New service: drone surveys
Drone Roof & Solar Panel Surveys in Crawley, Sussex and Surrey
Safe, fast aerial surveys of commercial roofs, existing solar arrays and hard-to-reach homes. No scaffold, no walking on fragile roofs, and a clear written report from the same engineers who install and maintain solar across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
- Fully insured
- CAA-registered drone operator
- MCS and NICEIC accredited
- 2,000+ installations since 2011
Why survey by drone
See the whole roof without putting anyone on it
A drone survey gives you high-resolution imagery of every part of a roof or solar array in a short site visit, without scaffolding, cherry pickers or anyone working at height.
For commercial and industrial buildings that means a faster, safer and usually cheaper way to check roof condition before a solar installation. For existing systems it means problems such as cracked panels, bird nesting, heavy soiling and displaced panels are found and photographed properly, rather than guessed at from the ground.
Because Electrotec installs, services and repairs solar PV ourselves, every survey ends with practical next steps and a fixed-price quote for any work, not just a folder of photos.
What we survey
Drone Survey Services
Three ways to use a drone survey, depending on whether you are planning solar, maintaining solar or buying a building that already has it.
Commercial survey
Commercial Roof Survey
Before Solar PV Is Designed
- Roof condition and covering
- Layout and usable area
- Rooflights, vents and obstructions
- Nearby shading and access routes
- Multiple buildings in one visit
- Feeds directly into commercial solar design
Quote on request
Array inspection
Solar Array Inspection
Existing Systems of Any Age
- Cracked or damaged panel glass
- Heavy soiling and debris
- Bird nesting under panels
- Loose or displaced panels and mounting
- Vegetation and new shading
- Visible cabling and roof penetration issues
Quote on request
Due diligence
Survey for Records and Evidence
Insurance, Sales and Storm Checks
- Dated photographic record of roof and array
- Post-storm damage checks
- Evidence for insurance claims
- Pre-purchase checks on buildings with solar
- Landlord and housing association stock checks
- Written report with priorities
Quote on request
Who it is for
Built for Commercial Sites, Useful for Homes
Wherever a roof is large, high, fragile or simply awkward to reach, a drone survey is the sensible first step.
What you receive
A Clear Report, Not Just Photos
Every survey is written up so that a facilities manager, a landlord or an insurer can act on it without having to interpret raw images.
- Annotated high-resolution images of each issue found
- Overview image of the roof or array
- Issues listed in priority order
- Recommended actions with a fixed-price quote for any repair
- Original images supplied on request
What a drone survey does and does not show
Our surveys are visual and mapping surveys. They show what can be seen from above, and we only report what the imagery genuinely shows. We do not currently offer thermal imaging.
Electrical faults such as a failed optimiser, a tripped string or a degrading inverter need testing on site. That is exactly what our System Health Check does, with string voltage and insulation resistance tests.
How it works
From Enquiry to Report in Four Steps
- Tell us about the siteSend the address, building type and what you need. We confirm scope and give you a free, no-obligation quote.
- We check airspace and permissionsWe assess ground risk and airspace, including Gatwick’s restriction zone where relevant, and agree access with the site owner.
- Survey dayA short site visit with a trained operator. The drone flies the roof while your site carries on as normal.
- Report and next stepsYou receive the written report and, if work is needed, a fixed-price quote from our own MCS and NICEIC accredited engineers.
Add it to a service visit
Pair a drone survey with a solar PV service
Already planning a solar PV service or inverter health check? Ask us to add an aerial inspection of the array. You get the roof checked from above and the electrical side tested on site in one visit, with one report and one quote.
Why Electrotec
Surveyed by the People Who Fix and Build Solar
Plenty of drone operators can take photos. Few can tell you what the photos mean for your system and then fix it.
- Operating since 2011, with 2,000+ solar and electrical installations completed
- MCS, NICEIC, TrustMark, RECC, CHAS and PAS 2030 accredited
- FoxESS Elite Partner, Tesla Powerwall and SolarEdge authorised installer
- Fully insured and registered with the Civil Aviation Authority
- One team for survey, design, installation, servicing and repair
Areas we cover
Drone Surveys Across Sussex, Surrey and Kent
Based in Crawley, we survey across the region. Commercial sites further afield are considered on request.
Got questions?
Drone Survey FAQs
Straight answers on cost, safety, what a drone can and cannot find, and what you receive.
How much does a drone roof survey cost?
The price depends on the size of the roof, the number of buildings and how much detail you need in the report. We give a free, no-obligation quote once we know the site. A drone survey usually costs far less than hiring scaffolding or access equipment just to look at a roof.
Is it safe and legal to fly a drone over my property?
Yes. We are registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, fully insured, and we check airspace and ground risks before every flight. We only fly with the permission of the site owner. Parts of Crawley, Horley and Charlwood sit close to the Gatwick flight restriction zone, so we obtain clearance where it is needed, which can add a little lead time.
Can a drone survey find faulty solar panels?
It finds problems you can see from above: cracked or damaged glass, heavy soiling, debris, bird nesting, loose or displaced panels, vegetation shading and visible damage to cabling and mounting. It does not test electrical performance. For faults such as a failed optimiser or a tripped string we recommend a System Health Check, which includes string voltage and insulation resistance testing.
Do you offer thermal imaging?
Not at present. Our drone surveys are visual and mapping surveys, and we only describe what the imagery can genuinely show. Where electrical faults are suspected, we test the system on site rather than guess from pictures.
Can you survey a roof before we install solar panels?
Yes. A pre-installation drone survey records roof condition, layout, obstructions such as chimneys and vents, and nearby shading. It helps us design the array and price the job accurately, and it avoids putting people on fragile or difficult roofs. Because we install and maintain solar ourselves, the survey feeds straight into a design and quote.
What do I receive after the survey?
A written report with annotated images, an overview of the roof or array, a list of issues in priority order and recommended actions. Original high-resolution images can be supplied on request. We agree the format and turnaround when we quote.
Which areas do you cover?
We survey across Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Brighton and Hove, Worthing, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Guildford and Maidstone, and most of Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Commercial sites further afield are considered on request.
Ready when you are
Book a Drone Survey Quote
Tell us about the roof or array and we will come back with a free, no-obligation quote.
Electrotec Power Solutions Ltd, Unit 11, Raleigh Court, Priestley Way, Crawley, RH10 9PD. Visual and mapping survey only; no thermal imaging.
