“every roofer had a different theory about what was up there.”
That’s been my experience too—one guy swore there’d be slate under the shingles, another said it’d be all rotted wood. Ended up being both wrong and right in weird ways. I’ve seen storm damage reveal stuff nobody expected, like old tar paper that just disintegrates. Has anyone tried those drone inspections before starting demo? Curious if that tech actually helps spot hidden layers or if it’s just another guess.
I’ve used drones a few times, mostly for big commercial jobs. They’re great for getting a bird’s-eye view and spotting obvious trouble spots, but honestly, they can’t see through layers. Still gotta budget for surprises once you start tearing things off. Sometimes it helps with documentation though, especially if you’re dealing with insurance or change orders.
Still gotta budget for surprises once you start tearing things off.
You nailed it there. No matter how many gadgets or tools you throw at a project, there’s always something hiding under the surface. I remember thinking I was set after getting a drone view of my old barn roof—looked fine from above, but once we started pulling off the metal, half the decking was rotted. Ended up costing a lot more than I’d hoped.
I do think drones are awesome for documenting stuff though, especially if you’re arguing with insurance or trying to show before-and-after shots. Makes a big difference when you’re dealing with paperwork and folks who’ve never actually seen the site.
Still, nothing beats setting aside a “just in case” fund. Surprises seem to be part of the deal, whether it’s commercial or just fixing up your own place. The tech helps, but it doesn’t have x-ray vision… yet.
- Totally agree about the “just in case” fund. I thought I was being smart with a detailed quote for my bathroom reno, but once they opened up the walls, turns out there was old water damage and some sketchy wiring. Ended up blowing my budget pretty fast.
- Drones are cool for pics, but yeah, they can’t see mold or hidden leaks. Kinda wish there was a gadget for that...
- Curious—has anyone ever had a contractor actually come in *under* their estimate? Or is that just a myth?
Curious—has anyone ever had a contractor actually come in *under* their estimate? Or is that just a myth?
Honestly, I’ve never seen it happen. Every job I’ve been on, there’s always something lurking—water damage, rotten wood, or just weird stuff behind the walls. Even when the quote seems detailed, stuff pops up and suddenly you’re talking change orders. Maybe if it’s a super simple job with no surprises, but in reality? Feels like underbids are pretty much unicorns.
