How often do you actually get your business roof checked?

Totally get where you’re coming from—drones look slick, but my wallet’s learned the hard way that insurance folks want those up-close photos. I tried to save a few bucks last year by just sending in drone pics after a windstorm. Nope, adjuster still needed someone crawling around up there, poking at every shingle like it owed him money.

Honestly, as much as I’d love to stay on the ground (and keep my shoes clean), I’ve found it’s worth it for peace of mind—and avoiding those “claim denied” headaches. Maybe someday we’ll have robo-drones with x-ray vision, but until then… boots on the roof it is.

I’ve run into the same thing with insurance—drone photos are cool and all, but every adjuster I’ve met wants to see hands-on proof. Last fall, after a hailstorm, I thought I’d save time by sending over some high-res drone shots. Looked great, but the adjuster still insisted on climbing up and checking for granule loss and soft spots himself. He even found a couple of cracked shingles I missed from the ground.

Honestly, I get why they’re picky. There’s just stuff you can’t spot unless you’re right up there, especially with older roofs or weird slopes. It’s a pain, but I’d rather deal with a little hassle now than get stuck with a denied claim later. I do wish the tech was further along, though... Maybe in a few years drones will be able to do moisture readings or something.

For now, I just try to get up there twice a year—once before winter and once after spring storms. It’s not fun, but it beats surprises when it comes time to file a claim.

I hear you on the hands-on inspections, but honestly, I’ve had a different experience with adjusters lately. Maybe it’s a regional thing, but the last two claims I filed, the adjusters were actually fine with my drone photos—at least for initial documentation. They still sent someone out eventually, but it sped things up a bit. I do wonder if it depends on the age and type of roof, though. Our main building has a flat membrane roof, and drones seem to catch most issues unless there’s hidden moisture. Still, I’m with you—nothing replaces actually getting up there and poking around, especially after a rough winter.

- Totally agree, drone photos are a game changer for quick checks, especially with big flat roofs.
- I've noticed adjusters are more open to them lately too, but yeah... they still want someone to do the old-fashioned walk sometimes.
- With membranes, I always worry about hidden stuff—trapped moisture's sneaky and doesn't always show up in pics.
- After a couple of harsh winters here, we found seams starting to peel up that weren’t obvious from any angle except standing right there.
- For older roofs, especially anything over 10-12 years, I still recommend at least one hands-on inspection a year. Drones are awesome for documenting conditions, but you don’t always spot soft spots or tiny punctures until you’re actually poking around.
- Had a client last month who thought everything looked fine via drone—turns out there was pooling water under the ballast that caused rot.
- Guess it really comes down to roof type and local weather. Some places can get away with more remote inspections, but around here in the Northeast, freeze/thaw cycles keep us on our toes.
- Still, I’ll take any tool that helps speed up the process... just wouldn’t trust it as my only line of defense.

- I’m with you on the freeze/thaw cycles—Northeast weather is rough on roofs.
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“Drones are awesome for documenting conditions, but you don’t always spot soft spots or tiny punctures until you’re actually poking around.”