I hear you on the drone limitations. In theory, they’re a great tool—especially for those of us dealing with steep pitches or winter ice. But I’ve seen similar issues where the camera just doesn’t pick up subtle cracks or small gaps in flashing, especially if there’s glare or debris in the way. Sometimes, the angle just isn’t right, or the resolution isn’t high enough to spot those hairline splits.
Honestly, I’m a bit skeptical about relying solely on drones for inspections. They’re a solid first pass, but I still recommend getting up there at least once a year, if it’s safe to do so. There’s just no substitute for physically checking the seams, fasteners, and flashing by hand. I’ve caught plenty of minor issues that would’ve turned into leaks if I’d only trusted the drone footage.
If you’re stuck with drone-only inspections, maybe try upgrading the camera or using different lighting conditions. But yeah, nothing beats a close-up look, especially after a big storm or freeze-thaw cycle.
But I’ve seen similar issues where the camera just doesn’t pick up subtle cracks or small gaps in flashing, especially if there’s glare or debris in the way.
That’s a really fair point. Drones have come a long way, but they’re still not perfect for detailed inspections—especially on green roofs or when you’re dealing with layers of vegetation and soil. I’ve had similar experiences where even a high-res camera missed root intrusion around drains. Like you said, nothing beats actually getting your hands on the seams and checking for soft spots after a rough winter. Still, drones are great for spotting obvious trouble areas before sending someone up there, which is a win for safety.
I hear you—sometimes you just have to crawl around up there yourself. I’ve found that even the best drone footage can’t show you if the insulation’s soggy or if there’s a weird dip forming under the membrane. Ever try poking around after a heavy rain? That’s when the hidden stuff really shows up. Still, drones save my knees on those big flat roofs... can’t complain about that.
- Drones are great for a quick look, but I’ve seen them miss subtle membrane blisters or small punctures—especially after hail.
- Moisture meters and infrared scans can pick up soggy insulation without tearing anything up. Not as hands-on as crawling, but more precise than just poking around.
- After a storm, I usually check for soft spots by walking the roof perimeter first. Sometimes you’ll feel a dip that’s invisible on camera.
- That said, I get the knee pain thing... but sometimes you gotta trade comfort for catching early leaks before they turn into a nightmare.
- For big commercial roofs, a combo of drone, thermal imaging, and a physical walk works best in my experience. Drones alone just don’t cut it for hidden storm damage.
- Gotta say, I’ve actually caught more issues with drones than I expected—especially after hail, when getting up there is risky.
- But yeah, they’ll miss stuff you can feel underfoot, like soft spots or hidden seam splits.
- For flat roofs, I lean heavier on thermal imaging. Sometimes you just can’t spot trapped moisture any other way.
- Full inspection still means getting boots on the roof, but tech’s saved me a lot of time (and knees) lately.
