the pilot and look at the areas that matter to you.
Asset and facilities managersDrone inspections in Durham
Measured surveys
Point clouds, elevations, CAD drawings and Revit models from drone photogrammetry and LiDAR.
Architects, designers, developersMeasured surveys in Durham
Construction progress
Regular aerial photography, mapping and time lapse to record progress on Durham construction sites.
Contractors, developers, fundersConstruction progress in DurhamFlying in Durham: the airspace we plan around
Durham has more restrictions than its size suggests. These are the checks we make for every Durham address before we quote.
Three prisons
HMP Durham in the city centre, and HMP Frankland and HMP Low Newton to the north, all have restricted airspace around them. Nearby sites need extra planning.
Controlled airspace
Parts of the area sit under controlled airspace. We check every site against it and arrange permission from air traffic control where needed.
The World Heritage Site
The cathedral and castle need the landowner’s permission for take-off and landing, and flights are planned around visitors.
University and visitors
Students and tourists make the centre busy. We plan flight positions and timings to keep clear of the public.
East Coast Main Line
The main line crosses the city on the viaduct by Durham station. Network Rail has its own rules for drones near its property, on top of CAA rules.
Restricted doesn’t mean impossible
Restricted zones need more planning and the right permissions. They don’t stop a survey going ahead. Our pilots and office team work together to get approval for even the trickiest Durham sites.
- Airspace checked for every address before we quote
- Permissions requested on your behalf
- Risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) for every job
- Weather planned in, including thermal survey conditions
From address to results in four steps
- 1Send us the address
Tell us where the site is and what you need, using the quote form or by phone.
- 2We assess it remotely
Free desk-based check of airspace, access and the best capture method. Fixed quote usually the same working day.
- 3We get the permissions
Air traffic control, landowner and site permissions arranged, plus RAMS for your site team.
- 4We fly and deliver
Survey carried out on the agreed date. Images in your secure portal within 48 hours, reports to follow.
Watch the inspection live
We can live-stream the flight so you and your team can see the inspection as it happens, talk to the pilot and ask for a closer look at specific areas, without travelling to site.
Mapping and surveyor support
As well as imagery and reports, we produce maps, 3D models, point clouds and internal and external scans, so surveyors can measure and report on Durham assets with fewer site visits.
Other areas near Durham
We also have local pages for these nearby towns and cities. Distances are approximate, by road from Durham.
Do you cover all of County Durham?
Yes. As well as Durham, we survey Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe, Consett, Stanley, Seaham, Peterlee and Barnard Castle. Send us the address and we’ll confirm.
Can you fly near the cathedral and castle?
Yes, with the right permissions. Heritage sites need the landowner’s permission for take-off and landing, and we plan flights around visitors. A drone survey doesn’t touch the building at all.
Are there restrictions near the prisons?
Yes. HMP Durham, HMP Frankland and HMP Low Newton all have restricted airspace. If your site is nearby, we plan the flight carefully and arrange any permission needed.
How quickly can you get to a site in Durham?
Durham is about 150 miles from our Liverpool head office, so we plan North East visits in advance and often group them together. We’ll give you a date when we send your quote.
How much does a drone roof survey in Durham cost?
Our drone roof inspections start from £250 + VAT for domestic properties and £350 + VAT for commercial properties, the same as anywhere else we cover. Larger sites and portfolios are quoted individually. See our drone survey prices.
Do I need to be on site for the survey?
Not usually. For most surveys we only need permission to access the area we fly from. If you’d like to see the inspection, we can live-stream it so you can watch remotely and direct the pilot.
Get your fixed-fee quote
Send us the Durham address or postcode. We’ll do the rest.
Tell us where the property is and what you need. We’ll carry out a free desk-based assessment covering airspace, access and site constraints, then send a fixed-fee quote, usually the same working day.
- 1
Send your postcode and requirements using the form
- 2
We assess your site remotely: airspace checks, access and the right capture method
- 3
You receive a fixed quote with no hidden extras
- 4
We book in, fly, capture and deliver to your secure online portal
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