Most people think of drones as cool little gadgets that are fun to play around with and useful for videography. However, in recent years, the utility of drones has increased exponentially. People increasingly use drones in many industries, from agriculture to mining. Roof inspections are also one of the applications for which drones have proven useful. The reason for this is that roof inspections are a relatively simple job.
While it is a simple job, it doesn’t mean it’s easy. Roof inspections are also time-consuming, dangerous, and expensive. However, drones can make the whole process much easier. For this reason, we will discuss the five reasons to use drones for roof inspections.
1. It Is Much Safer to Use Drones
Depending on the size and type of the building you wish to photograph with a drone, this application of the technology will have a greater or lesser impact. For instance, a drone will greatly assist if you need to conduct a roof inspection on a multi-story building or a building with a complex roof design that is not conducive to assessment. Getting onto these types of roofs can be extremely dangerous and, as a result, much more expensive. Furthermore, most roofs are not designed to be walked on or inspected. Especially when it comes to roofs from the previous century, a routine roof inspection can harm your roof. Most of the time, this happens if you hire inexperienced roof inspectors.
Drones eliminate any risk associated with roof inspections. The worst that can happen is a drone crash, which will most likely not harm anyone. However, because drones are typically extremely light, your roof is unlikely to sustain significant damage.
2. Drones Provide Quicker Results
Preparation and execution of regular, manned roof inspections take a lot of time. However, if you hire a skilled drone operator to do an inspection, you can be done with the whole process in a fraction of the time. Because no climbing or equipment is required, a drone may begin evaluating a roof instantly, saving a lot of time for the inspection.
3. Inspection Are Precise and Repeatable
It can be difficult to detect problems with a roof by looking at it simply. It is common for a roof inspection to reveal no problems, only for the roof to begin leaking or falling apart within a few months. However, you can outfit a drone with various attachments and tools that will allow you to see things that you would not be able to see otherwise. For example, you can add infrared sensors to your drone, which is going to help you detect issues such as:
- Leaks
- Insulation collapse
- Electrical faults
- Mold growth
Furthermore, because drones perform all the work from the air, the inspection is infinitely repeatable, making it more reliable. In other words, the results of a drone inspection will help you better prepare, whether you are preparing your home for sale or if you need to prepare it for summer weather. This way, you will get all the necessary data to get the roof ready when preparing your home for summer weather.
4. Drones Inspections Are Convenient
You don’t need a lot of people on site if you use a drone for a home inspection. You also won’t need much safety equipment around your home. Since drones are lightweight and remote-controlled, all necessary checks can be performed by a single pilot. You can expect one to two people on site for a drone inspection, and they won’t need to enter your home at all. Given that home inspection of any kind is frequently intrusive and uncomfortable for homeowners, using a drone can be an excellent solution.
5. They Are Cost-effective
Using drones to conduct inspections can save money in several ways. There is a reduction in equipment, labor, and time requirements. Eliminating the need for ladders and other cumbersome climbing and access equipment reduces the costs associated with their purchase or rental. In addition, it means that you have eliminated all the risks that come with them. As a result, neither the personnel nor the equipment needs to be insured.
Furthermore, as previously stated, the risks associated with roof inspections are the primary reason for the high price. As a result, if you use a drone for the roof inspection, you can complete the entire procedure for much less money. According to experts from Zippy Shell of Greater Philadelphia, lower prices are one of the main reasons people opt for drone inspections over regular ones.
What To Expect From a Drone Roof Inspection?
When you commission a drone roof inspection, you can expect the contractors to use drones equipped with proprietary software to complete all the necessary work. The procedure is not complex; as previously stated, it is quick and convenient. The process is divided into several steps:
- Step one: The estimator, operator, or pilot creates the flight plan on the proprietary software of their drone. Depending on who you are working with, this can be done on-site or ahead of time.
- Step two: After the contractors have created a plan and ensured that everything is in working order, the pilot will launch the drone on the flight path that he has specified.
- Step Three: The drone will follow the predetermined path. It will collect images, videos, and other information about the roof. This process will be more complicated depending on the type of roof inspection and the sensor used.
- Step Four: The drone will return to the pilot once it has gathered all the information. The data will then be transferred to a device where the inspectors will interpret the findings and conclude.
Conclusion
With this, we conclude our list of the 5 reasons to use drones for roof inspections. Having said that, we have only covered what we believe to be the most important reasons. There are many more that come to mind, but for the time being, this will suffice. Fly Safe.