--- title: "Solar Drone Roof Surveys Exeter, Devon & Somerset | The Solar Broker" description: "Licensed drone roof surveys and bespoke solar design software across Devon & Somerset. Real dimensions, real shading modelling, real prices on the day." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Solar Broker", "telephone": "0800 870 8003", "email": "hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk", "image": "/logo.png", "logo": "/logo.png", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Ann's Platt, Topsham", "addressLocality": "Exeter", "postalCode": "EX3 0DB", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "areaServed": [ "Devon", "Somerset", "EX", "TQ", "TA", "PL" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "The Solar Broker", "alternateName": "Solar Broker Devon", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Solar Broker" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "name": "Drone Surveys", "serviceType": "Drone Surveys", "provider": { "@type": "LocalBusiness", "name": "The Solar Broker", "telephone": "0800 870 8003", "areaServed": [ "Exeter", "Torquay", "Taunton", "Plymouth", "Devon", "Somerset" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Exeter", "postalCode": "EX3 0DB", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, "areaServed": "Devon & Somerset", "description": "Licensed drone roof surveys and bespoke solar design software across Devon & Somerset. Real dimensions, real shading modelling, real prices on the day.", "url": "https://thesolarbroker.co.uk/services/drone-surveys" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the drone survey cost extra?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The drone survey is part of how we quote every job, it is included in the free site visit, not billed separately." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does the survey take on the day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The flight itself typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes depending on roof complexity. The full visit, including the consultation and quote conversation, usually takes 60–90 minutes." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the drone insured?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, the drone operation carries £1M Public Liability insurance and full CAA operational authorisation. Every flight is logged." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need to be home for the survey?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, ideally. Our surveyor meets you, walks the house, discusses your usage and priorities, and only then flies the roof. The design conversation is at least half the value of the visit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if the weather is bad on the day?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Drones can fly in most conditions but not heavy rain or high wind. If the weather makes the flight unsafe, we rebook, usually within a couple of days." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How accurate is the design compared to a real installer?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The design is accurate enough that the installer can quote from it directly. There are effectively no surprises on install day because the roof was properly modelled up front." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you survey commercial roofs as well?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, commercial and agricultural roofs across Devon and Somerset benefit from drone surveys, particularly for ballasted flat roofs and profiled metal where obstruction mapping is critical." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you cover the whole of Devon and Somerset?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, every EX, TQ, TA, and PL postcode. Site visits are typically within two to three days of your initial phone call." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Services", "item": "/services" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Drone Surveys", "item": "https://thesolarbroker.co.uk/services/drone-surveys" } ] } ] --- Independent by design · Devon & Somerset · Available 24/7 [hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk](mailto:hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk)[0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) [![The Solar Broker](/assets/logo-DoooI4Gt.png)](/) [Home](/) Services [ Solar Panels Find out whether solar is worthwhile for your home, how many panels will fit and what the system could realistically generate. ](/services/solar-panels)[ Battery Storage We calculate whether a battery is likely to improve your savings, resilience or use of cheaper overnight electricity, rather than adding one automatically. ](/services/battery-storage)[ EV Chargers Choose a charger that works with your vehicle, electricity supply, solar system and future plans. ](/services/ev-chargers)[ Backup Power & Energy Independence Explore systems designed to keep selected circuits running during a power cut and reduce your reliance on peak-rate electricity. ](/services/gateway-backup-power)[ Drone Surveys Your roof is inspected and measured before we recommend a system, helping avoid unsuitable layouts, overlooked shading and unrealistic generation estimates. ](/services/drone-surveys)[ Free Solar Suitability Consultation A 10–20 minute conversation about your home, electricity use and what you want solar to achieve. You will not be asked to make a decision during the call. ](/services/consultation)[ Grants & Funding Guidance We explain the funding, VAT, export and finance options that may apply to your circumstances, without suggesting that everyone will qualify. ](/services/grants-funding)[ Compare Suitable Installer Proposals Where suitable, we obtain comparable proposals from a small number of installers selected for your property, location and system requirements. ](/services/quote-comparison)[ Support After Installation We don't disappear after install. You keep our direct number and we step in to resolve any aftercare issue with the installer, whenever it comes up. ](/services/aftercare-support) Areas EX · Exeter Postcode [Exeter](/service-areas/exeter)[Exmouth](/service-areas/exmouth)[Barnstaple](/service-areas/barnstaple)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ex-surrounding-areas) TQ · Torquay Postcode [Torquay](/service-areas/torquay)[Newton Abbot](/service-areas/newton-abbot)[Paignton](/service-areas/paignton)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/tq-surrounding-areas) TA · Taunton Postcode [Taunton](/service-areas/taunton)[Bridgwater](/service-areas/bridgwater)[Yeovil](/service-areas/yeovil)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ta-surrounding-areas) PL · Plymouth Postcode [Plymouth](/service-areas/plymouth)[Saltash](/service-areas/saltash)[Tavistock](/service-areas/tavistock)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/pl-surrounding-areas) Our Work [Our Work](/our-work)[Case Study](/case-study) About [About](/about)[Reviews](/reviews) [Contact](/contact) [0800 870 8003 ](tel:+448008708003)[Book your free consultation](/book) 1. [Home ](/) 2. [Services](/services) 3. Drone Surveys ![Aerial drone view of a residential solar panel array on a UK pitched roof, the type of imagery captured during a Solar Broker drone survey](/__l5e/assets-v1/7d13c20b-fa77-4be3-b33b-4b0d47c9f2c1/drone-survey-hero.jpg) Drone Roof Surveys · Devon & Somerset # Licensed Drone Roof Surveys. Bespoke Design Software, Not Google Maps. Real Numbers, On The Day. Every roof we quote is flown personally by our surveyor with a licensed drone and designed in paid bespoke software. Real dimensions, real shading month by month, and a firm price the day of the visit, not a range that changes at signing. [Book your free consultation](/book) [Call 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) Licensed drone operation · Paid bespoke design software · MCS-vetted installers · £1M Public Liability Licensed drone operator Paid bespoke design software (not free web tools) £1M Public Liability insurance DBS Certified Site visits typically within 2–3 days The service ## Drone Surveys, what it is, who it is for, and why professional advice matters. The single biggest difference between a good solar design and a bad one is the accuracy of the roof survey behind it. Most competitors design in a free web tool over a Google Maps satellite image that is anywhere from two to seven years out of date. We do not. What it is A drone survey is a full, licensed flight over your roof, capturing high-resolution imagery of every plane, obstruction, chimney, and dormer. The results feed into paid bespoke design software that models shading month by month, string-level performance, and mounting layout. The output is a design your installer can quote from confidently, and a firm price on the day of the visit. Who it is for Anyone considering solar in Devon or Somerset benefits, but the drone survey earns its keep most obviously on complex roofs: multiple aspects, dormers, chimneys, valleys, listed properties, and homes near mature trees or neighbouring buildings. On simple south-facing roofs it still catches things a satellite image misses. When it makes sense The survey happens at the same visit as the initial site consultation, typically two to three days after your first phone call. You do not pay for the drone survey separately, it is part of how we quote every job. Why a professional Drone operation for commercial purposes requires CAA licensing, insurance, and adherence to specific flight rules. It is not something a homeowner should be arranging themselves, and it is not something a sales rep with a phone camera can substitute for. What happens if you get it wrong ## What a Google Maps quote actually hides. Free design tools give a free design. That is fine for a rough sanity check. It is not fine as the basis for a £10,000+ installation on your roof. Risks of getting it wrong - Satellite imagery that is two to seven years old, mature trees, extensions, and new dormers all missed. - Shading not modelled month by month, winter performance quietly over-stated on the quote. - Panel count that will not physically fit around real chimneys and vents once the installer gets on the roof. - Design changes on install day that trigger a variation charge you were not expecting. Common homeowner mistakes - Accepting a quote based on a satellite tool without asking whether an on-site survey has been done. - Believing an annual generation figure without seeing the month-by-month breakdown behind it. - Skipping the drone survey to save time, then discovering a shading issue that changes the whole design. - Assuming every installer designs to the same accuracy. They do not. Our process ## How we handle drone surveys, step by step. 1. Step 01 ### Free phone consultation A 10–20 minute call to understand your bill, your home and what you actually want from your drone survey and design. No sales script, we answer our own phone. 2. Step 02 ### On-site + licensed drone survey we attend personally, flies a licensed drone over the roof, and designs the system in paid bespoke software, not a free web tool. Site visits typically within 2–3 days of your call. 3. Step 03 ### Vetted installer quotes Around three like-for-like quotes from the small panel of MCS installers we vet against seven strict criteria. Every installer pays us the same commission, so there is no hidden reason to favour one. 4. Step 04 ### Installation + verification You contract directly with your chosen installer. They complete the work to MCS standards, and we cross-check the commissioning paperwork, EPVS registration and grant applications on your behalf. 