Maybe drones are good for a quick look after a storm, but I don’t think they’re a replacement for getting your hands dirty—at least not yet.
That’s been my experience too. I tried using my cousin’s drone after a hailstorm last spring, and it looked like everything was fine, but then I found a cracked shingle right by the gutter when I went up to clear some debris. I’m not wild about climbing ladders either, but I trust my own eyes more than a camera. Guess it’s one of those “trust but verify” situations... especially when every little leak seems to turn into a big headache down the line.
- I get what you mean about trusting your own eyes. Drones are cool for a quick scan, but they can miss the small stuff, especially if you’ve got a lot of tree cover or weird angles on your roof.
- Last month, we checked a flat roof with a drone after some heavy wind. Looked fine in the footage, but when we actually got up there, there was a split seam hiding under some leaves. Would’ve been a mess if we’d just relied on the video.
- I’m not a fan of heights either, but sometimes you just gotta get up there—especially after hail or those crazy spring storms.
- For our shop’s roof (low slope, modified bitumen), we try to do a walk-around every couple months and after any big weather. It’s not always fun, but it’s saved us from bigger repairs down the line.
- Curious—how often do you all actually get up there for a hands-on check? Or do you mostly wait until something looks off from the ground?
- Also, does anyone use those moisture meters or infrared cameras? Wondering if they’re worth it for catching leaks before they show up inside...
We’ve got a low-slope EPDM roof, about 12 years old, and I try to do a full inspection every three months—plus after any big storm. I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite chore, but catching a popped seam or pooled water early has saved me a lot of hassle. I’ve used a basic moisture meter (the pinless kind) around suspect areas, and it actually caught some trapped moisture under the membrane that wasn’t visible yet. Haven’t tried infrared cameras—seems pricey for DIY, but maybe worth it if you’re seeing recurring issues. Ground checks are fine for obvious stuff, but I wouldn’t rely on them alone... too easy to miss the subtle things.
That’s a solid routine—three months is more than most folks manage, honestly. I totally get what you mean about ground checks missing the subtle stuff. I used to just do a quick walk-around after storms, but then I found a split seam that had been letting water in for who knows how long... not fun.
I’ve been curious about those pinless moisture meters. Did you find it easy to use on EPDM? I’ve heard mixed things about how well they work on rubber versus, say, built-up roofs. For me, I try to keep things as low-tech as possible—just a broom for debris and a close look at the drains and seams. But I’m starting to wonder if adding a moisture check would be worth it, especially since we’re thinking about adding solar panels soon.
Have you ever looked into green roof options or even just adding some pavers for extra protection? I’ve read they can help with insulation and extend membrane life, but not sure how practical that is for an older EPDM setup.
Tried a pinless meter on my EPDM last year—honestly, results were all over the place. Sometimes it picked up moisture, sometimes not, even when I knew there was a leak. I stick to visual checks and feeling for soft spots. Looked into pavers too, but my roof’s old and I worry about the extra weight. Green roof sounds cool but seems like a big project for an older membrane.