What to Expect During a Drone Roof Inspection

Drone Roof Inspection Using DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Thermal

Is Drone Technology Right for You?

If you’re looking into a drone roof inspection for the first time, you’re probably wondering what the actual process is and if the using drone technology for an inspection is the right fit for your building or project. Whether you’re a roofing consultant that likes to see things live on site, or you just require a detailed digital report you can review in the office to be shared with stakeholders, a typical drone roof inspection offers an efficient, safe, and accurate assessment for both residential and commercial buildings. We work with everyone from property managers and building owners to roofing companies and municipal teams, and our process is designed for contractors and property owners alike, and can be tailored for many clients and roofing systems.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process step by step. You’ll get a clear idea of what to expect before, during, and after the inspection and how we ensure the experience fits your needs providing real value with data driven deliverables.

How We Tailor Drone Inspections for Different Clients

Every property is unique, and so are the needs of the people who look after them. We conduct roof inspections for a wide range of clients, including property owners, roofing contractors, insurance companies, construction firms, and professional roof inspectors, just to name a few. Some of our clients prefer to be present on site during the drone flight, especially roofing consultants who want to see high-resolution imagery and thermal imaging sensors live during the flights. For these projects, we set up a live feed from the roof inspection drone, so you can view the inspection process in real time and discuss findings as they come up.

On the other hand, many property owners and managers simply want a detailed report after the drone inspection is complete. In these cases, we handle everything from the flight plan to capturing high quality images, then process the data to create comprehensive reports, including annotated orthomosaics and thermal results that will show your roof’s condition. This is especially useful for regular roof inspections, insurance claims, or routine maintenance on both commercial properties and residential roof inspections, providing homeowners with a quick, safe, and precise assessment of their roofs.

Our process ensures detailed roof inspections, delivering thorough and accurate assessments that are essential for professional documentation and claim evaluations.

Whether you’re dealing with complex roofs, HVAC units, solar panels, or just want to minimize safety risks and labor costs compared to traditional roof inspections, our approach is designed to make things easy for everyone involved. Drones provide a cost-effective, safe, and efficient solution, collecting detailed and accurate data quickly while reducing the risks and costs associated with manual inspections. We use advanced sensors and unmanned aircraft to provide accurate data and detailed images that assist property owners, contractors, and insurance adjusters alike make informed decisions.

The Pre-Inspection Process

To get started, we'll first chat with you about your building, your goals, and any specific concerns you might have. Whether you’re a property manager needing regular roof inspections, a contractor working on a new solar panel installation, or a consultant assessing complex roof structures, we’ll tailor our approach specifically to your project.

The first step in the pre-inspection process is to review the location of the property to assess the class of airspace it is in and locate the nearest aerodromes, airports, and helipads. Properties located in Controlled Airspace (Class A to E) require us to submit flight authorization requests to NAV Canada to be permitted to fly in this airspace. Flight planning is a critical part of this process to ensure legal, safe and efficient drone operations.

Depending on the location, this may require a manual review and approval from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) which may take a few days to a week to get approval. We cannot rush this process, and this is why drone-based inspections in controlled airspace need to be planned properly ahead of time without shortcuts.

As a commercial drone services provider, we use enterprise-grade drones equipped with advanced sensors and imaging capabilities. While these drones are designed for a wide range of commercial applications, their features make them especially effective for delivering detailed and accurate roof inspections.

For clients who want to be present, we’ll confirm the schedule with you and plan to cast the drone’s live feed to an external monitor so you can see what the drone pilot sees. If you prefer a hands-off approach, we’ll take care of coordinating site access, building approvals, and update all parties on the process.

Before the inspection day, we’ll confirm any site requirements, such as vehicle parking and our launch and landing locations, and give you a quick rundown of what to expect.

We highly recommend putting up a notice that the property owner has contracted a commercial drone company to use drone technology for roof inspections. For commercial drone use, it is essential for all parties involved to comply with regulations and adherence to airspace rules. For residential properties, we recommend property owners notify residents about the drone operation 1-2 weeks in advance.

Day of the Inspection: What Actually Happens

On the day of your drone roof inspection, we’ll arrive at the scheduled time to first do a site walk of the property to locate any obstructions and develop our flight plan, mainly around the safe operations of the drone.

Once we’re ready, we’ll run through a safety check, crew briefing and communicate the flight plan, ensure everyone understands before we get started. The drone flies over your property to capture detailed images of your roof, including hard-to-reach spots, HVAC units, solar panels, or any areas you’ve flagged as concerns. We use drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced sensors to thoroughly inspect roofs for damage or maintenance needs.

Most inspections are wrapped up within a couple of hours, but obviously depends on the size, complexity and required deliverables for each building and roof. Drone technology also allows us to perform multiple inspections efficiently, making it easy to monitor changes or address new concerns over time.

What Data Is Collected

High Resolution Drone Imagery from a Drone Roof Inspection

The type of data we collect depends on what you need from the inspection. For visual inspections, we capture high resolution images and can create both 2D and 3D maps of large or complex roofs, revealing fine details that are often missed by the naked eye. If you require accurate building measurements, we generate 3D photogrammetry point clouds and detailed 3D models that allow for precise calculations, which is great for contractors or anyone planning repairs or renovations. These detailed models help assess roof conditions efficiently and safely.

