Façade Surveys

Drone-led façade condition surveys with high-quality imagery to detect defects, moisture ingress, delamination, and insulation loss.

Suited for building owners, managing agents, developers, and property surveyors, our inspections are safe, fast, and non-invasive, giving you evidence-led reports without the disruption of scaffolding.

Non-invasive drone-led inspections

Suitable for high-rise buildings

Detailed reports provided in as little as 72 hours

Serving the whole of the UK

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Why You Need a Façade Survey

A façade survey (sometimes known as a “cladding survey”) provides a clear, proactive assessment of a building’s exterior, helping you identify issues early, before they escalate into costly repairs or safety concerns. They can also help avoid potential breaches of legal and maintenance obligations placed on building owners and other “responsible persons”.

Using drone-led inspections with thermal imaging, Full View assesses common defects across key façade elements, including:

Cladding Panels, Rainscreen Systems, & Fixings: Checking for movement, detachment, damage, and installation faults.
Brickwork, Mortar Joints, & Pointing: Identifying cracks, spalling, weathering, and failed or eroded mortar.
Stone & Masonry: Assessing surface deterioration, decay, and structural weakening caused by age or exposure.
Balconies, Parapets, & Copings: Inspecting vulnerable high-level features for cracking, water ingress, and safety risks.
Windows, Seals, & Frames: Highlighting failed seals, gaps, and thermal leakage around openings.

Our Clients

How Our Façade Surveys Work

Our façade surveys follow a clear process designed to deliver insights into your property with minimal disruption:

Pre-Survey Consultation

We start with a free consultation to understand your property and any known concerns. This allows us to plan the flight route and ensure all safety and access considerations are addressed in advance.

Professional Inspection

Our experienced pilots fly DJI drones to capture high-resolution visual and thermal imagery of the façade, safely inspecting all areas without the need for scaffolding or working at height.

Data Analysis

The captured data is carefully reviewed and analysed to identify visible defects, thermal anomalies, and signs of moisture ingress, insulation failure, or material deterioration.

Report Delivery

You receive a clear façade condition report with annotated imagery and practical recommendations in as little as 72 hours, giving you the evidence needed to confidently plan maintenance or remedial works.

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Easy-To-Read Façade Survey Reports

Our experienced team will analyse all visual data captured during the façade survey and produce a report designed to support informed decision-making. Each report typically includes:

GPS-tagged, high-resolution imagery covering the entire façade, with close-ups of key defects and areas of concern
Overall façade condition assessment, providing a clear summary of the building’s external envelope
Prioritised defect register, ranking all issues by severity, risk, and urgency
Annotated findings and recommendations, outlining appropriate next steps

COMMERCIAL FAÇADE REPORT

Types of Buildings We Inspect

Full View provides façade surveys across a wide range of commercial and residential properties. Our drone-led approach is particularly effective for buildings where access is difficult or disruption needs to be kept to a minimum. We regularly carry out façade inspections for:

Residential apartment blocks & multi-storey flats
Low-rise and mid-rise buildings
Mixed-use developments combining residential, retail, or commercial spaces
Care homes and assisted living properties
Hotels and hospitality properties
Office blocks and retail units

Don’t see your property type listed? Don’t worry, we should still be able to help. Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.

Complementary Surveys

To provide a complete picture of your building’s condition, Full View can also carry out the following complementary surveys alongside your façade inspection:

Drone Building Inspection

A broader external assessment that captures the overall condition of the structure, helping to contextualise façade findings and highlight any additional areas of concern.

DRONE BUILDING INSPECTION

Drone Roof Inspection

A detailed drone-led roof inspection to identify defects such as drainage issues and signs of water ingress, supporting an all-round maintenance strategy.

DRONE ROOF INSPECTION

Thermal Drone Surveys

Advanced thermal imaging to detect moisture ingress and heat loss across your building’s exterior, all of which is hidden from the naked eye.

THERMAL DRONE SURVEY

Benefits of Drones for Façade Surveys

Safer Inspections

Drones eliminate the need for scaffolding or rope access, significantly reducing health and safety risk.

