Had something similar happen with a drone inspection last year, flagged a "critical moisture intrusion" near the chimney. I panicked, picturing mold and rot everywhere, but after climbing up there myself, it turned out to be just a shadow from the chimney flashing. No moisture, no rot—just a weird angle and lighting fooling the drone's sensors.
I agree drones are awesome for spotting stuff you'd probably miss from the ground, but they're definitely not foolproof. I suspect some of these inspection companies crank up the sensitivity on purpose—maybe to cover their bases legally or just to upsell repairs? Bird droppings causing corrosion does sound pretty far-fetched though... I've had birds nesting near my gutters for years, and aside from being annoying, they've never caused actual damage. Maybe someone at the drone company watched too many horror stories about acidic bird poop eating through metal roofs.
Either way, always worth double-checking before paying for expensive fixes. Better safe than sorry, but also better skeptical than broke...
"Bird droppings causing corrosion does sound pretty far-fetched though..."
Actually, bird droppings can do a number on metal roofs over time—especially aluminum or galvanized steel. Had a storage shed with a metal roof under a big oak (bird magnet), and after five-ish years, the spots where droppings accumulated started showing noticeable corrosion. It's not like it ate straight through overnight, but it definitely compromised the coating. Drone company might be exaggerating, sure... but it's not total sci-fi either.
Yeah, I was skeptical at first too, but bird droppings can be surprisingly acidic. Had a similar issue with pigeons nesting near an AC unit on the roof—after a couple years, the metal casing looked pretty rough. Still, drones spotting corrosion from bird poop does sound a bit like something out of a futuristic movie... wonder how accurate that really is?
Bird droppings are definitely more corrosive than most people realize. I've seen HVAC units and even galvanized flashing deteriorate surprisingly fast from pigeon activity. Drone inspections might seem sci-fi, but they're actually pretty reliable—though I'd still recommend a hands-on follow-up for critical areas... just to be safe.
Had a similar experience last year—pigeons decided my roof was their new hangout spot, and I didn't think much of it until the inspector pointed out some serious corrosion around the HVAC unit. Honestly, I was skeptical about drone inspections at first (felt kinda gimmicky), but seeing those clear images changed my mind pretty fast. Still, agree 100% that hands-on follow-ups are worth it, especially if you're trying to avoid costly surprises later... better safe than sorry.
