HP.COAerial

Roof and gutter condition report

Test property, East Meon, Hampshire  ·  flown Saturday 12 September 2026  ·  reference HPA-EM-001

Detached two-storey brick house, plain clay tile roof on a main range with part-hipped, part-gabled ends, tall brick stack at one end, brick outbuilding to the rear.

Contents

  1. What we found
  2. What we think needs doing
  3. What we do not think needs doing
  4. How this report was prepared
  5. Suggested scope of work
  6. The roof, and what was covered
  7. Findings in detail
  8. Method, grading and limitations
  9. Flight record
  • Tables 1 What we think needs doing · 2 What we do not think needs doing · 3 Suggested scope of work · 4 Estimated dimensions · 5 Coverage by elevation · 6 Flight record
  • Figures 1 Roof arrangement · 2–10 the photographs against each finding
Part One — for the homeowner What we found, what needs doing, and what it should cost.

1What we found

The roof covering itself looks to be in good order for a clay roof of this age. The tiles are sound, the ridge runs true, the lead at the chimney is intact. The problems are all at the edges — the apex, the hip end and the gutters — and we think three of them are letting water in now.

We think you need a roofer, and we do not think you need a big job. The two urgent repairs are small and sit at the same end of the roof, so one visit with one set of access should cover both. The third item is a gutter clear — a separate and cheaper trade.

Nothing we can see supports a re-roof, a re-tile, or re-bedding the ridge or the hips. Section 3 sets out what was checked and found sound.

The plan below shows the roof, the gutter line and the two urgent findings on it.

Roof plan

Figure 1   Roof arrangement, gutter line and elevation key. Schematic, not to scale.

3findings
Need action now
Water is getting in
5areas
Need monitoring
Not a problem yet; will become one
5areas
Appear sound
Checked, no defect found

2What we think needs doing

In the order we think they should be dealt with. The reference is the finding in Part Two, where the photograph and location are.

Table 1   What we think needs doing

RefWhatWhy it mattersWhenIndicative
F11Close the open ridge endThe closure at the end of the ridge has gone and there is a hole into the roof at its highest point. The apex is the one place where wind drives rain inwards under pressure rather than shedding it. It has been open for years and will not show inside until it has done real damage.NowQuote
F1Replace the broken hip tile and make good behind itA hip tile at the eaves has broken away leaving a fist-sized hole into the eaves, directly above the gutter. Water goes onto the rafter feet and the wall plate — the most expensive timber on the roof. An opening this size also invites nesting birds.NowQuote
F2Clear the lead parapet gutter and its outlet — about 11 mThe lead parapet gutter behind the eaves is silted along its length with debris banked to the rim of the outlet. A parapet gutter that blocks does not spill down the outside wall where you would see it — it rises and discharges inside the wall line.Before leaf fall£130–£165
F3, F7Scrape the moss band, then clear every other gutter runHeavy moss along the course lines of the shaded slope sheds into the eaves gutters beneath it every winter. Clear those runs without dealing with the moss first and they will need clearing again next year. The parapet gutter silts from the hedge and trees alongside it — a separate cause with the same answer, an annual clear.Same visitIncluded
F5, F6Re-point the hip tiles — about 16 m — and the chimney jointsMortar has weathered back on a number of hip tiles and on several joints in the chimney. Neither is a defect yet; both are on the path to becoming one. Worth doing while access is already up for the two urgent items.2–3 years£1,100–£1,600

On the cost figures. Published UK ranges at September 2026, so you can tell whether a quotation is in the right region. They are not a quotation, and we do not carry out repairs. Where no reliable published figure exists — as for the two urgent repairs, both single small jobs at height — we say so rather than guess.

3What we do not think needs doing

Each was inspected specifically and no defect found. They are listed because they are what gets proposed most often on a roof of this age — and because the lichen looks far worse than it is.

