- Drones have their perks, but they're pretty hit-or-miss for roof leaks.
- Thermal imaging gets fooled easily by moisture pockets or debris—seen it happen plenty.
- Ladder and flashlight still win hands-down for accuracy, imo.
Interesting points about drones and thermal imaging. I've tried both, and yeah, drones can be a bit tricky—especially if you've got a roof with lots of valleys or weird angles. Thermal imaging is cool tech, but you're right, it can mislead you if there's debris or trapped moisture pockets. I've chased down phantom leaks more times than I'd like to admit because of that.
But I'm curious, have you ever combined methods? Like, using the drone first to get a general overview, then following up with the ladder and flashlight for the suspicious spots? I've found that approach pretty helpful, especially on larger roofs or steep pitches where climbing around everywhere isn't exactly fun (or safe).
Also, speaking of ladders and flashlights—anyone else have a favorite flashlight brand or type? I swear by my rechargeable LED one now, after years of fumbling around with cheap batteries dying halfway through inspections. Learned that lesson the hard way... nothing like being stuck on a roof at dusk with a dead flashlight, haha.
Anyway, totally agree that nothing beats getting up close and personal with the roof itself. Tech is great, but sometimes the old-school methods just can't be beat.
I've actually done exactly that—drone first, then ladder and flashlight to confirm. Works pretty well, especially on those steep roofs where you start questioning your life choices halfway up. As for flashlights, I switched to a Fenix rechargeable LED a couple years back and haven't looked back since. Bright enough to spot every tiny crack, and no more battery anxiety mid-inspection... learned that lesson after nearly taking an unplanned shortcut off a roof at dusk.
"Bright enough to spot every tiny crack, and no more battery anxiety mid-inspection..."
Yep, rechargeable LEDs are a game changer. I went with a cheaper Anker model myself—couldn't justify the Fenix price tag—but it's still plenty bright and holds charge forever. Also, totally agree on the drone method; saved me from climbing onto a sketchy roof last spring. Honestly, anything that keeps me off ladders more often is worth every penny in my book...
Totally with you on the ladder thing—had a close call myself a couple years back, and now I'm all about finding safer ways to do inspections. Haven't jumped on the drone bandwagon yet, mostly because I'm worried I'll crash it into someone's chimney or something (my coordination isn't exactly stellar, haha). But rechargeable LEDs? Yep, total lifesavers. I grabbed a mid-range Coast model from Home Depot last year, and it's been rock solid. Bright enough to spot even those sneaky hairline cracks in flashing, and the battery lasts way longer than I expected.
Funny story though—first time I used it, I accidentally blinded myself for a good minute because I underestimated just how bright these things get. Lesson learned: don't test new flashlights by staring directly into them. Rookie mistake...
Anyway, glad to hear the drone method worked out for you. Definitely sounds like a smart move if you're comfortable flying one. Maybe someday I'll get brave enough to give it a shot—until then, I'll stick to my trusty flashlight and binoculars from the ground.
