Drone Roof Inspections – Fast, Simple, and Accurate

Drone Roof Inspections – Fast, Simple, and Accurate

Savvy property holders know perhaps the most effective way to ensure their rooftop is in and remains in good condition is through assessments. At UA-Visions, we know having your rooftop surveyed after winter, before fall, and after significantly bad weather events can benefit both residential and commercial real estate owners with quickly identifying problems before it turns into a significant issue.n nInspections of oversized roofs and complex structures can sometimes be difficult, expensive and dangerous. Unlike plain and simple old roofs, most of the newer designs are unique and intricate. However, regardless of shape, complexity or size, developers and owners must comply with building codes and regulations. Aerial Inspections using the newest drone technology is capable of tackling the most complex roof.

Traditional roof inspections can be very dangerous, from roof collapses and insect bites to falls from ladders and scaffolding equipment. This can be caused by malfunctions, improper installation or assembly. However, drone technologies have made inspections much easier, safer, faster and cheaper.

Drones minimize or completely eliminate most risks, including falls and roof collapses under the inspectors’ feet. Sending drones for pre-climb inspections can help identify faults. It also points out faulty roofs so that inspectors are more careful if they still have to climb the roof. Unfortunately, most people don’t care so they haven’t take advantage of modern roof inspection techniques. Many homeowners, business owners, and inspectors have not yet adopted drone screening technologies due to a lack of awareness or lack of knowledge about the many benefits they can provide.

What is Inspected?

Our drone roofing inspections is a great tool. There no need to physically climb up a shaky ladder or risking a long fall back to earth. With this safety conscious option, we’re able to do an inspection without ever having to get up on the roof and risking additional damage to any of the roofing materials like clay tiles or even metal roofs.

First, we simply do a visual inspection of the entire roof checking to see if any of the shingles are buckling, curling, or blistering from the effects of the sun. Even more important, we look for missing or broken shingles while keeping an eye out for moss. Moss can be associated with moisture and roof decay. Black algae stains are common and mostly cosmetic but not as harmful to your roof as moss. This can easily be cleaned up with a mild detergent and a garden hose.

Just remember, don’t uses a water hose with high pressure as this could damage the shingles. nnNext, we take advantage of the Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) 5K camera and zoom in on vent pipes to look for cracks or worn rubber boots as well as rust spots and cracked caulking on the flashing.

Finally, we do an inspection of the gutters and downspouts. Common issues we find are clogs, gutters that are holding water, and the grit that sheds off shingles over time. All of these are not huge concerns, but they will need to be monitored and corrected if possible. Clogged gutters can cause massive damage over time. During times of heavy rain, runoff will sometimes overflow directly into the yard causing foundation damage and/or flow down the side of the house causing structural issues later. Standing water isn’t a big problem… at first. The longer this continues, the better the chances moss and algae with begin to grow and spread causing the runoff not to flow properly. Over time, this may create more frequent clogs and potentially more issues. One element that protects your roof from the sun’s UV rays are the granules along the face of the shingle. When you find them piling up in your gutter, that’s Mother Nature chipping away at your roof’s life span.

What Are the Advantages Using Drones For Roof Inspections?

1. Safety

Drone roof inspections eliminate most, if not all, of the risks associated with traditional roof inspection methods. Hazards arise from the nature and design of the building as well as outside factors such as wind or insects. Complex structures, high elevations, worn roofs and structures, and inaccessible areas can present multiple hazards to inspectors, the occupants inside and those around them. Collecting data without endangering lives is the absolute number one main advantage of using drones to inspect a wide range of assets.

2. Highly Detailed and Accurate Reporting

Drones have the unique capability to easily access almost any part of a structure and can collect more useful information using high-quality 5K imaging, video and even thermal cameras. Although human experience is still required, drone inspections are faster, more efficient and more accurate. Modern building inspection technology allows people to obtain more detailed information about the structure. By accessing hard-to-reach and confined spaces, drones can collect more information than inspectors can obtain through conventional means. You can also use the drone repeatedly to take photos or videos from the same place over and over again. This is useful when you want to compare images before and after repairs are complete. Our drones have built-in GPS systems that can take location snapshots from the exact location with each visit, even after more than a month has passed. This means the drone’s camera can capture images and video from the same height and angle that humans cannot manually inspect.

3. Speed of Completion and Reporting

Significant effort goes into planning and performing traditional building inspections. Therefore, more time and operators are required to plan and perform one inspection. They also need to combine and analyze different data gathered through different means to create reports. New technologies like drones take very little time to verify after a customer requests it. Drone inspections begin as soon as the team arrives on site, as no lifting and access equipment needs to be installed. It also performs inspections several times faster than conventional methods.

4. Lower Insurance Costs

Because of the risks associated with traditional roof inspection, workers and sometimes equipment and structures are insured against accidents and damage. And because many workers are needed, insurance costs can be high, which can reduce profits. Drones are less risky, reducing the need to pay insurance for workers and equipment. Drones eliminate the need to comply with numerous health and safety regulations. These requirements are often necessary when sending workers to perform structural inspections or roof inspections of apartment buildings or similar buildings. Sites should be checked for possible safety issues due to height and other potential hazards. To perform these checks, the regulations require workers to ensure that they are in good health. This is also done for insurance purposes. But drones eliminate the need for testing and workers’ insurance.

5. Greater Accessibility

Due to the design of some roofs, it is not possible to directly inspect them. This could be due to height, slope, or humidity. Chimneys and similar items can also be difficult for inspectors, and some roofing materials, such as clay, can be dangerous to walk on. Inspectors can use camera masts to monitor these areas, but they lack detail and are limited. Drones can be moved anywhere on the rooftop and can collect photos and videos from every nook and cranny. This level of access allows for a thorough check with no missing items.


Some Frequently Asked Question

How long does a roof inspection take?n nA professional roof inspection can take from 45 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the size of the roof, what is being inspected and the complexity of the task. After verification, you will receive a report, usually within one week of your verification, telling you what your verification was, what you found, and recommended next steps, such as any changes that need to be repaired or changed.n

What Affects Roof Inspection Costs? n nThe cost of a roof inspection depends on the type of inspection the contractor is performing, the size and material of the roof, and how much it will cost them to complete the inspection. Most roof inspectors charge an extra fee, especially for large roofs, while others charge per square foot of roof area. You can pay more for experience with unusual roofing materials such as wood shingles or barrel shingles. For example, the cost of inspecting a roof made of slate shingles could be almost four times more expensive than an asphalt roof. If your roof is very high or very steep, you may need to pay extra for a visual inspection or upgrade to a more expensive drone inspection.nnWhat is the cost of drone roof inspections?

Roof inspectors use drones when access is difficult, such as when the structure’s roof is very high or steep. The average price is around 250-400 dollars. The inspector flies the camera-equipped drone over the roof, taking close-ups of all surfaces for expert analysis.

As property owners ourselves, we realize you need fast, safe, and precise reviews from a fair and solid group that won’t attempt to upsell you on extras. UA-Visions offers best in class drone rooftop aerial inspections so you can quickly identify any potential issues that may become worse without corrective action.

nIf you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate give us a call. Our team is always available to talk and we’ll be happy to assist you in providing the highest-definition aerial products possible.

 

Contact Us – info@ua-visions.com – (304) 807-0084

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