Those reports can definitely make things look more dramatic than they are. I’ve had owners panic over a “red zone” that turned out to be a bit of old flashing. Still, I’d rather have too much info than not enough. It’s all about knowing what really matters and not getting lost in the graphics. You’re right—sometimes a simple touch test tells you more than a rainbow-colored PDF ever could.
- Gotta admit, I’m not totally sold on the “more info is always better” angle.
- Those PDFs with all the colors and zones can be useful, but sometimes they just overwhelm people and make them worry about stuff that’s not urgent.
- Had a client last year with a green roof—report flagged “critical moisture intrusion.” Turned out to be condensation from the plants, not a leak. The tech didn’t know how to interpret it for living roofs.
- Touch tests are good, but they’re not foolproof either. Some issues (like slow leaks under membrane layers) don’t show up until it’s too late.
- I’d rather see reports that combine the techy stuff with plain-language explanations and context—like, “This red spot is probably just old flashing, here’s why.”
- Graphics are fine if you know what you’re looking at, but for most owners? It’s just stress-inducing unless someone walks them through it.
- Not saying we should go back to just poking around up there, but I do think these sci-fi reports need a reality check sometimes.
- Especially with green or solar roofs—standard inspection tools can misread things and flag false positives. Seen it more than once.
- End of the day, I trust a mix: some hands-on, some tech, and someone who actually knows what they’re looking at (and can explain it without making you panic).
I hear you on the info overload. Those thermal scans and moisture maps look impressive, but if the person interpreting them doesn’t understand the roof system—especially with green or solar setups—it can cause more confusion than clarity. I’ve had similar situations where a “critical” alert turned out to be nothing after a closer look. The tech is great, but it’s only as good as the context and the person explaining it. I’d rather get a straightforward summary with clear next steps than a rainbow-colored PDF that leaves everyone guessing. Sometimes less is more, especially when you’re managing multiple properties and just need actionable info, not a science project.
I get where you're coming from about wanting a simple summary, but honestly, those detailed scans have saved me a few times—especially with flat roofs or when there’s solar gear involved. Sometimes the “rainbow” stuff actually points out issues you’d never spot with just a visual walk. Had a job last year where a weird heat signature led us to a slow leak under a solar rack. Would’ve missed it otherwise and it would’ve turned into a nightmare down the road.
That said, I’ve also seen reports that were basically just pretty pictures with zero explanation. That’s useless. But if you’ve got someone who knows how to break it down, the tech can really help you get ahead of problems before they get expensive. I’d rather have too much info than miss something important, especially with how unpredictable weather’s been lately... Guess it’s all about finding the right balance.
I get why those fancy scans are helpful, especially with all the new tech going up on roofs these days. But honestly, sometimes I feel like they’re overkill for a regular pitched roof in a mild climate. My place is a basic asphalt shingle setup, nothing special, and when I got one of those infrared reports last year, it just made me more anxious than anything else. Tons of colors, arrows, “potential moisture intrusion” notes... but when I had a second guy come out, he said it was just old insulation and nothing to worry about.
Not saying the tech isn’t useful—clearly it’s a lifesaver for flat roofs or solar installs like you mentioned. But for the average house, I still trust a solid walk-around, maybe with a moisture meter if there’s a real concern. Sometimes too much info just muddies the water and leads to unnecessary repairs. Maybe I’m just old-school, but I’d rather have a straight answer than a rainbow PDF any day.
