Just don’t expect adjusters to give them much weight unless you get super detailed.
That’s kind of what I was worried about. I like the idea of having my own “before and after” shots, but if the insurance folks don’t really care, it’s hard to justify the cost of a drone. Has anyone actually had an adjuster accept drone pics as proof for a claim? Or is it just for peace of mind?
Has anyone actually had an adjuster accept drone pics as proof for a claim? Or is it just for peace of mind?
Had a hail claim last year—metal roof, Texas. I sent drone shots along with close-ups from the ground. Adjuster barely glanced at the drone pics, wanted to see the dents up close. For me, drone was more about documenting for my own records than swaying the insurance folks. Not saying it’s useless, but don’t expect it to be a magic bullet.
I tried the drone thing after a hailstorm last spring—figured it’d impress the adjuster. Nope. He was more interested in my ladder and a flashlight than any aerial shots. Honestly, drones are cool for wide shots, but they just don’t show dents well enough.
Drones are getting hyped up in the inspection world, but I’m with you—when it comes to hail dents, they just don’t cut it. I’ve tried using a drone for roof inspections a few times, mostly out of curiosity and, yeah, to avoid dragging my gear up a steep pitch. The wide shots look great, but any kind of subtle damage? It’s just not visible unless you’re basically hovering a foot above the shingles—and even then, shadows and glare mess with the detail.
Last year, after a nasty storm, a client wanted a “high-tech” report with drone photos. We did both: drone shots and the old-school walk-and-chalk. Adjuster barely glanced at the drone images. He wanted to see the actual granule loss, the tiny dings, the stuff you only spot when you’re up close with a light at an angle. I get why—insurance folks need proof that’s hard to dispute, and those little dents just don’t pop on aerials.
I do think drones have their place, especially for steep or fragile roofs where walking isn’t safe. They’re also handy for showing clients the overall condition or for spotting obvious things like missing shingles, big branches, or pooling water. But for hail, especially on metal, you need to see the surface up close. Sometimes there’s no shortcut for climbing up there yourself.
Funny how the “legend” of drones solving everything keeps going, though. Maybe in a few years the tech will get better, but for now, I’m still packing my ladder and flashlight.
I’ve run into the same thing with drone inspections, especially after hail storms. The first time I tried using one, I thought it’d be a game-changer—no more sketchy ladders on 12/12 pitches, right? But when I got back and looked at the footage, all those tiny dings on the metal panels just blended in. Even with 4K video, you miss the little stuff. I remember one job where the homeowner was convinced their roof was fine because the drone shots looked “clean.” Once we got up there in person, though, it was a different story—dozens of little dents you could only spot by running your hand over the surface at an angle.
I get why people want to believe drones can do it all. They’re flashy and make for cool reports. But in my experience, nothing beats getting up close—especially with metal roofs. Maybe someday they’ll have some kind of AI that can pick out dents in real time, but for now, I’m still lugging my ladder around too.