What Routine Drone Roof Inspections Can Do for Every Homeowner

Does your roof need some attention?

One common factor that links everyone who has a home is the roof. A roof is typically the largest exterior component of any house, with the primary responsibility for keeping the elements out and everything inside safe. Most people take their roof for granted but consider the abuse it takes from strong winds, hail, extreme temperature variations, driving rain, and the weight of snow and ice. Your roof deserves some regular attention.

Why do you need to inspect a roof?

Inspection is part of proper home maintenance and the primary purpose is to find potential issues before they turn into costly problems.   Most roofing issues, when found early, are simple and quick repairs. When minor roof issues are left unchecked, it can result in major problems such as a leak causing interior damage, mold, or rot. A delay in fixing any roofing problems can result in costly repairs potentially causing a disruption to your family’s life which could have been avoided if caught early.   The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends homeowners inspect their roof at least twice a year.   If you live in an area with severe weather, you may want to consider inspecting more often.

What should you look for when inspecting a roof?

Weather causes most of the damage and can affect a roof regardless of the age. Wind damage can result in missing or loose shingles. While hail and debris hits can severely compromise a roof requiring total replacement. The images below provide a few examples of problems to look for when inspecting a roof. Leading roofing system manufacturers, such as Owens Corning, are also a good source of information regarding damage and condition issues.

How can a homeowner inspect a roof? 

A traditional roof inspection requires the homeowner to climb a ladder so he or she can get a proper look at the roof.  This takes time and effort to reposition the ladder plus the homeowner runs the risk of injury from falls. A better option is to take advantage of drone technology.  An inspection using a drone can document all facets of a roof, providing the owner a comprehensive aerial perspective.  The drone takes several images that a person can use to safely inspect the roof from the ground.  In addition, the drone images can be used as a historical record of the condition of your roof.  These can be used by the homeowner for insurance purposes to track change before and after a storm, or for planning and budgeting for repairs or replacement. Getting quotes on repairs is also easier because you can share the roof images with multiple contractors. 

What should you expect from a drone roof inspection? 

An inspection from a drone imaging company, such as Height Sight, uses the latest technology to create a flight plan that will systematically take high-resolution images of the top and the sides of your home.  The images taken are used to create a single stitched image, providing a homeowner with a holistic view of the roof.   Additional images are taken of roof penetrations such as chimneys, a side view showing the thickness of the shingles, and suspected damaged areas. Most homeowners will spend less than the annual cost of streaming services for a drone roof inspection. In return the homeowner gets the peace of mind that their roof is in good shape, ready to keep the elements out and their family safe. 

All Height Sight drone imaging flights are fully insured and operated by a FAA certified drone pilot. To get more information on Height Sight’s residential roof program go to https://heightsight.com/residential-roof-scan/. 

 

Paul Rose is a managing partner with Height Sight LLC, a drone imaging company, and a FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot.  Paul is passionate about helping individuals and businesses apply drone technology to solve real world challenges.  You can email Paul directly at paul.rose@heightsight.com