I get where you're coming from—
Thing is, I’ve seen drone thermal catch stuff that’s invisible to the eye, especially on older Victorians with weird valleys and dormers. Had a job last fall where the drone picked up a leak under a dormer that wasn’t showing inside yet. Visual checks are great, but sometimes you just can’t get the right angle or see what’s happening under the shingles. For simple roofs, yeah, maybe it’s overkill, but on complicated ones, drones have saved me a few headaches.“the report flagged a couple of ‘hot spots’ that looked dramatic in the thermal images, but when I checked those areas myself, I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
That’s wild—never thought about how much stuff could be hiding under the shingles that you just can’t see from the ground. I’ve got a pretty basic ranch roof, so I always figured a ladder and a flashlight were enough. But now you’ve got me wondering if I’m missing something sneaky, especially since my attic’s not exactly easy to crawl around in.
Do those thermal drone scans ever throw false alarms? Like, could a hot spot just be the sun baking one part of the roof weirdly, or maybe some leftover insulation issues? I’d hate to start tearing up shingles for nothing. Still, I can see how on those crazy steep Victorians or anything with a bunch of nooks and crannies, it’d be worth it. My neighbor’s house is all peaks and valleys—he’s always chasing leaks he can’t find.
Guess it’s one more tool in the toolbox, but man, roofs are getting high-tech these days... Next thing you know, they’ll be sending in little robot dogs to sniff out leaks.
Yeah, it’s kind of wild how much tech is creeping into home maintenance now. I used to just climb up with a flashlight too and figured if I didn’t see daylight or feel a breeze, I was good. But after a few surprise leaks last winter, I started looking into these newer inspection methods.
About the thermal scans—yeah, they can definitely pick up false positives sometimes. Sun exposure, leftover heat from the attic, or even a squirrel nest can throw off the reading. The guy who did my scan explained that you really need someone who knows what they’re looking at, not just a fancy camera. He double-checked any weird spots with moisture meters before making recommendations.
I’m with you though—on a simple roof like ours, it might be overkill unless you’ve got a mystery leak. But for those complicated roofs with all the valleys and dormers? Makes sense. My cousin’s Victorian is a nightmare for leaks and he swears by the drone scans now.
Robot dogs sniffing out leaks... honestly, wouldn’t even be surprised at this point.
Thermal scans are definitely a wild ride. I’ve seen them flag everything from a hot attic fan to a raccoon nest as “potential water intrusion.” The tech is only as good as the person reading it, like you said. I always tell people: if you’re getting a scan, ask the inspector to walk you through the weird spots and double-check with a moisture meter or even just a probe. Sometimes it’s just leftover heat from the sun on one side of the roof, especially late afternoon.
For basic gable roofs—especially in milder climates—I still think a careful visual inspection goes a long way. Flashlight, check the decking for stains, look for popped nails or cracked shingles. If you’re comfortable, get up there after a rain and look for any shiny spots or soft decking. That said, I’ve run into some older homes where the leaks only show up in wind-driven rain, and that’s where the gadgets can help. Drones are handy for steep or complicated roofs where you can’t safely walk every inch.
I do get a little skeptical when someone tries to sell a full thermal scan package for a simple roof with no history of leaks. It’s cool tech, but sometimes it feels like using a microscope to find a missing sock. On the other hand, I’ve seen drone photos catch missing flashing in valleys that I probably would’ve missed from the ladder.
One thing I always recommend—no matter how fancy the inspection—get photos of any problem areas. Whether it’s from a drone, your phone, or just a mirror on a stick, having proof makes it way easier to talk to insurance or plan repairs.
Robot dogs... honestly, if they could haul bundles of shingles up a ladder, I’d be first in line. Until then, I’m sticking with my flashlight and a good pair of boots, but I’ll admit the tech is getting more useful every year.
I hear you on the thermal scans—sometimes they’re more confusing than helpful, especially if the inspector’s just waving the camera around and calling every warm spot a leak. I’ve had clients panic over “anomalies” that turned out to be nothing but a sun-baked rafter or a squirrel nest. For a basic roof with no issues, I’d rather trust my eyes and a good flashlight. That said, drones have saved my neck on steep pitches more than once. Still, I’m not paying extra for a sci-fi report unless there’s a real mystery to solve.
