I've been roofing for years and honestly, drones seemed gimmicky at first. But I gotta admit, they've caught a few sneaky issues I missed from the ladder—especially around tricky chimney flashing. Might not replace hands-on checks, but they're handy as a second set of eyes.
Interesting to hear drones are working out for you. Had a drone inspection done last spring myself, and while the images were impressive, I found the inspector actually missed some soft spots in the plywood that I later caught walking the roof myself. Maybe they're better for certain things like flashing or shingles, but I'm not sold yet on relying too heavily on them for structural issues. Still, pretty cool to see your roof from that perspective...felt like I was spying on my own house, haha.
Yeah, drones definitely have limitations when it comes to structural stuff. I've noticed they're great for spotting shingle damage or missing flashing after a storm, but when it comes to softer plywood or subtle dips, nothing beats getting up there and feeling it underfoot. Still, drones can save a lot of hassle for an initial check—especially if you're not super comfortable on ladders or roofs. Maybe the sweet spot is combining drone images with a quick manual check afterward? Just thinking out loud...
Yeah, combining drone shots with a quick manual check afterward makes sense. I usually do a drone pass first to pinpoint trouble spots, then climb up just to confirm. Saves time and feels safer overall...
Interesting, drones definitely streamline the process, though I'm still cautious about relying too heavily on them. Last summer, I had a project where the drone footage showed what appeared to be minor water pooling near a drainage point. Seemed straightforward enough, but when I climbed up for a closer look, turned out the issue was deeper—a compromised membrane beneath the surface layer that the drone just couldn't detect. It wasn't catastrophic yet, but left unchecked, it could've led to significant leaks down the line.
So yeah, drones are great for initial assessments and spotting obvious trouble spots, but I wouldn't skip a thorough manual inspection afterward. Especially with green roofs, where subtle issues like root penetration or membrane deterioration can easily hide beneath vegetation layers. Technology's helpful, but it's not quite ready to replace boots on the roof entirely... yet.
