Yeah, totally get what you're saying. Had a similar situation myself—drone footage looked perfect, but once I climbed up, found some moss buildup hidden under the edges. Tech is awesome, but nothing beats that hands-on check sometimes. I think even if drones got super advanced, I'd still climb up every now and then just for peace of mind. Plus, there's something oddly satisfying about checking things out yourself...or maybe that's just me being old-school, haha.
Yeah, drones are great for spotting obvious issues, but subtle stuff like moss or loose shingles can slip right by. I usually use drone footage as a first pass, then climb up if something feels off. Speaking of moss buildup, have you tried any preventive treatments or coatings? I've heard mixed things about copper strips—some swear by them, others say they're overrated. Curious if anyone's had firsthand experience with those...
I've actually used copper strips myself and... honestly, the results were kinda meh. They seemed to slow down moss growth a bit, especially near the ridge, but farther down the roof it didn't make much difference. Ended up spraying an anti-moss solution every couple years instead, which has worked better for me. Copper might work if your roof pitch and climate are just right, but for my money, regular treatments have been more reliable (and cheaper).
I had a similar experience with copper strips. Installed them about five years ago, hoping they'd keep the moss at bay. At first, I thought they were doing the trick because the area near the ridge line stayed clear, but like you mentioned, the lower sections were pretty much untouched. Eventually, moss started creeping back anyway.
Honestly, after a couple seasons of messing around with copper strips, I gave up and switched tactics. I've been using zinc sulfate powder mixed with water once every two or three years, and it's been way more effective. You just spray it on, let it sit, and the moss turns brown and flakes off after a few weeks of rain. Way easier and cheaper in the long run.
I think copper might work better in certain climates—maybe somewhere with more frequent rainfall or a steeper roof pitch—but in my case, it just wasn't worth the hassle. The strips were pricey, installation was kind of annoying, and the results were pretty underwhelming.
One tip if you do decide to spray instead: make sure to wet down your landscaping first and rinse it afterward. Learned that the hard way when a few shrubs got burned from overspray.
Yeah, copper strips can be hit or miss depending on your roof and climate. Zinc sulfate's definitely a solid alternative—just gotta be careful with runoff. Good call on wetting the plants first, learned that lesson myself the hard way...
