A traditional roof inspection might be a necessary part of property maintenance, but it’s a risky task when you take into account the risks of falls from ladders, scaffolding equipment and collapsing roofs. Luckily, there is now the option of drone roof inspections which deliver excellent levels of data capture without the threat to health and safety. Here’s why drone roof inspections are so valuable.
Early detection of problems
A roof inspection with drone technology can detect problems with your roof that may not be visible from the ground. For example, a drone inspection can identify cracks, leaks, or other damage that may be hidden under shingles or tiles. Early detection of problems can save you money in the long run by preventing further damage and costly repairs.
A drone can carry out a roof inspection much faster than a person ever could, and more thoroughly, and there’s no need for anyone to climb ladders or step onto dangerous surfaces. It means that the whole inspection can be carried out more quickly, which is of paramount importance in the event of an emergency situation where damage to the roof might pose a safety risk.
Improved safety
Roof inspections can be dangerous, especially if you are not trained in roof safety or you’re surveying a complex property or a deteriorated structure. Climbing a ladder to inspect your roof can put you at risk of falling and suffering serious injuries, and many professionals in this industry fall victim to accidents because of the nature of the job.
With a drone roof inspection, you can avoid this risk altogether, so you don’t need to worry about the risk of a damaged roof collapsing or falling off the edge of the scaffolding. A trained professional can use a drone to inspect your roof from a safe distance, reducing the risk of accidents, while still capturing the data you need to spot defects.
Cost-effectiveness
Drone roof inspections are a cost-effective solution compared to traditional roof inspections. Traditional roof inspections can be expensive, and you may have to pay for additional equipment and labour costs.
With a drone inspection, you can save money on these additional expenses, making it a more affordable option. Drone services remove the need for scaffolding, ladders and lifts, and since there are fewer needed to carry out the inspection, the whole project is more affordable.
Reducing the time and labour needed to complete a roof inspection also means that multiple building inspections can be completed in a single day, so if you have several properties in a portfolio dotted around different sites, they can all be inspected quickly but efficiently.
Comprehensive inspection
Roofing inspections can provide a comprehensive view of your roof. The drone can capture high-quality images and videos of your roof from various angles, giving you a complete overview of its condition. This allows you to identify problems that may not be visible during a traditional roof inspection.
Drones can gather a range of data for aerial inspections, such as:
- High resolution photos: You’ll benefit from unparalleled accuracy and detail with high resolution photography that gives you the opportunity for a really detailed analysis of the roof, as well as references for future work.
- High resolution video capture: Video is incredibly useful for assessing the roof and the surrounding area, and the high resolution video captured with a drone is stable which allows for accurate measurements and evaluations.
- 3D models: Precise 3D models are a valuable resource for property or project management, and they can be rotated to be viewed from any angle so you can inspect the roof in detail from the comfort of your desk.
- Thermal imaging: Thermal imaging technology can be helpful in identifying weak spots in the roof or insulation issues, showing where heat is escaping from the roof or cold spots that might pose an issue later on. This data can also be overlaid onto roof images to identify problem areas.
Reduced insurance costs
Because of the risks associated with a traditional inspection, staff and even sometimes those nearby are at risk of falls, accidents and damages. Similarly, the equipment used can be put at risk of damage, which means that insurance costs are much higher and this can impact the project and reduce revenue.
But if you’re using drone equipment, then you don’t need to worry about insuring a whole team and multiple pieces of equipment, which brings costs down. Drone inspections eliminate the need to follow the countless health and safety regulations that come with property inspections, keeping staff safe and still enabling the property to be inspected thoroughly.
In the event of a storm or other weather-related damage to your roof, a drone roof and aerial inspection can also help you make an insurance claim. The high-quality images and videos captured by the drone can provide evidence of the damage, making it easier to make a claim with your insurance company.
A drone roof inspection can provide peace of mind, knowing that your roof is in good condition. You can rest easy knowing that any problems with your roof will be identified early and addressed promptly, which makes the drone roof inspection cost a worthy addition to the project budget.
Increased precision
One of the key benefits to a drone inspection, and why they’re so important to projects, is that the data captured is so much more precise and accurate than with a traditional inspection. You’ll be in a much better position to know how to move forward with a project with comprehensive data, and you’ll have high-resolution images, video and thermal imaging to back up your decisions. Drones can inspect everything from tiles and roof flashing to chimneys, skylights and gutters, so you have a full overview of the entire roof and all its features.
Certain roofs are designed in a way that renders physical inspection impossible, be it their height, steepness, or wetness. Chimneys and other comparable structures can also be challenging for inspectors to access, and some roofing materials can be hazardous to walk on.
While inspectors can use camera poles to gain some visibility in these areas, they do not provide the required level of detail and have limitations. Drones, on the other hand, can easily navigate across any part of the roof, capturing photographs and videos of every corner and crevice. This level of superb accessibility empowers a comprehensive inspection that leaves no stone unturned.
Final thoughts
Regular roof inspections are essential to keep a roof in top condition, and an aerial roof inspection is a fast and efficient way to inspect the roof, allowing professionals to identify any problems quickly. This means that you can address any issues before they become more significant, preventing further damage and costly repairs.
In fact, drones are becoming an increasingly popular solution to the issue of roof inspections, and as we’ve explored, there are many benefits to using this equipment, not least their unparalleled speed, accuracy and cost-efficiency.
A drone roof inspection is an important tool for developers, property owners and construction workers to maintain the condition of the roof and fix any issues which arise. It provides early detection of problems, improved safety, cost-effectiveness and comprehensive data, while also being quicker to complete.