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5 Reasons Why You Should Use Drones for Roof Inspections
Let’s imagine a situation. There’s been a heavy storm, and you want to inspect your home’s roof as you suspect it may have sustained damage. However, you are unable to perform this inspection. There could be multiple reasons behind it. You are afraid of heights, the roof is slippery or steep, your ladder is rickety, or a section of the roof is already damaged.
That’s where the idea of a drone roof inspection comes in. This blog is for you if you have been worried about the inherent dangers of a roof inspection, you want to save your time, and perhaps even money. We’ll walk through five solid reasons to consider drone roof inspection, and how using them could save you time, money, and stress.
Safety Guaranteed: Fewer Risks & Headaches
When you opt for a drone roof inspection, you reduce the need for someone to climb on the roof. That is important because roof repairs are riskier. According to studies, falls contribute to approximately one-third of construction-related deaths. Since the usual way of inspecting the roof involves someone being on a ladder or a steep surface, it increases the likelihood of them falling.
American firm EagleView employed one of its claims adjusters to inspect a house in Maine. The roof had a high pitch (8/12), and it was pretty dangerous to climb up. Instead, it took the adjuster less than 30 minutes to obtain high-resolution photos on the ground using a drone. They found issues with the chimney and gutters, all without the assistance of a ladder company.
That’s among the significant benefits of drone roof inspection: less risk, fewer ladders, fewer “what ifs.”
Speed and Efficiency: Need we Say More
Another advantage of drone roof inspection is its speed. Conventional inspection methods may include scaling ladders up and down, walking around, taking photographs, and then returning to write a report. With a drone by your side, you can do all that in less time. No wonder that 78% of roof inspectors in the country now use drones.
Another study observes that roof inspections conducted through drones can reduce inspection time by 75% compared to manual inspections.
When time is money for homeowners, property managers, or roofers, a drone roof inspection offers a clear productivity win.
More Insightful and Credible Data
A drone has the capability of capturing angles, overhead shots, videos, thermal imaging, and high-resolution images that you just can’t attain manually. A company in New Jersey inspected condo-association buildings using a drone. They created an “orthomosaic map” (a stitched high-res map) and infrared imagery to identify possible water damage.
Why does this matter? Since you can zoom on flashings, chimney areas, ridges, gutters, or detect whether the surface is actually wet, it provides much more valuable information to you. The more information you have, the better positioned you are to make informed decisions. It could be repairs, further evaluation, or a replacement. Roof checkups with drones provide that advantage.
Cost savings (and fewer surprises)
Because drone roof inspection is faster, safer, and more data-rich, you generally save money and reduce surprises down the road. Preventing a problem saves significant repair costs. According to one source, drone inspections can be cheaper than manual ones because they eliminate the need for scaffolds, extensive labor, and accident risks.
Here is another statistic that might interest you. According to a study, nearly 58% of roof-inspection companies in the U.S. found that the ROI after the first year of adopting drones exceeded 168%.
It is beneficial to both the homeowner and the professional. There are fewer surprises, fewer “oh-no” moments, when the roof rots, and you had no idea.
Better Accessibility and Record-Keeping
Not all roofs are spread out flat and straightforward. They may have skylights, dormers, steep pitches, adjoining structures, and some areas may be shaded by trees. The inspection of a roof by means of a drone allows you to access those difficult-to-reach places. For example, ABJ Drones was hired to work on a 7-story structure that featured intricate top-level structures, which were difficult to access. A drone captured its images from places where walking or scaffolding would have been difficult and unsafe.
Also, the image gathered is stored. Your visual records are available to you as references that you can use to assess, for example, before-and-after damage caused by a storm, or for insurance or sale papers. When you use a drone, you’re upgrading your inspection quality and your record-keeping.
Bringing it All Together
Choosing drones isn’t just a trend; it’s a smart move for many homeowners and property managers. A quick recap:
- Safety: Minimizes the chances of falling or accidents from a rooftop.
- Speed: Does the job in less time and with fewer inconveniences.
- Data quality: Provides you with vivid and graphical pictures and thermal inspections of what you may have overlooked.
- Cost effectiveness: Reduces the risk of repair bills by a huge margin and gives good ROI.
- Accessibility & documentation: Access difficult areas and gather clean, retained documents.
Whether you’re managing a single-family home or a large multi-unit property, using drone roof inspection can make you feel more confident in the condition of your roof, more in control of your maintenance budget, and generally less stressed about what’s up there.
Final thoughts
If you’ve been postponing a roof inspection due to concerns about safety, cost, or accessibility, we encourage you to consider using drones for your roof inspection. It offers a smarter path; the advantages are practical and based on solid data and real-time case studies.
The roof is the most crucial part of your home. It gives shelter to your home, protects your investment, and ensures your tranquility. Drones help ensure your roof is in good condition and can serve you for a long time.
If you are looking for a drone roof inspection, GreenWorks Inspections is here to help. We utilize the latest technology and provide a comprehensive roof inspection, complete with high-quality images, clear and concise reports, and expert guidance.
Whether it is your home or commercial property, Greenworks will provide you with peace of mind and confidence regarding the state of your roof. Contact us today to schedule your roof inspection and stay ahead of potential trouble, not behind it.