Fast, Efficient Surveys

Large façade areas can be inspected quickly, speeding up condition assessments and decision-making.

Non-Intrusive & Minimal Disruption

Surveys are completed externally, keeping residents and general building operations unaffected.

Thermal Detection of Hidden Defects

Thermal imaging identifies moisture ingress and insulation failure that are not visible to the naked eye.

High-Resolution, Evidence-Led Reporting

GPS-tagged imagery and annotated findings provide documentation for repairs and insurers.

Cost-Effective Compared to Traditional Methods

Reduced access costs and targeted follow-up work help control maintenance budgets.

Testimonials

“I’ve worked with Alex from Full View on several drone roof surveys across London over the past couple of years and he has consistently provided an excellent service. A few of the sites were in particularly built-up areas with very limited space for drone navigation, but Alex handled everything with confidence and precision. He takes care of all the necessary permits and permissions, which makes the process completely hassle free.

The way he organises and transfers the photos into clearly labelled files makes it far easier to share visuals with clients and incorporate them into our reports. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him for any drone survey work, especially in complex or restricted environments."

- Den, Commercial Building Survey, London.

“We came across Alex and Full View when we were looking to get some of our managed properties' roofs surveyed. Alex was great from start to finish, and the reports produced were exactly what we needed in order to make a clear proactive maintenance plan with regard to roof works!

We’ll certainly be using Full View for some of our other properties moving forward!"

- Brad Clark, Commercial Survey for Managed Properties, Bristol.

“We have worked with Full View for a number of years to undertake our drone survey work. Many of our projects at Mark Doodes Planning involve the use of CGI images to illustrate the impact of new development to show convincing “before and after” style images.

Full View's work is the foundation of this work with 4K photography. We have found Alex's team to be responsive to our sometimes demanding needs and always able to react quickly to new requirements"

- Mark D, Commercial Construction Surveys, Faringdon.

Why Choose Full View

At Full View, we combine advanced drone technology with practical reporting to help you make confident decisions. Here’s why our clients trust us with their high-rise building surveys:

We offer adaptable survey dates and times to fit around your site requirements, minimising disruption to residents or operations.
You’ll receive a detailed façade survey report within 72 hours of our site visit - often even sooner - so you can act quickly on any findings.
Our easy-to-read reports include in-depth analysis and prioritised recommendations that can be handed directly to your contractor, insurer, or managing agent.
We’re fully insured for all surveying work and hold CAA Operational Authorisation, ensuring every survey is conducted safely and professionally.
Our expertise in drone-led and thermal surveys allows us to detect visible and hidden façade issues with greater accuracy than visual-only inspections.

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Areas We Cover

While we are based in Oxfordshire, we offer façade surveys across the UK, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham. If you are curious about our services but aren’t sure if we’re right for you, please get in touch!

01993 259228
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FAQs

How much does a façade survey cost?

Costs vary depending on building size, height, complexity, and access. By using a drone, we can ensure your cladding survey is more cost-effective than scaffold access inspections. We’ll outline the costs during your free consultation, keeping things transparent throughout.

How often should a façade condition survey be carried out?

Most buildings benefit from a façade survey every 3 to 5 years, or sooner if the property is exposed to harsh weather, shows visible deterioration, or has undergone recent works. Scheduling regular surveys helps track condition changes over time.

Can you survey heritage or listed buildings?

Yes, our drone surveys are particularly well-suited to heritage and listed buildings as they reduce the need for intrusive access methods that could risk damaging historic façades.

What information is included in the façade survey report?

Reports typically include a façade condition summary, GPS-tagged high-resolution visual and thermal imagery, a prioritised defect register, and recommendations for repair works. If you have any questions about our reports, please give us a call, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

What drones do you use for a façade survey?

We use professional drones with thermal capability, such as the DJI Matrice 4T, allowing us to capture high-resolution visual data alongside accurate thermal imagery for comprehensive façade assessments.