Table 2   What we do not think needs doing

RefElementWhat was foundWhat we think that means
F12The ridgeFlown end to end in both directions. Straight, no dip, every ridge tile seated, bedding continuous.We see no reason to re-bed or re-point the run. One closure at one end needs repair — that is F11, not the ridge.
F8The tile fieldNo slipped, missing or cracked tile anywhere covered. Courses true, gauge even.We see no case for a re-tile or a strip and re-lay. If either is proposed, ask which tiles are defective and where.
F9Lead flashings to the chimneyStepped flashing follows the brick courses, dressed down onto the tiles, no lifting or tearing. Heavily patinated, which is age.We do not think the flashing needs replacing. Published rates run £50–£70 per metre, so it is worth knowing.
F7Lichen on the tiles and ridgeExtensive white and orange lichen on every slope and along the ridge.We do not read this as a defect or a reason to clean the roof. Never let anyone jet-wash it — that does real damage to old clay tiles.
F13The entrance slope and its gutterCovering sound, gutter running straight and clear, fascia clean.Nothing. The problems on this roof are concentrated at the hip end and along the parapet gutter.
F10The outbuilding roofWhole plane imaged from above. Covering unbroken, courses true.Nothing. It is a different and much younger covering and should be priced separately if it is ever raised.

This is our judgement from photographs, not a professional inspection. If a quotation includes any of the above, ask for the specific tile, metre or joint that is defective, and check the answer against section 7. A quotation that cannot point at one is padding.

4How this report was prepared

This report was not prepared by a roofer. It is an AI evaluation of drone video and photographs taken during the flight: nobody has been on this roof, nobody has touched a tile, and no roofing contractor or structural engineer has reviewed it. Each finding gives you the photograph, which is evidence you can check, and an opinion on what it means, which is an opinion — and an AI can misread a photograph, so shadow can read as a crack and lichen as damage. Treat it as a guide to where to look and what to ask, get anything you intend to spend money on looked at by someone qualified, and note that a green grade means no defect was visible, not that none exists.

Part Two — for the roofer Where each defect is, what the photograph shows, and what was checked and found sound.

5Suggested scope of work

Grouped by when we think it should be done, so it can be handed over as a scope. References match section 7.

Table 3   Suggested scope of work, in priority order

WhenItemsScopeIndicative
Now — 0 to 3 monthsF11, F1Close the ridge terminal: re-bed the last ridge tile, form a proper closure, re-bed the bonnet beneath it. Replace and re-bed the broken bonnet hip tile at the eaves and make good the eaves behind it. Report on the condition of the timber found at both before closing up. Tower access; one visit covers both.Quote
Before leaf fallF2, F3, F7Scrape the moss band off the shaded slope. Clear the lead parapet gutter (about 11 m), its outlet and every eaves run by hand — about 36 m of gutter in total. Inspect the lead once it is clean — welts, laps and the outlet collar. Set up an annual clear.£130–£165
Same visitF4Run water through the gutter angle on elevation C and establish where it is going before any repair is priced.Nil
Plan for — 2 to 3 yearsF5, F6Re-point the bonnet hips — about 16 m across four part-hip runs — and the eroded joints in the stack. Bring forward only if access is already up.£1,100–£1,600
No workF8, F9, F10, F12, F13Tile field, lead flashings, outbuilding roof, the ridge run itself and the entrance slope. Inspected, no defect found.—
Not covered—The chimney pot and flaunching were not imaged from above and carry no grade. Worth a look while the stack is being re-pointed.—

6The roof, and what was covered

A main range with a central ridge bookended by part-hipped, part-gabled ends — three ridge lines. A lead-lined parapet gutter with an outlet runs along one eaves; painted ogee gutter runs the rest of the perimeter, with three downpipes. Elevations are lettered by feature, not by compass bearing.

Roof plan repeated

Figure 1, repeated   Roof arrangement, gutter line and elevation key

Estimated dimensions

Nobody has put a tape on this building. These are derived from the flight record and the photographs, with the camera calibrated against an object of known size. Close enough to check a quotation against and to plan access from; not close enough to order materials against.

