"One time I thought the wind had died down enough, but halfway up it started drifting sideways pretty hard—had to bring it down quick before it ended up in my neighbor's yard."
Yeah, I've definitely been there. Last year after a nasty storm rolled through, I figured I'd take my drone up to check the roof. GPS was solid, skies looked calm enough...but man, those gusts can really sneak up on you. Got about 20 feet above the house and suddenly the drone was doing this slow-motion slide toward the big oak next door. Managed to save it just in time, but it was close enough that I decided maybe binoculars weren't such a bad idea after all.
Honestly though, drones are great if you're careful and patient. They let you spot issues like lifted shingles or flashing damage way quicker than climbing around on a ladder. But like you said—timing is everything. I've learned it's best to wait at least a day or two after a storm passes completely before sending mine up. Even then, I'll usually do a quick test hover at lower altitude first just to gauge conditions.
Also worth mentioning: sometimes damage isn't obvious right away. After one hurricane passed through our area, my roof looked surprisingly good from above—just some minor debris scattered around—but when I went into the attic later that week, I noticed water stains starting to form on one side of the ceiling joists. Turns out some shingles had lifted slightly and allowed water underneath without being visibly obvious from outside. So even if your drone footage looks clean, it's always smart to double-check from inside your attic or crawlspace if you can.
Luck definitely plays a role in how roofs hold up during hurricanes, but preparation and regular maintenance are key too. If your roof survived this one intact, that's awesome—but I'd still recommend giving it a thorough inspection soon just to be safe.
Yeah, drones can be tricky after storms—I learned that the hard way too. Thought I was clear to check things out after a big windstorm, but halfway up, mine started drifting toward the power lines...talk about a mini heart attack. Managed to land it safely, but it definitely taught me patience.
You're spot-on about hidden damage. After one hurricane, my shingles looked fine from above, but when I got up close later, I noticed several had lost their seal and were just barely hanging on. The drone footage didn't catch that at all. Now I always do a hands-on inspection if possible, especially around flashing and vents—those areas seem to hide issues pretty well.
Luck helps, sure, but regular maintenance and inspections are what really keep roofs intact long-term. If your roof made it through this hurricane without obvious damage, that's great news...but I'd still give it a thorough once-over soon. Better safe than sorry.
Totally get your point about hands-on inspections being crucial, especially around flashing and vents...those areas can definitely hide nasty surprises. But I'm wondering if maybe drones can still be pretty useful right after a storm, even with their limitations? For instance, isn't it safer to get an initial quick look with a drone to spot obvious hazards—like branches or debris—before climbing up yourself?
I had a client once who immediately went up on his roof after a storm without checking first, and nearly stepped through a weakened spot hidden by leaves. A quick drone pass might've prevented that close call. Sure, drones won't catch everything (like you said, loose shingles or subtle damage), but they can at least help you identify immediate dangers or areas needing extra caution.
So maybe it's less about drones versus manual inspection and more about combining both methods smartly? Just thinking out loud here...
Yeah, I think you're onto something with combining both methods. Drones definitely have their place, especially right after a big storm when you don't know exactly what's waiting for you up there. Your story about the client nearly stepping through a weak spot hidden by leaves...that's exactly the kind of scenario where a drone could've been a lifesaver (or at least a major embarrassment-saver, haha).
I mean, sure, drones aren't perfect—they won't catch every loose shingle or subtle damage around flashing—but they're great for spotting the big stuff like fallen branches, debris piles, or obvious structural issues. Plus, it's just plain safer to get an initial look from the ground first. I've had similar experiences myself, climbing up ladders after storms and realizing halfway up that maybe I should've checked things out a bit more carefully first. Nothing dramatic happened (thankfully!), but it made me reconsider how I approach post-storm inspections.
Honestly, it's probably about finding that sweet spot between tech and good old-fashioned manual inspection. Use the drone to quickly scan for obvious hazards and then climb up for a closer look once you know what you're dealing with. That way, you're not going in blind and risking injury or missing something important.
Anyway, glad you brought this up—it's definitely worth thinking about how we can use new tools to make roofing safer and smarter without ditching the tried-and-true methods completely.
"Use the drone to quickly scan for obvious hazards and then climb up for a closer look once you know what you're dealing with."
Makes sense, but I wonder if relying too much on drones could make us complacent...like skipping proper ladder checks or missing subtle signs of damage. Tech's helpful, but gotta stay sharp manually too, right?
