Had a similar thing happen last fall. Thought my green roof was all good since the drone footage looked perfect, but turns out there was a sneaky leak brewing underneath some thick sedum mats. Glad we caught it before winter hit, or I'd have had an indoor waterfall by spring, lol. Drones are handy, but nothing beats an actual person up there poking around—especially when plants are involved.
"Drones are handy, but nothing beats an actual person up there poking around—especially when plants are involved."
Couldn't agree more. Drones give a great overview, but they're limited when it comes to spotting subtle issues—especially with green roofs. A few things I've noticed from experience:
- Sedum mats and other vegetation can hide moisture buildup for months before visible signs appear.
- Regular manual inspections (lifting mats, checking drainage layers) catch problems drones simply can't detect.
- Infrared drone imaging helps spot hidden moisture, but even then, it's not foolproof without hands-on verification.
Had a client last year whose drone footage looked pristine, but when we physically checked underneath the vegetation layer, we found significant pooling and early-stage membrane deterioration. Saved them from a costly repair down the line. Technology's great, but nothing replaces boots on the roof every now and then...
Yeah, drones are handy, but they're definitely not a catch-all. Had a similar experience myself—drone footage looked spot-on, but when I climbed up and poked around, found some sneaky moisture buildup right under the vegetation layer. Infrared can miss stuff too if conditions aren't just right. Glad you caught it early...roof repairs can get pricey fast. Good reminder to trust your gut and do those manual checks once in a while.
Good point about infrared—seen it miss moisture plenty of times, especially if the roof's got heavy vegetation or debris. Curious, did you notice any early signs inside the house, or was it purely a gut-check thing that made you climb up?
I've had infrared miss moisture issues too, especially under thick moss or leaf buildup. Good catch on your part climbing up there—sometimes it's just that nagging feeling that something's off. For me, it was a faint musty smell in one of the upstairs closets. Nothing visible at first, but sure enough, when we checked the roof, there was hidden moisture starting to seep in. Trusting your gut definitely pays off sometimes...