Table 4   Estimated dimensions

ElementEstimateHow it was derived
Eaves height above the garden4.1 m ± 0.4Brick coursing scaled against the recorded aircraft height and camera angle. This is the figure that sets the access method
Ridge height above the garden7.3 m ± 0.8Derived from the eaves height, pitch and span
Main range, length11.0 m ± 0.5Aircraft ground track on the pass flown along the building
Main range, width across the eaves7.2 m ± 1.0Derived from the pitch and the rise
Roof pitch40° ± 5Tile gauge against tile width on the overhead pass. Consistent with the 35° minimum a plain tile requires
Slope length, eaves to ridge4.8 m ± 0.6Derived
Roof area, all slopes115 m² ± 20Includes the part-hip ends, excludes the outbuilding
Gutter, total run36 m ± 3Perimeter at the eaves
— of which lead parapet gutter11 m ± 1The F2 clearing quantity
Bonnet hip, total run16 m ± 4Four part-hip runs. The F5 quantity — measure before accepting a price
Ridge, total run10 m ± 2Three ridge lines
Plain tile165 × 265 mmAbout a 100 mm gauge, so roughly 60 tiles per square metre
Chimney stackNot measuredImaged from the side only. No dimension offered

Coverage

Table 5   Coverage by elevation

KeyElevationCoverageImagesNote
AGarden slope, parapet gutterGood7Eaves, parapet gutter and outlet covered close. Upper third of the slope not reached
BEntrance slopeGood2 + videoRun end to end. Eaves, gutter, slope and verge
CStack endGood4Gable portion, wall head and the stack. The part-hip above it not covered
DHip endGood5Bonnet hip run and the eaves corner. Upper part-hip not covered
—Ridge lines — threeGoodvideoFlown above the full run, both directions
—Chimney stackPartial3Flashings and shaft covered. Pot and flaunching not imaged from above
EOutbuilding roofGood3Whole roof plane from above, video only
—Neighbouring roofsExcluded—Visible in frame but not ours to report on

7Findings in detail

Red first, then amber, then what was checked and found sound. Every photograph is a frame from the flight.

F11

Ridge terminal open where the run meets the part-hip

Apex · last ridge tile of the run, end away from the stack
Red — needs action now
What was seen
The last ridge tile is not closed. An opening beneath its cut end, with a loose filler slip sitting in the gap rather than bedded, and the bonnet below has lost its mortar at the same point. Lichen across every surface of the opening says years, not since the last gale.
Why it matters
The worst place on a roof to have a hole. Everywhere else the lap of the tiles sheds water; at the apex wind drives rain inward under pressure, onto the ridge board and the rafter heads. It is also the least likely to announce itself — water tracks down inside before anything stains.
What we suggest
Re-bed the last ridge tile, form a proper closure, re-bed the bonnet beneath. Same access as F1; look at the ridge board while up there. Called from the video rather than a single still, so confirm at close quarters before pricing. A single closure, so expect a minimum-charge visit.
Open ridge terminal — F11

Figure 2   Open ridge terminal — F11

F1

Broken bonnet hip tile and open void at the eaves

Elevation D · lowest bonnet of the part-hip, above the gutter angle
Red — needs action now
What was seen
The bottom bonnet has fractured and lost a section of its face. Behind it an open void into the eaves, bedding mortar broken out, bare timber visible. Fist-sized, directly above the gutter angle. The bonnets either side are undisturbed, so this is one tile failing, not the hip line moving.
Why it matters
Water driven at the hip now goes into the eaves rather than over the bonnet, onto the rafter feet and wall plate. An opening this size also invites nesting birds, and once a nest is in it cannot lawfully be removed in season.
What we suggest
Replace and re-bed the bonnet, make good the eaves behind it, report on the timber found. Eaves about 4.1 m with a parapet at the wall head, so tower access — not a ladder job. No published band covers a single bonnet plus make-good.
Hip end at the eaves — F1

