"It's just one of those things where technology is great until it isn't..."
Exactly my thoughts. Had a similar experience last fall—drone inspection came back squeaky clean, but something felt off. Ended up climbing up myself (against my better judgment, lol) and found loose flashing around the chimney. Drones are handy, sure, but they're no substitute for good old-fashioned eyeballs and intuition. Tech's cool and all, but sometimes you've gotta trust your gut over a fancy PDF report...
I get what you're saying, but honestly, I'd still trust the drone over my own eyes any day. I'm a first-time homeowner and climbing up on the roof isn't exactly my idea of a good time... or safe, for that matter. Sure, tech can miss stuff occasionally, but human error happens way more often. I'd rather rely on detailed images and data than risk breaking my neck because I "felt" something was off.
"sometimes you've gotta trust your gut over a fancy PDF report..."
Maybe, but my gut doesn't have zoom lenses or infrared sensors. Just sayin'.
Fair points all around. Drones and infrared sensors definitely bring a lot to the table, especially for safety and detailed visuals. But just to play devil's advocate here—tech isn't foolproof either. I've managed properties where drone inspections missed subtle issues like loose flashing or minor water pooling that became bigger headaches later. Sometimes, experienced eyes can spot nuances that don't always translate clearly into images or sensor data.
One option could be combining both methods: start with the drone inspection for an initial assessment, then have a professional roofer physically check any questionable areas flagged in the report. That way, you're minimizing risk without completely relying on tech alone. It's not about dismissing the drone's value—it's more about using it as one tool among several to get the clearest picture possible.
That's a solid approach. As someone new to homeownership, I found it helpful to first mark questionable spots from the drone report, then walk through them with a roofer. Caught a couple things the drone missed... peace of mind counts for a lot.
Drone reports are handy, but did your roofer mention anything about attic inspection or checking underneath shingles? Sometimes drones miss subtle stuff like moisture buildup or weak flashing... did you get a chance to look into those areas too?
