Drone Roofing Inspections: How Do They Work?

Your roof—whether it’s protecting your home or covering a commercial property—is one of the most important systems in any building. It not only adds to the structure’s overall appearance but also plays a critical role in shielding the interior from the elements. Because of this, keeping your roof properly maintained should always be a priority.

Traditionally, roof inspections required contractors to climb ladders and walk across surfaces to identify damage or wear. Today, however, drone roofing inspections provide a faster, safer, and more efficient alternative.

How Does a Drone Roof Inspection Work?

When you schedule a roof inspection with drone technology, your contractor can choose between two main methods: manual or automatic.

Manual Drone Inspection

With a manual drone inspection, your contractor will fly the drone around to gather images of your roof. While it may sound awfully convenient, there’s actually a downside to this as they’ll have to sift through the numerous images the drone took afterwards to determine the damage to your roof.

Automatic Drone Inspection

On the other hand, you can also opt for an automatic drone inspection of your roof. To do this, the roofer types the job address into an app before typing out the perimeter of the roof to create a flight plan. Afterwards, a camera will be attached to the device.

After a quick, preflight checklist, your roofer will launch the drone, and it’ll automatically map out the roof, collecting dozens of ultra-high resolution images in the process. Once it’s done, it’ll return to the contractor as it transfers the imagery to a device. With the images in hand, your roofer can quickly create a bid.

Benefits of a Roof Inspection with Drone Technology

While the process itself is impressive, the real value of drone inspections lies in the advantages they bring to both homeowners and contractors.

1. Safer and Faster Inspections

It takes time to set up the necessary safety equipment. Not to mention contractors have to be extra cautious when inspecting steep roofs or hard-to-reach areas. However, with drones, contractors don’t need to set up safety equipment, saving precious time. Drones require minimal setup and can be operated from the ground.

2. Lower Inspection Costs

It also makes more financial sense to use a drone for roofing inspections. Operating a drone requires less manpower and no extra equipment at all, reducing labor and equipment costs. Plus, since drone inspections are safer, a contractor doesn’t need to get added insurance coverage. Any savings the contractor gets on labor, equipment and insurance costs will likely be passed onto you as a customer.

3. Detailed Data

The most compelling reason to use drones is the accuracy of their inspections. It takes a trained eye to spot the warning signs of roof damage, but even then, there’s always a chance your contractor will miss one tiny crack. With the help of drones, contractors can significantly reduce the risk of human errors while increasing the accuracy of the data gathered. For instance, drones equipped with infrared cameras can search for hidden pockets of moisture, which are a common issue for commercial flat roofs.

When Should You Get a Drone Roof Inspection?

A drone roof inspection can be helpful in several situations:

• After a storm – If your area experiences hail, strong winds, or heavy rain, a drone inspection can quickly check for damage without risking anyone’s safety.
• Before selling your home – A recent roof report can be valuable for buyers and help speed up the sales process.
• For routine maintenance – Scheduling inspections once or twice a year allows you to catch small issues before they become expensive repairs.
• If your roof is steep or difficult to access – Drones make it possible to inspect hard-to-reach areas that might otherwise go unchecked.

Protect Your Home with a Drone Roof Survey

Keep in mind that drones are just tools. As such, you still need to make sure you hire experienced residential and commercial roofing contractors. After all, they’re the ones who’ll be interpreting the data captured by the drone.

New View Roofing, a veteran-owned contractor, offers a wide range of professional roofing services, including drone roof inspections. To schedule a free inspection, call us at (469) 716-5859, or fill out our form here. We serve homeowners in Dallas, TX, as well as the surrounding communities.