For insurers & adjusters

Document the loss without the ladder

Roof and exterior evidence captured safely, dated, and kept in one record that the adjuster, the contractor and the policyholder can all see.

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Why adjusters use drones

Steep, wet, damaged roofs are where people get hurt

The riskiest part of many property claims is getting onto the roof. Steep pitches, wet shingles, fire-damaged decking and storm debris make a ladder climb dangerous, and some roofs can't be walked at all. A drone captures the whole roof and every elevation from the ground, with close-ups of the damage and wide shots for context.

The drone does not make the coverage decision. It gives the adjuster complete, dated evidence: the overall roof, each slope, test-square areas, collateral damage to vents, gutters and siding, and the property's surroundings. Measurements from a mapping flight help the estimate. Thermal imaging can point to wet areas for follow-up on water claims.

Everything sits on one project record per property: the order, the flight, the photo set, the notes, and every revision. Deliverables go out by link, so the adjuster, the contractor and the policyholder look at the same set instead of arguing about whose photos are right. See insurance claim inspections.

Drones also help before there is a claim. Underwriters and brokers use roof and exterior surveys to check roof condition and age, overhanging trees, drainage, rooftop equipment and neighbouring exposures on commercial and multi-unit risks. A dated condition set at renewal is the most useful thing to have on file when a loss happens later, because it answers the question every disputed claim eventually asks: what did this roof look like before?

Steep, wet, damaged roofs are where people get hurt: Illustration

What goes wrong

Where claim evidence falls short

Incomplete roof photos

A few ground shots and one ladder photo leave slopes and details undocumented. The contractor's photos then become the only record.

How we handle itEvery slope, every elevation, overall and close-up, on a repeatable pattern. →

Disputes over what was there before

Was that damage from this storm or from years of wear? Without earlier photos, it becomes an argument.

How we handle itUnderwriting and maintenance flights create a dated baseline that later claims can refer to. →

Evidence whose origin is unclear

Photos arrive by text and email with stripped metadata and no chain of custody.

How we handle itOriginal files kept on the project record with the order, flight date and version history of any edits. →

Catastrophe backlogs

After hail, wind or wildfire, adjusters are stretched and roofs wait for weeks.

How we handle itPilots capture and upload; adjusters review remotely and visit where judgment is needed. Outside Vancouver Island, tell us where and we confirm a certified local operator first. →

The people around the job

Who needs what on a claim

Policyholder

They need from you: To know who is coming, why, and when they will hear back.
You need from them: Permission to access and fly the property.
On the DroneLink record: Confirm the appointment in advance; the pilot introduces themselves on arrival.

Independent or staff adjuster

They need from you: Complete, organized photos they can annotate and cite in the report.
You need from them: Their photo checklist and claim number.
On the DroneLink record: Pinned comments on each image mark damage; the set is shared by link.

Contractor or restoration firm

They need from you: Measurements and damage locations to scope the repair.
You need from them: A scope that matches the evidence.
On the DroneLink record: Everyone prices from the same photo set.

Engineer

They need from you: Detail on structural or envelope damage.
You need from them: A professional opinion on cause.
On the DroneLink record: The engineer reviews the set before visiting and directs extra photos if needed.

Neighbours

They need from you: Not to be filmed.
You need from them: No complaints.
On the DroneLink record: Framing stays on the insured property; incidental people are removed.

What to order when

Drone work across the policy life

Moment	Order	Why
Underwriting or renewal	Roof and exterior condition photos	Roof age and condition, hazards, maintenance
After a storm	Full roof and elevations, close-ups of damage	Complete evidence before temporary repairs cover it
Water claim	Visual plus thermal where conditions allow	Leads for moisture testing inside
Fire	Overall and roof imagery when authorities allow access	Documenting unsafe structures without entering
Large commercial loss	Orthomosaic and measurements	Area, extent and a record for subrogation
After repair	Roof and exterior photos	Confirms the work and resets the baseline

How a claim flight runs

From assignment to a shared photo set

Assignment

Order online with the claim number, address, loss type, date of loss and the adjuster's photo checklist. Say whether thermal or measurements are needed.

Airspace and access check

The pilot checks airspace, restrictions and the site from imagery, and confirms access with the policyholder. In the US the same checks run under Part 107; see US drone rules.

On site

Overall shots of each elevation, then each roof slope, then close-ups of damage and collateral items: vents, flashing, gutters, skylights, siding, fences, vehicles if relevant. The pattern repeats on every claim so reviewers know where to look.

Review

The adjuster reviews the set online, pins comments on damage, and asks for anything missed while the file is fresh.

The approved set goes to the contractor, engineer or policyholder by link. Nobody downloads a folder and renames files.

From assignment to a shared photo set: Illustration

Rules that limit claim flights

What the pilot has to check first

Wildfire areas. In Canada, aircraft, including drones, are prohibited near forest fires without authorization under the Canadian Aviation Regulations. In the US, temporary flight restrictions cover fires and disasters. A drone near a fire can ground firefighting aircraft.
Emergency airspace. After disasters, authorities may restrict airspace. In the US, the FAA has an expedited process for emergency operations supporting response; ask before assuming it applies.
Controlled airspace. Advanced certificate and NAV CANADA authorization in Canada; Part 107 with LAANC or FAA authorization in the US. See Canadian drone rules.
People nearby. Neighbours cleaning up, crews and bystanders shape where the pilot can fly.
Weather. Wind and rain after a storm may delay flights by a day.

Questions

Can a drone inspection replace an adjuster's site visit?

Sometimes for simple documentation, often not for coverage decisions, interiors or disputed causes. The drone collects the exterior and roof evidence safely and completely; the adjuster decides what it means. Many carriers use drone capture to decide where a site visit is really needed.

Can a drone detect hail damage on a roof?

Close-up imagery shows granule loss, fractures, dents on soft metals like vents and gutters, and damage to skylights and siding. Some hail damage, like bruising on shingles, is subtle and still needs hands-on confirmation. Flying soon after the storm, before temporary repairs, gives the clearest record.

How long does a drone roof inspection take?

Flying a typical house takes far less time than setting up ladders and harnesses, and larger commercial roofs take longer. Travel, weather and airspace approvals usually matter more than the flight itself. Ask for a delivery date when you order.

Can drones fly over a wildfire area for insurance?

Not while firefighting is active without authorization. In Canada the Aviation Regulations restrict aircraft near forest fires; in the US temporary flight restrictions apply. Wait until the area is released.

Are drone photos accepted as claim evidence?

Insurers and adjusters commonly use them. How much weight they carry depends on completeness, dates, and whether the original files are preserved without undisclosed edits. Keep originals with the claim record, and keep any retouched versions clearly labelled as such.

Can thermal imaging find water damage from a drone?

Thermal shows surface temperature differences, which can point to wet insulation or roof areas because wet materials hold and release heat differently. It is not a moisture measurement, and results depend on weather and timing. Confirm with moisture meters and inspection.

Who can hire a drone for a roof claim: the insurer, the adjuster or the homeowner?

Any of them can order the work. What matters is agreeing who receives the files and who can share them, so the adjuster, contractor and policyholder all see the same set rather than competing versions.

Do drone pilots need insurance to inspect a property?

Ask for proof of liability coverage before any flight. Insurers, property managers and general contractors commonly require it as a condition of hiring, whatever the regulatory minimum in the country. Check the named insureds and that the policy covers the work being done.

Keep reading

Inspection

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An address and what you need is enough to start. We reply with what it will take and when we can fly.