Drones are definitely worth considering, especially if you're detail-oriented. I recently used one to inspect my chimney flashing, and it provided surprisingly clear images—much better than I expected. The zoom capability on newer models is impressive, and you can even spot minor cracks or loose shingles without climbing up.
"Borrowed one last summer and ended up trusting my eyes more."
Totally get that frustration. Calibration issues with rental thermal cameras can really throw off the accuracy. I had a similar experience once where the camera readings were all over the place, making it impossible to pinpoint actual moisture issues.
I'm curious though, has anyone tried pairing drone inspections with thermal imaging? I've read about drones equipped with thermal cams for roofing inspections but haven't seen many personal experiences shared yet. Wondering if that combo might overcome some of the calibration issues mentioned earlier...
I've seen thermal drones in action once or twice, and honestly, they're cool but not foolproof. Weather conditions can mess with the readings, so you still gotta double-check tricky spots manually sometimes... Still, beats climbing up every single time.
Yeah, thermal drones are handy but definitely not bulletproof. I borrowed one from a friend last summer after noticing some weird damp spots in my attic. Thought it'd be a quick fix, but the drone readings were all over the place thanks to the humidity and heat waves we had. Ended up climbing up anyway (fun times...), and sure enough, found a couple of shingles lifting that the drone completely missed.
Still, gotta admit, it saved me from checking every single inch manually. They're great for spotting obvious issues quickly, but tricky areas or subtle leaks still need the good old-fashioned eyeball test. I'd say they're a solid addition to the toolkit, just don't toss your ladder yet!
Had a similar experience last spring—thermal drone gave me some false positives because of tree shade patterns messing with the readings. Still saved time overall, but nothing beats getting up there yourself to confirm tricky spots...ladder stays put for now.
Had my own run-in with drone tech last fall. Borrowed my brother's fancy thermal drone thinking it'd pinpoint a leak near the chimney. Ended up chasing shadows—literally. The drone flagged spots that turned out to be just damp leaves piled up. Still helpful, sure, but nothing beats climbing up and poking around yourself. Guess my ladder isn't retiring anytime soon either...
