You nailed it—drones are cool, but they’re just not there yet for metal roofs. I’ve had the same thing happen: footage looks perfect, but once you’re actually up there, you find all these little dings you’d never spot from a screen. It’s wild how much you can miss unless you’re running your hand along the panel or catching the light just right. I’m all for tech making things safer, but for now, nothing beats boots on the roof. Maybe in a few years, but I’m not holding my breath.
That’s been my experience too—metal roofs are a different beast when it comes to hail. I’ve tried using drones for inspections, thinking I’d save some time, but honestly, the glare and reflections off the panels make it almost impossible to catch the smaller stuff. Ever notice how even a tiny dent can hide until you’re basically crawling up there? I had one job last spring where the drone footage looked fine, but once I got on the roof, there were dozens of little dings running right along the seam.
I get why folks hope tech will take over, especially for safety reasons, but I still trust my eyes (and hands) more than any camera for now. Curious if anyone’s found a trick for spotting those dents from the ground—or is it just wishful thinking? Maybe I’m old school, but nothing beats actually getting up there and seeing it with your own eyes.
- I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had some luck with higher-res thermal cameras mounted on drones—caught a few dents that way, especially right after a hailstorm when the temp difference is still obvious.
- Not perfect, and it doesn’t replace hands-on checks, but sometimes it helps narrow down where to look closer. Lighting angle makes a big difference too... late afternoon seems best for me.
- Still, nothing’s totally foolproof. I guess I’m just less quick to write off tech—sometimes it surprises you.
That’s interesting about the thermal cameras—never tried them myself, but I can see how the temp difference right after hail could make dents pop. Do you find the drone footage actually picks up smaller dings, or is it mostly the big stuff? I’ve always wondered if those subtle creases get lost unless you’re looking at just the right angle. Also, have you noticed any difference between metal types? Aluminum vs steel, for example... seems like some show damage way more than others.
I’ve always wondered if those subtle creases get lost unless you’re looking at just the right angle.
That’s been my experience too—unless you’ve got perfect lighting or you’re physically up there, the small stuff tends to disappear on camera. Even with drones, I’ve noticed most people just end up spotting the obvious dents. About metal types, I’m not convinced aluminum is always worse for showing damage. In my neighborhood, steel roofs seem to hold up better structurally, but any finish scratches on aluminum stand out way more in sunlight. Maybe it’s less about the metal and more about the paint or coating?