Figure 3   Hip end at the eaves — F1

Open void behind the broken bonnet — F1

Figure 4   Open void behind the broken bonnet — F1

F2

Parapet gutter silted, debris at the outlet

Elevation A · parapet eaves, lead-lined gutter and rainwater outlet
Red — needs action now
What was seen
A continuous bed of silt, moss and leaf litter along the lead, banked to the rim of the circular outlet. Not blocked on the day, but close to it. Feathers and nesting material in the same run. The hedge and trees alongside put a steady load in and nothing looks to have been cleared for years.
Why it matters
A parapet gutter fails differently from an eaves gutter, and worse. An eaves gutter spills down the outside wall, visible and largely harmless. A lead parapet gutter backs up inside the wall line until it finds the back of the lead or the course above, and goes into the structure — usually announcing itself as a damp upstairs ceiling, a season too late.
What we suggest
Clear the full run — about 11 m — and the outlet by hand before leaf fall, then inspect the lead while clean: welts, laps and the outlet collar, none of which can be judged through silt. Put it on an annual clear.
Parapet gutter outlet — F2

Figure 5   Parapet gutter outlet — F2

Debris in the parapet gutter — F2

Figure 6   Debris in the parapet gutter — F2

F3

Eaves gutters carrying debris

All elevations · every gutter run imaged
Amber — needs monitoring
What was seen
Organic debris along every run covered, with moss growing in the gutter rather than sitting in it — long enough to hold moisture through a summer. No run blocked, no standing water on a dry day.
Why it matters
Debris that has reached the growing stage does not wash out. It compacts, holds water against the fixings, and eventually reaches the downpipe, where it stops being maintenance and becomes an overflow.
What we suggest
Clear on the same visit as F2 — the access is already paid for. Nothing here justifies a visit of its own.
F4

Algal wash band on the slope

Elevation C · stack end slope, below and left of the gutter angle
Amber — needs monitoring
What was seen
A distinct pale green band running down the slope from the gutter angle, several tiles wide and clearly bounded against the weathering either side. Not the general lichen — a defined track, and defined tracks are made by water going over the same line repeatedly.
Why it matters
The algae is cosmetic; what it marks is not. The water is arriving somewhere the roof was not designed to shed it. Likely the run above overshooting, or a joint at the angle not holding — inferred from the stain, not observed.
What we suggest
Run a hose through the angle and watch where it goes, or look at it from below in heavy rain. Diagnose before spending anything.
Algal wash below the gutter angle — F4

Figure 7   Algal wash below the gutter angle — F4

F5

Bonnet hips: mortar receded, heavy colonisation

Elevations C and D · both part-hip runs
Amber — needs monitoring
What was seen
Dense lichen and moss on the bonnets, organic clumps in the joints, and mortar bedding weathered back from the tile edge on a number of them. None other than F1 is loose or displaced.
Why it matters
Receded bedding is what F1 started as: mortar goes, water and frost get into the gap, the tile fractures. Measured in winters rather than months.
What we suggest
Re-point within two or three years, or bring it forward if access is already up for F1 and F11. We make the four runs about 16 m, so roughly £1,100 to £1,600. Measure before accepting a lump sum, and do not let re-pointing be sold as re-bedding the hip.
Bonnet hips and mortar bedding — F5

Figure 8   Bonnet hips and mortar bedding — F5

F6

Eroded pointing to the stack

Chimney · brick shaft, joints above the stepped flashing
Amber — needs monitoring
What was seen
Several joints above the flashing line weathered back behind the face of the brick. Bricks sound, no spalling, no movement in the shaft. Light salt staining alongside the lead.
Why it matters
A stack takes weather on every face with no roof over it but its own flaunching. Open joints let water into the shaft, which is how staining appears on a chimney breast two floors down. Not yet.
What we suggest
Re-point when access is next up. The pot and flaunching were not imaged — have those looked at at the same time, because they fail first and carry no grade here. Scaffolding, if a tower will not do, will exceed the cost of the pointing.
Stepped flashing to the stack — F6 and F9

Figure 9   Stepped flashing to the stack — F6 and F9

F7

Moss and lichen across the tile field

All slopes · heaviest on the shaded slope
Amber — needs monitoring
What was seen
Extensive white and orange lichen on all slopes. The moss is heavier than it first looks: on the shaded slope it runs continuously along the course lines in a broad band, proud of the tile rather than in the gap, thinning towards the eaves where the roof dries.
Why it matters
The lichen does nothing. The moss is the supply line to F3 — a band this size sheds into the gutters beneath it every winter. It is not what silts the parapet gutter, which sits on a different elevation and is fed by the hedge alongside it.
What we suggest
Scrape it off before the gutters beneath are cleared, not after, or the clearing is wasted. Do not jet-wash: high-pressure water on old clay drives moisture under the courses and strips the surface. Scraped by hand, if at all.
Moss along the course lines — F7

Figure 10   Moss along the course lines — F7

Checked and found sound

Each was inspected specifically. Green means no defect was visible in the footage, not that none exists.