5. Step 05 ### Aftercare | indefinitely You keep our number. Independently underwritten guarantees stand even if the installer changes shape, and any dispute is escalated by us on your behalf. Benefits ## What you actually get. ### Real dimensions Every roof plane measured from actual imagery, not estimated from satellite tiles. ### Month-by-month shading Shading modelled through the year, so winter generation numbers on your quote are honest. ### String-level design Panels grouped into strings and MPPTs based on real shading, so one shaded panel does not throttle the array. ### Firm price on the day No 'we will confirm the number once we have designed it' | the design happens live and the price is confirmed on the visit. ### Insured, licensed operation Full CAA licensing and £1M Public Liability on every flight. Roof and drone both properly insured. ### Included in every quote No separate charge | the drone survey is how we quote every job, not an upsell. In detail ## The technical bit, in plain English. Drone surveys are only useful if the imagery is captured properly and the software behind them is worth using. Both matter. ### Licensing and airspace Commercial drone operation in the UK requires an appropriate CAA operational authorisation, adherence to the Drone Code, and awareness of local airspace restrictions (some parts of Devon sit under military exercise areas or CTAs). Every flight is planned in advance and logged for insurance purposes. ### Imagery and 3D modelling The drone captures overlapping high-resolution imagery of every roof plane, chimney, vent, and obstruction. That imagery is processed into a 3D model of the roof surface accurate to within centimetres, the level required for genuine string layout and mounting-system selection. ### Bespoke design software vs free web tools Free web tools estimate. Paid bespoke software calculates: string-level MPPT performance, monthly shading, DC-to-AC ratio, cable losses, and mounting layout down to individual roof hooks. We use the same class of software the best installers use, and we use it on your quote before you have committed to anything. ### Where the drone catches problems a satellite misses Recent extensions, new dormers, satellite dishes, moss coverage, hipped-roof geometry, tree growth in the last two seasons, and neighbouring buildings that cast winter shade, all routinely missed by satellite tools and routinely caught by the drone. ### Residential vs commercial roofs Both benefit, but for very different reasons. Residential roofs get a genuinely accurate design and a firm quote. Commercial roofs, flat, ballasted, or profiled metal, get accurate area calculations, obstruction mapping, and structural planning input that flat satellite imagery cannot support. Straight answers ## Drone Surveys, the questions homeowners actually ask. Can't see your question? Speak directly to us, no call-centre script and no pressure to book. [Call 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003)[Book your free consultation](/book) ### Does the drone survey cost extra? No. The drone survey is part of how we quote every job, it is included in the free site visit, not billed separately. ### How long does the survey take on the day? ### Is the drone insured? ### Do I need to be home for the survey? ### What if the weather is bad on the day? ### How accurate is the design compared to a real installer? ### Do you survey commercial roofs as well? ### Do you cover the whole of Devon and Somerset? Related services ## Often paired with drone surveys. [ ### Solar Panels Find out whether solar is worthwhile for your home, how many panels will fit and what the system could realistically generate. Learn more ](/services/solar-panels)[ ### Battery Storage We calculate whether a battery is likely to improve your savings, resilience or use of cheaper overnight electricity, rather than adding one automatically. Learn more ](/services/battery-storage)[ ### Free Solar Suitability Consultation A 10–20 minute conversation about your home, electricity use and what you want solar to achieve. You will not be asked to make a decision during the call. Learn more ](/services/consultation) Or return to the [homepage](/), browse [all services](/services), or [call us on 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003). Ready when you are ## Book the site visit: drone included, price confirmed on the day. Free consultation, no obligation. Our surveyor attends every survey personally, and the design conversation is yours to keep whether you go ahead or not. MCS-vetted installers · £1M Public Liability · Independently underwritten guarantees [Book your free consultation](/book) [0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) ![The Solar Broker](/assets/logo-DoooI4Gt.png) Independent solar advice for homeowners across Devon, Somerset and south-east Cornwall. You pay us nothing; every installer pays the same fixed fee if you choose to proceed. Based in Topsham, Exeter, and covering homes across the stated EX, TQ, TA and PL postcode areas. Not sure whether your postcode is included? Call us and we will confirm before you book. [0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) [hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk](mailto:hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk) Ann's Platt, Topsham, Exeter EX3 0DB Services [Solar Panels](/services/solar-panels)[Battery Storage](/services/battery-storage)[EV Chargers](/services/ev-chargers)[Backup Power & Energy Independence](/services/gateway-backup-power)[Drone Surveys](/services/drone-surveys)[Free Solar Suitability Consultation](/services/consultation)[Grants & Funding Guidance](/services/grants-funding)[Compare Suitable Installer Proposals](/services/quote-comparison)[Support After Installation](/services/aftercare-support) Service Areas [EX, Exeter](/service-areas/exeter)[EX, Exmouth](/service-areas/exmouth)[EX, Barnstaple](/service-areas/barnstaple)[EX, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ex-surrounding-areas)[TQ, Torquay](/service-areas/torquay)[TQ, Newton Abbot](/service-areas/newton-abbot)[TQ, Paignton](/service-areas/paignton)[TQ, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/tq-surrounding-areas)[TA, Taunton](/service-areas/taunton)[TA, Bridgwater](/service-areas/bridgwater)[TA, Yeovil](/service-areas/yeovil)[TA, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ta-surrounding-areas)[PL, Plymouth](/service-areas/plymouth)[PL, Saltash](/service-areas/saltash)[PL, Tavistock](/service-areas/tavistock)[PL, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/pl-surrounding-areas) Company [About us](/about)[Accreditations](/accreditations)[How we compare](/comparison)[Our Work](/our-work)[Reviews](/reviews)[Contact](/contact) Legal [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions)[Complaints Procedure](/complaints)[Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy) © 2026 The Solar Broker. 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