Curious—anyone tried those roof inspection services with thermal cameras? Wondering if they catch stuff drones miss, or is that overkill for regular folks?
I actually had a company come out with a thermal camera last year, mostly out of curiosity (and maybe a little paranoia after back-to-back hurricanes). My shingles looked fine from the ground and with my own drone, but I kept getting these weird water stains near the ceiling in one room. The thermal imaging did pick up a couple of “cold spots” where moisture was trapped under the shingles. I wouldn’t have caught it otherwise, since there wasn’t any obvious damage up top.
It was pricey though—couple hundred bucks for about an hour’s work. For me, it was worth it just once, but I can’t see making it a yearly thing unless you’ve got an older roof or ongoing leak issues. Drones are great for the quick visual scan, especially after storms or when you hear something hit the roof at 2am and don’t want to drag out the ladder in your pajamas.
Funny enough, my drone story is almost the opposite of yours. Instead of ending up on the neighbor’s roof, mine crash-landed in my own gutter during a windy day. Took me half an hour and a lot of creative cursing to fish it out with a rake taped to a broom handle. Lesson learned: don’t fly right after storms when there’s still gusts kicking around.
I do agree—if you’re handy and plan on using it for more than just storm checks, owning your own drone makes sense. But if you’re like my cousin (who used his once and then let it gather dust), borrowing or hiring someone might be smarter. Also, keep in mind some neighborhoods have rules about drones now... found that out after getting a not-so-friendly note from the HOA.
As for luck vs. good roofing—I think some of us are riding on borrowed time after these storms. My neighbor’s house is almost identical to mine and he lost half his shingles while mine held up fine. Sometimes it really does come down to how well things were nailed down or maybe just which way the wind blew that day.
If you’re seeing anything odd inside or out after a big storm—even if everything “looks” okay—it might be worth having someone check with more than just eyes (or drones). That said, I’d save the thermal camera routine for when you’ve got actual signs of trouble.
The thermal imaging thing isn’t overkill if you’re actually seeing stains or have reason to suspect leaks. It’s wild how much can hide under “good” shingles—especially after a hurricane. Honestly, I wish more folks would go beyond just eyeballing or flying a drone after storms. That said, yeah, the cost is steep and probably not worth it unless you’re chasing down a mystery like you were. I always tell people: even the best roof can have hidden issues, and catching them early is way cheaper than fixing rot later.
I get the logic behind thermal imaging, but honestly, I’ve always felt like it’s a bit much unless you’re really chasing a problem. After the last storm, I just did a walk-around and checked the attic for any damp spots. Maybe I’m old-school, but dropping hundreds on fancy scans feels like overkill when you can usually spot trouble with a flashlight and some patience. That said, I did get burned once—missed a slow leak that turned into a mess months later. Guess it’s a gamble either way...
dropping hundreds on fancy scans feels like overkill when you can usually spot trouble with a flashlight and some patience
Totally get that—my first instinct is always to poke around myself too. But after I missed a leak behind the insulation (didn’t even see a stain until it was mold city), I started borrowing a thermal camera from a buddy every fall. Not cheap, but it’s caught stuff I’d never have noticed. I guess it’s one of those things where it feels excessive until it saves your bacon...
I hear you on the thermal cameras—they do pick up stuff a regular inspection can’t. Still, I’ve seen plenty of false alarms too, especially in older homes where insulation’s patchy. Sometimes a thorough visual check and moisture meter gets you 90% there, without the extra expense. Just depends how much risk you’re comfortable with, I guess.