For clients looking for roof measurements, we use photogrammetry techniques to pull measurements straight from the drone images. This is a reliable way to get dimensions without having to put anyone on the roof, and it provides a safer and faster alternative to manual inspections.

Roof measurements using photogrammetry from drones is both beneficial and practical not only for tall and unsafe roofs, but the data and deliverables exceed what can be done using manual inspections. The advanced software we use also enables automatic detection of damage or defects, streamlining the process and improving accuracy.

If you need to check for trapped moisture or wet insulation, we can add thermal imaging sensors to conduct an Infrared Roof Inspection. This is especially useful for flat and low sloped commercial roofs. For residential properties with steep or complex roof materials, thermal will not be as effective due to material properties.

We also provide live streaming of our inspections, which provide a real-time video stream over the internet, from the drones cameras and sensors.

In the end, you’ll get the deliverables that fit your needs, whether that’s a collection of high quality images, a detailed roof inspection report, 3D models, thermal results, or all of the above. All collected data is designed to help you assess roof conditions and make informed decisions based on the current roof conditions.

After the Flight: Deliverables

Once the drone flights are complete, we pack up our equipment and communicate to building owners that the inspection is complete. We will take the data back to our office to start the data processing on our processing workstations.

Depending on the deliverables for your specific project, you may receive all of the original/raw high resolution images, a full roof orthomosaic (roof map, thermal roof map), 3D models, or detailed point clouds. These files make it easy to review the roof’s condition, providing a thorough assessment of the roof's structural health and integrity, document trouble spots, and even measure areas without anyone needing to go on the roof.

For thermal inspections, we include infrared images that highlight any areas of heat loss or possible wet insulation, which is especially valuable for flat commercial roofs. All the deliverables are sent to you in a digital package sent via secure link, within a few business days.

If you’re working with an insurance company, a roofing contractor, an insurance adjuster who reviews digital roof models to assess damage, or another party that requires the files, we can provide access, and no extra steps or complicated software required. And if you have a specific way you’d like the information delivered, or need help understanding what you’re reviewing, we can provide a virtual meeting to review the data sets.

Whether you’re planning maintenance, dealing with insurance claims, or just want peace of mind about your roof’s condition, our job is to make the process as simple and useful as possible.

Common Findings & Real-World Value

Flat Roof RGB and Thermal Roof Maps From A Drone Roof Inspection

With our years of experience doing drone roof inspections, there are a few issues that come up more often than others. One of the biggest things drones help us find is trapped moisture, especially in flat roofs or areas around HVAC units and drains. With thermal imaging, it’s possible to spot wet insulation or leaks that just aren’t visible from the ground.

We also come across things like cracked or missing roofing materials, blocked drains, ponding water, and areas where seams are starting to separate. Sometimes, we find issues with solar panels or new installations, like loose connections or panels that aren’t sitting right. On commercial properties, it’s not unusual to catch early signs of wear around roof penetrations and high traffic service areas.

Compared to traditional inspection methods, drone inspections are much safer, faster, and more cost-effective, eliminating the need for climbing or specialized equipment. Traditional inspections often require manual access to the roof, which can be risky, time consuming, and may miss hard-to-reach or hazardous areas. Drone inspections, on the other hand, provide comprehensive coverage and accurate documentation, making them a preferred choice for insurance companies, real estate firms, and construction managers.

The real value is catching these problems early, before they turn into bigger headaches. Drone roof inspections give you a clear record of your roof’s condition, which is especially helpful for routine maintenance, making insurance claims, or just getting a handle on what repairs are needed. Plus, you get documentation that you can share with contractors, insurance adjusters, or anyone else involved in keeping your building in shape.

If you ever want to see examples of what these findings look like, just ask and we can share real world samples (with permission) so you know what to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be there during the inspection?
Absolutely. If you want to be on site, we can set up a live feed so you can see what the drone sees in real time. Some clients like to ask questions as we go, and we’re happy to walk you through it.

What do I need to do before the inspection?
Not much. We’ll coordinate access with you, and if your property is residential, we’ll help you notify residents about the drone flight. You don’t need any special equipment or software to view the results.

Is drone data accepted by insurance companies or contractors?
Yes. The detailed images, reports, and 3D models from a drone roof inspection can be used for insurance claims, maintenance planning, and repairs. We organize everything so it’s easy to share.

How long does the inspection take?
Most drone roof inspections take one to three hours on site, depending on the size and complexity of the roof. We’ll let you know if your building needs more time.

How soon do I get my results?
We aim to deliver your inspection results within a few business days. If you need something quickly, just let us know.

Can you inspect complex roofs, solar panels, or HVAC units?
Yes. Drones are perfect for inspecting hard-to-reach areas, complex roof structures, solar panels, and rooftop equipment. If there’s something specific you want checked, just mention it.

Ready to See the Difference for Yourself?

If you’ve never had a drone roof inspection before, we’re here to make it easy. Whether you’re managing a commercial property, handling routine maintenance on a residential building, or you’re a roofing contractor looking for accurate data, we’re ready to help.

You can expect a process that’s straightforward, safe, and tailored to fit what you need—no surprises or complicated steps. If you still have questions, or if you want to see some sample reports before booking, just reach out. We’re happy to walk you through the details and talk about the best approach for your building.

Ready to schedule a drone roof inspection, or just want to find out more? Contact us here and let’s get started.