F12   Ridge run. Flown above the full length in both directions. Straight, no dip or sag, every ridge tile seated, none displaced or missing, bedding continuous; a proprietary ridge vent sits mid-run, intact. Re-bedding the ridge is the most commonly proposed job on a roof of this age and this one does not need it — what it needs is one closure repaired, F11, not a run re-bedded.

F8   Tile field. No slipped, missing or cracked tile anywhere covered; courses true, gauge even, tail lines straight along every run imaged. We see nothing that supports a re-tile or a strip and re-lay.

F9   Lead flashings to the stack. Stepped flashing follows the courses cleanly and is dressed down onto the tiles full length; no lifting, tearing or gap at the tuck. Heavily patinated, which is age, not failure. See Figure 9.

F13   Entrance slope and its gutter. Covering unbroken, courses true, no slipped or cracked tile, lichen only and none of the moss banding found on the shaded slope. Gutter straight and clear. The contrast is the useful part: this slope dries, the other does not.

F10   Outbuilding roof. Whole plane imaged from above; covering unbroken, courses true, light colonisation only, gutter and downpipe clear. A different and much younger covering, not to be priced alongside the house.

8Method, grading and limitations

Three sorties on the same afternoon, two in bright sun and one under flat overcast — hard light shows relief and broken edges, flat light shows colour and staining. Close work along the eaves and hip line, with separate passes above the ridge and along each elevation. Findings were worked through off the footage afterwards, so anything seen in one frame could be checked against the others.

Grading is a three-point scale. Red — needs action now Water is currently getting somewhere it should not, or a failure is in progress; within three months. Amber — needs monitoring Sound today, on a path to becoming a defect; cheapest dealt with alongside other work. Green — appears sound Inspected specifically and no defect found — not the same as not looked at, which appears in Table 5 instead.

A drone looks at a roof from outside. That covers a great deal, and it does not cover the following.

The chimney pot and flaunching.
Not imaged on any sortie. No grade given, none to be inferred.
Anything beneath the covering.
Battens, underlay and timber are not visible from above, except at F1 and F11 where the tile has gone.
Whether moisture is active.
We can show where water has been running, as at F4. Not whether it ran last winter or last night.
Inside the property.
No internal inspection. For F11, F1 and F2, a look in the loft would be worth more than another flight.
Structure.
A condition report on the covering and rainwater goods. No opinion on the roof structure, walls or foundations.
Thermal and moisture imaging.
Not included.
Dimensions.
Table 4 is derived from photographs and the flight record, not a tape.
Neighbouring property.
Adjoining roofs appear in the background of several frames. Not inspected, not reported on.

If you are buying the property or pursuing an insurance claim, treat this as evidence to put in front of a professional rather than a substitute for one.

9Flight record

Table 6   Flight record

Report referenceHPA-EM-001PackageRoof and gutters — £25
PropertyTest property, East Meon, HampshireInspectedSaturday 12 September 2026
Sortie 115:09–15:14 — bright sun, broken cloudSortie 215:51–15:54 — bright, thin high cloud
Sortie 316:51–16:54 — overcast, flat lightFlight timeAbout 11 minutes across three sorties
Height flown5.6–14.7 m above take-off pointCamera angle13° to 90° below horizontal
Images captured17 stills at 4000×2250Video4 clips, 3 min 30 s, 4K at 30 fps
AircraftDJI Neo 2, camera FC9470AirspaceClass G, unrestricted — checked pre-flight
Uninvolved personsNone within the flight areaAdult presentThroughout, all three sorties
CAA Operator IDGBR-OP-FFHLFXL2P399InsurancePublic liability in force on the day

Every finding traces to a numbered figure in section 7. The source stills and video clips are held and can be supplied on request.