Most building owners prefer drone roof inspection for their large and complex structures. Older houses had simple and easy-to-access roofs, but today, steeper or flat roofs built with a complicated design make it harder for roofers to inspect directly.
Drone inspection makes it easier to survey the roofs, regardless of their complexity. Besides, using a drone to inspect the roof is also faster, improves accuracy, and safer than having the roofer go up a steep roof.
You can use drones to inspect your roof if you suspect missing shingles causing roof leaks or find the areas lacking insulation. This method of roof inspection also comes with many benefits, which we will look at. Read on for more information on what you should know about drone roof inspection.
When Do You Need Drone Roof Inspections?
While some roofs are easy to reach by climbing a ladder, others are hard to access. It is hard to know the condition of your 5-storey building roof, especially if it is steep or has a complicated design. Some of the roof problems that could lead to the need of getting a drone to inspect are:
- Suspecting Water Leaks In The Roof Envelope
The roof envelope is a hard-to-reach area, and you can rarely detect any indicators of a leak from that section. Although drones have cameras, they might not detect the water leak because the site is not visible.
However, a drone can detect the presence of water on the roof. Roofers can fit them with thermal sensors to identify any changes in temperatures, which allows them to identify wetness properly.
Therefore, the roof installer will know the best treatment for that roof part. The building owner will also save more money they would have used to repair water-damaged areas or replace the roof.
- Finding Parts Of The Roof Requiring Insulation
There are many causes of insulation damage on the roof, and insufficient insulation can lead to other major roof problems. For example, the roof might start leaking, and you will notice an energy bill that’s higher than normal.
Drones do a thorough inspection, and the drone pilot ensures they pay attention to all roof parts. With it, they can detect any parts requiring insulation repair. The roofers can then assess how to replace insulation and protect the roof from leaks and weather.
- Finding Water Pools On The Roof
Standing water on the roof can be dangerous, because it leads to water leaks and potential damage to the inner parts of the roof. Even the act of climbing up the roof to detect the water pools can be challenging and dangerous, especially if you don’t know the exact place you should be examining.
To avoid breaking the shingles and weakening the roof structure during an inspection, you can use a drone to inspect the roof. It will detect all the pooling water, and the roofer can assess how to deal with the problem, all without needing to climb up.
Drones can also be used to check the gutter installation, which might be a reason for water pooling on the roof. If the gutters are not working correctly, the roof cannot drain the water, hence the water pooling up.
Benefits Of Using Drones For Roof Inspection
Drones make the roof inspection process easier and faster. They are also cheaper for roof inspection because you don’t require other tools like ladder and safety gear. Below are more advantages you will get from using a drone.
- Safety Of The Roofer And The Shingles
Climbing the roof can be dangerous to the roofer and your roof’s structure. When the roofer steps on the shingles, some could break, bend or crack, leading to roofing problems like leaks. Water leaks cause expensive repair problems, and in some cases, you will be forced to replace the entire roof.
In addition, roofers could slide and fall when inspecting the roof, leading to fatal injuries. Using a drone makes it easier to do roof inspection because there is no need to climb the roof and step on the shingles.
- Accuracy
You are more likely to get accurate results when using a drone to inspect the roof. Sometimes even the most experienced roofers commit inevitable human errors.
When using a drone to inspect the roof, you can remove any inaccuracies that lead to errors. Besides, these small machines give more consistent results from the inspection because they follow a similar process according to the settings.
- More In-Depth Inspection
A drone will collect a lot of information about your roof that human beings might not be able to collect. They get high-quality images that the roof experts can look at and detect the problems, and the drone pilots also fit them with thermal detectors to detect water leaks.
The drone also records videos during the inspections that you can replay until you detect the roof problem. You can also use the drone to get the before and after pictures of the same roof for comparison. It would be too much work for a roofer to use a ladder to climb the roof.
- Saves Time
When you hire a roofer to inspect your roof, they require time to plan and prepare. First, they will need the right roof climbing gear for safety, and they also need a map of your roof to not wander on the shingles.
When using a drone for roof inspection, you don’t need to plan as thoroughly as normal. The drone pilot begins the inspection immediately, and you can know your roof’s problem within a short time. Besides, you can see the videos and pictures as the drone inspects, hence a fast report generation.
- You Will Use Less Money
Drone roof inspection is less costly than using human roofers. You don’t require any equipment and labor expenses. You also save on insurance costs and transport. Besides, one drone can inspect multiple buildings in one day, even when using one drone pilot. Therefore, the only cost you incur is of hiring the drone.
Final Words
If you have a big building or a complex roof structure, don’t worry because a drone roof inspection makes work easier. You will know your roof’s problem while maintaining its safety and that of a roofer. Hopefully, this guide helps you understand why doing drone roof inspections is worth it.
