Just got a roof inspection PDF that's straight outta sci-fi

Had a drone inspection done last year myself - impressive visuals, detailed thermal imaging, the works. Still, it completely overlooked some flashing issues around the chimney. Tech's great for spotting obvious stuff, but subtle problems seem to slip through. Makes me wonder if there's a sweet spot between drone inspections and hands-on checks... maybe using drones first to pinpoint trouble areas, then sending someone up for a closer look? Curious if anyone's tried that hybrid approach yet.

Had a similar experience last spring - drone inspection looked slick, caught some obvious shingle damage, but totally missed a sneaky leak near a vent pipe. Ended up sending someone up anyway. Seems like drones are handy, but not quite ready to replace boots on the roof yet...

"Seems like drones are handy, but not quite ready to replace boots on the roof yet..."

Yeah, that's been my experience too. Had a job last month where the drone footage looked fantastic - crisp images, detailed close-ups, the whole nine yards. But when I climbed up myself afterward, I found some flashing around the chimney that was starting to lift. It wasn't obvious from above, but it was definitely a leak waiting to happen. Drones are great for initial assessments and spotting obvious issues quickly, but subtle stuff like flashing or vent seals still needs a hands-on check. Maybe someday they'll get there, but for now, nothing beats actually getting up there and poking around yourself...

Yeah, drones are awesome for a quick overview, but there's definitely stuff they miss. Last summer I had one fly over my place after a storm - pics looked great, no obvious damage. But when I finally got up there myself, I found a couple shingles that were loose enough to lift by hand. Makes me wonder if thermal imaging drones would catch stuff like that better...anyone tried those yet?

"Makes me wonder if thermal imaging drones would catch stuff like that better...anyone tried those yet?"

Thermal imaging drones can be pretty useful, but they're not foolproof either. Had a client last year who went all-in on thermal drone inspections after a hailstorm. The images showed some clear hot spots - areas where moisture had gotten under the shingles - but they completely missed a section of flashing that was bent just enough to let water seep in slowly. Didn't catch it until we physically climbed up there and poked around.

Honestly, drones (thermal or otherwise) are great for initial assessments, especially on steep or tricky roofs, but nothing beats getting up close and personal with the shingles yourself. Curious though, has anyone here had better luck combining drone inspections with traditional methods? Seems like that might be the sweet spot...