Thermal scans are kind of a mixed bag, honestly. I’ve seen them pick up hidden moisture under flat roofs or in spots where the insulation was soaked but the shingles looked fine—stuff you’d never spot just walking around. But with a 12-year-old roof that’s well-maintained, you’re probably catching 90% of what matters just by keeping an eye out after storms. Sometimes those fancy reports do feel like overkill, especially when they flag every little temperature difference as a “potential issue.” If you’re not seeing leaks or weird stains inside, I’d say your current method is working just fine.
That’s pretty much how I see it too. I had a thermal scan done a few years back after a hailstorm, and it flagged a “hot spot” that turned out to be nothing but a sun-warmed patch of shingles. The inspector made it sound urgent, but when I checked the attic, bone dry. Still, I’ll admit, on my old flat roof at my last place, thermal imaging actually caught a slow leak before it stained the ceiling. I guess it’s one of those tools that’s great in the right situation, but not always necessary if you’re already on top of regular checks.
Thermal imaging’s a solid tool, but it’s definitely not infallible. I’ve had scans on commercial buildings where “anomalies” were just spots that caught the afternoon sun differently. Interpreting those scans takes a bit of experience—moisture, insulation voids, or just solar gain? For flat roofs, though, I’ve seen it catch leaks early, especially where pooling water is an issue. Still, nothing beats a hands-on inspection, especially after storms or during seasonal maintenance. Sometimes old-school methods just work better for certain roof types.
Those thermal scans look impressive, but I’ve definitely run into the same issue—sometimes what looks like a moisture pocket is just a sun-warmed patch. I find it helps to compare the scans with weather data or even just note the time of day. For low-slope roofs on our older buildings, it’s picked up some leaks that weren’t visible yet, but I still make a habit of sending someone up there after a big storm. Technology’s great, but I’m not ready to ditch the ladder just yet.
- Had a similar experience last fall—thermal scan flagged a “hot spot” on the south-facing section. Turned out it was just where the sun had been hitting for hours.
- Agree with this:
sometimes what looks like a moisture pocket is just a sun-warmed patch
I’ve started cross-checking with the building’s sun exposure map and weather logs. Not perfect, but it weeds out a lot of false alarms.
- For our flat roofs, the scans have actually caught a couple of slow leaks before they got bad. One was right above a tenant’s storage closet—no visible water inside yet, but the scan showed a clear anomaly. Sent maintenance up, and sure enough, the membrane had a small tear.
- Still, I’m with you—nothing replaces a physical inspection after a big storm. We had a scan come back “all clear” last winter, but after a windstorm, I found a loose flashing by hand. Technology’s great, but it’s not magic.
- One thing I’ve noticed: scans right after a rainstorm seem more reliable. The contrast between wet and dry spots is clearer, less chance of confusing sun-warmed areas with actual leaks.
- I do wish the reports were a little less “sci-fi” and a little more practical. Some of the color maps look impressive, but I’d trade that for a simple list of “check these spots” any day.
- Anyone else finding the cost of these scans creeping up? Our last one was almost double what we paid two years ago. Not sure if it’s worth doing every year unless there’s been a major weather event.
- Bottom line, I use the scans as a tool, not a replacement for boots on the roof. They’re good for catching stuff early, but I still trust my own eyes (and a good flashlight) more than a heat map.
