The brief
Camborne Town Council needed an independent assessment of the roof on one of the town’s landmark buildings. The roof has multiple pitched slate sections, lead-lined valleys, chimneys, parapets and rooflights. Inspecting it by hand would have meant scaffolding or a cherry picker.
How we inspected it
We flew a survey drone around the whole roof, capturing high-resolution images from several heights and angles. Overcast light helped by cutting glare and harsh shadows on the slate. Every image was then reviewed for defects across the slates, ridges, valleys, chimneys, leadwork, gutters and outlets.
The inspection was entirely non-contact. Nothing on the roof was touched or disturbed, and the building stayed in normal use throughout.
What we found
The roof was in good visible condition for a traditional slate roof of its age, with no widespread failure. Four localised items were recorded:
| Ref | Finding | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| F01 | Slipped slate next to a chimney abutment | Short-term |
| F02 | Displaced slate above a lead-lined junction | Short-term |
| F03 | Missing or slipped slate beside the lead valley | Short-term |
| F04 | Blocked high-level rainwater outlet | Prompt |
No emergency defects were identified. Weathering and lichen were present but consistent with an established roof, not a sign of failure.
The outcome
The council received a full written report with annotated photographs, a condition summary for each roof element and a prioritised action list. Instead of commissioning an extensive programme of roof works, they could plan targeted maintenance: re-fix three slates, clear one outlet and have the roofer check the surrounding fixings while on site.
Because the survey followed six dry weeks, we also recommended a follow-up check after sustained rain to confirm the drainage was performing.
Why it worked
On a complex historic roof, a drone gets close views of valleys, chimneys and parapets that can’t be seen from the ground, without the cost and disruption of scaffolding. Engineering-led review turns those images into a clear, prioritised maintenance plan.
Related: Roof & Building Inspections · St Barnabas Church, Dartmouth