- Gotta say, I’m not totally against drones or scans.
- Sometimes, walking the roof just isn’t safe—steep pitch, brittle tiles, or moss everywhere.
- Had a guy use a drone on my neighbor’s slate roof after a hailstorm. Picked up cracked tiles we never would’ve spotted from the ground.
- Sure, you can’t feel soft spots that way, but you also don’t risk breaking fragile shingles.
- Maybe it’s about matching the method to the roof type and condition? Not every roof needs boots on it...
I get the appeal of drones, especially for those crazy steep roofs or when you’re dealing with old, crumbly tiles. But I’ll admit, I’m still a bit old-school about inspections. Had a guy do a drone scan on my place last year—looked super slick, but the report missed a couple of spots where the flashing was pulling away. Ended up catching it myself later, just poking around with a flashlight from the attic.
I guess what I’m saying is, the tech is awesome for getting a bird’s-eye view and spotting obvious stuff, but I’m not sure it replaces a close-up look, especially on older roofs. Maybe it’s a combo deal—use the drone for the risky bits, but still get someone up there (or at least in the attic) for the details. Every roof’s different, though. My neighbor’s metal roof barely needs any attention, but my old asphalt shingles seem to find new ways to leak every year...
- Had a drone guy do my last inspection too—looked cool, but I still crawled up there myself after. Found a couple of cracked tabs he missed.
- For me, drones are handy for spots I can’t reach (steep pitch, over the porch), but nothing beats a close look, especially on these old three-tab shingles.
- I’m always watching the budget, so I try to DIY what I can. Drone scans are nice, but not cheap in my area.
- Metal roofs seem way less hassle. My neighbor barely touches his, but my 90s asphalt is a yearly project... always something popping up.
- Combo approach seems smartest. Get the big picture, then check the details yourself if you can.
Combo approach seems smartest. Get the big picture, then check the details yourself if you can.
That’s pretty much what I ended up doing—got the drone PDF with all the fancy arrows and heat maps, but then I’m out there with binoculars like a wannabe detective. My roof’s got those 90s three-tabs too, and I swear they invent new cracks just to mess with me. If you’re nervous about heights (like I am), I found that a cheap selfie stick and my phone camera actually helps for the edges. Not as cool as a drone, but it gets the job done... mostly.
Those old three-tabs really do seem to crack just from looking at them, don’t they? I like your idea with the selfie stick—beats risking a wobbly ladder any day. If you’re ever thinking about replacing those shingles, maybe look into some of the newer eco-friendly options. They tend to last longer and handle weird weather swings better than the 90s stuff. Either way, you’re doing it right by double-checking things yourself. It’s amazing what you spot up close that drones miss... even if it’s just another mystery crack.
