NP11's Local Valley Specialists
High-resolution drone audits for forestry-proximate and valley-core properties.
1. Get Free Quote
Submit the form. We are based in NP4, so NP11 residents pay Zero Travel Costs.
2. Arrive & Pay
Accept the quote to book. To prevent fraud, payment is only taken upon arrival once flight safety is confirmed.
3. The 20-Min Scan
We use high-stability drones to scan complex valley roofs. Ideal for forestry-proximate homes in Risca or narrow-street access in Crosskeys.
4. Receive Data Package
You receive a PDF Condition Report and a link to every raw image & 4K video to show your insurer or roofer.
The "Valley Fog" Guarantee
Western Valley weather can be deceptive. If we arrive and cannot fly due to sudden fog, wind, or low cloud cover, you do not pay a penny.
*Disclaimer: Rescheduled visits are billed at the original quoted rate.
Non-Destructive Valley Inspections.
Why pay for access when you can pay for data?
Hiring access equipment for valley-floor properties in Risca or forestry-proximate homes in Pontymister can be complex and expensive.
Our drone survey provides a faster, more practical alternative:
- ✅ Evidence for Insurance: Validation for storm damage claims with 4K photos.
- ✅ Forestry Proximity Checks: Identifying moss, lichen, and gutter siltation from nearby trees.
- ✅ Trace and Access: Find the exact entry point of a leak in minutes.
Risca & Pontymister: Forest, Floor and Incline
Three distinct problems inside one Western Valley community, and one aircraft that reaches all of them.
Forestry Debris and Biological Growth
The plantations on the slopes above Risca and Cwmcarn shed needles, leaf litter and seed into gutters and valleys all year, not only in autumn. Once a valley silts up it holds water against the slate and grows moss on top of it. From above you can see precisely how much material is sitting there.
Valley Floor Humidity at Pontymister
The floor along the Ebbw holds moisture and sees less sun than the ground above it. Mortar softens, tiles carry lichen and freeze-thaw does the rest. On the older Pontymister and Risca terraces the failure usually begins at the verge and the ridge rather than in the middle of the pitch.
The Crosskeys and Wattsville Inclines
Properties on the valley sides at Crosskeys and Wattsville have rear elevations a ladder cannot safely reach. That is generally where the damage is, because it is the exposed side and the side nobody ever checks. We fly it from the street in a few minutes.
We Have Nothing to Sell You Afterwards
There is no roofing division here. A Risca survey fee is fixed at booking, it does not change with what the images show, and you keep the full data set. That independence is the reason insurers, lenders and buyers take the report seriously.
Buying or Selling in NP11?
"The survey flagged a potential roof issue."
Banks often demand a "Specialist Roof Report" before releasing funds on valley properties. Standard surveys often can't see high, complex roofs properly.
The Solution: We provide the high-level evidence your lender requires to lift the retention.
Insurance Claims & Valley Weather
If you are claiming for "Storm Event" or "Weather Exposure" damage common in the Sirhowy Valley, your insurer will demand proof that the damage is recent.
- ✅ HD Evidence: 4K photos of fresh damage.
- ✅ Date-Stamped Data: Proof for your claim.
- ✅ Independent Validation: Unbiased reports.
Typical Defects We Expose
Damaged / Slipped Tiles
Identify slipped or missing slates causing water ingress. Critical for Trace and Access on valley-exposed pitches.
Chimney Stack Pointing
Check for cracked pointing and lead flashing issues on period properties, especially those prone to moisture.
Blocked Guttering Check
Spot moss accumulation and siltation from forestry proximity.
Fascia / Soffit Issues
Identify water damage and rot on wooden fascia boards.
NP11 Housing Intelligence
Our drones are calibrated to spot specific defects common to the Western Valleys area:
- Forestry Proximity: Identifying biological growth (moss, lichen) and gutter siltation near Sirhowy forest.
- Valley Floor Moisture: Detecting mortar failure and tile displacement in shaded, high-humidity areas.
- Heritage Shopfronts: Non-invasive checks for lead valley degradation on older commercial cores.
- Crosskeys Incline: Inspecting for uplift damage on wind-exposed upper pitches.
Risca & Pontymister Pricing
Base Rate (Zero Travel Cost for NP11 Postcodes).
Basic Check
From £145*
"Is my chimney okay?"
- • 15 Minute Flight
- • Raw Images Provided
- • Single issue check
Full Condition Report
From £265*
Most Popular.
- • Full Roof & Chimney Scan
- • PDF Condition Report
- • Defect Highlighting
- • For Standard 3-Bed House
*Plus any applicable forestry/valley surcharges
Estate Agents
Volume
Property Management.
- • Marketing Photos
- • Roof Reports
- • Pre-Purchase Surveys
*Pricing based on standard residential properties.
Pilot Certification & Insurance
Your assurance for a safe, compliant, and discreet survey.
CAA Operational Authorisation
UK CAA A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) for operations near people and property.
- ✅ Fully Insured: £5M Public Liability.
- ✅ Discreet Operation: Quiet, small drones.
- ✅ GDPR Compliant: Secure data management.
Western Valleys Roof Inspections
Serving Risca, Pontymister, Crosskeys & The Valleys. Independent assessments you can trust.
- 📍 Risca Town
- 📍 Pontymister
- 📍 Crosskeys
- 📍 Wattsville
- 📍 Ty-Sign
- 📍 Cwmcarn
Common Problems We Identify
Book Your NP11 Survey
Select your package below.
Risca Drone Surveys: NP11 Questions
What Risca, Pontymister, Crosskeys and Wattsville residents ask.
My gutters keep blocking because of the forestry. Can you show me why?
Yes, and it is a very common Risca job. We photograph every gutter run, valley and outlet from above, so you can see whether the problem is one blocked outlet, general siltation, or a gutter that has dropped out of level and no longer drains at all.
Can you inspect a roof backing onto the mountain at Wattsville?
Yes. The drone flies the rear elevation from open air, so the slope behind the property makes no difference. That is the elevation taking the weather and the one that has probably never been properly seen.
Do you work on commercial premises in Pontymister?
Yes. Industrial units, retail premises and workshops along the Pontymister and Risca corridor are regular work, particularly valley gutter and rooflight condition on larger spans where walking the roof would be unsafe.
How soon can you attend after storm damage?
Urgent storm inspections are prioritised and NP11 is close to our Pontypool base. Mark the enquiry urgent in the form on this page and we will confirm timings, normally within twenty-four hours.
Is Twmbarlwm or the country park a restriction?
Not for standard survey work in the villages below. On the open hill and in Cwmcarn Forest we plan around walkers, mountain bikers and livestock, which is ordinary airmanship rather than a permissions problem.