Every slope, without anyone on the roof
A drone captures the whole roof in detail, including the steep, fragile and high parts nobody wants to walk. Your roofer or inspector then decides what needs hands-on attention.
The roof is the part of the building nobody sees
Most roof problems are found late because looking at a roof is awkward. Steep pitches, wet moss, fragile tile and slate, three-storey eaves and low-slope commercial roofs with no safe access all make a full walk-on inspection slow, risky or impossible. The result is often a report that covers what could be reached from a ladder and says 'limited access' for the rest.
A drone flies a planned pattern over every slope, then moves in close on the details that matter: valleys, ridges, flashing at chimneys and walls, skylights, vents, gutters and downspouts, rooftop mechanical units and drains. On a house that takes a short flight. On a large commercial roof it takes a grid, often with an orthomosaic stitched from the images so you can see the whole surface as one scaled map (more on that in orthomosaics and photogrammetry).
No one walks on the surface, so nothing is damaged by the inspection itself, and nobody is exposed to a fall. That matters on old cedar, slate, tile and soft membranes, and it matters to the strata council or owner who carries the liability (see for property managers and strata). After a hailstorm or windstorm, the same flight becomes claim evidence; see insurance claims.
What a drone can and cannot see on a roof
| A drone can show | A drone cannot confirm |
|---|---|
| Missing, lifted, cracked or curled shingles and tiles | Whether the underlayment or deck below is intact |
| Granule loss patterns and exposed mat on asphalt shingles | Nail pops and fastener problems hidden under the tabs |
| Moss, debris, blocked gutters and valleys, ponding on low-slope roofs | Soft or rotten decking, which needs someone on the surface or in the attic |
| Open seams, blisters, ridging and punctures on membranes | Whether insulation under a membrane is wet (that needs thermal and core samples) |
| Flashing that has pulled away, failed sealant, damaged vent boots | Condition of flashing tucked behind cladding or counterflashing |
| Hail and wind damage patterns across all slopes | Attic ventilation, condensation and interior leaks |
Working with roofers and home inspectors
Roofer or roofing contractor
- They need from you
- Enough detail to write a quote, scope repairs and spot what needs replacing, without spending half a day on access.
- You need from them
- What they want close-ups of, and whether they need measurements for material takeoff.
- On the DroneLink record
- They review images in the DroneLink project, pin comments on the problem spots and use those marked images in the quote they send you.
Home inspector
- They need from you
- A view of roof areas they could not safely walk, attached to their report with a clear note of what was and was not seen.
- You need from them
- Their inspection date and the areas their standards of practice require them to report on.
- On the DroneLink record
- Images arrive by link the same day as the flight wherever possible, so the report is not held up. In provinces that license home inspectors, such as BC and Alberta, the inspector is still the one who writes and signs the report.
Strata council or property manager
- They need from you
- A record for owners, for the depreciation report or reserve fund study, and for planning the next roof replacement.
- You need from them
- Access to the roof area for take-off if needed, a site contact, and a notice to residents.
- On the DroneLink record
- Each annual flight goes in the same project record, so next year's roofer can see what changed.
Buyer or realtor
- They need from you
- Confidence about the roof before closing.
- You need from them
- Seller's permission and a date that fits the conditions of the deal.
- On the DroneLink record
- The same flight can produce listing images too. See real estate photography.
A roof inspection flight, step by step
Define the question
General condition, a specific leak, pre-purchase, storm damage or a quote for replacement. Each changes how close we fly and what we capture.
Check the site
Airspace, nearby airports and heliports, trees, power lines, neighbours and a safe take-off spot away from the public.
Overview pass
An orbit and high overview shots of each slope, so every close-up later has context.
Detail pass
Close images of valleys, penetrations, flashing, edges and anything the roofer flagged. On commercial roofs, a mapping grid for an orthomosaic when measurement is needed.
Coverage check before leaving
The crew checks images on site so nobody has to come back for a missed slope.
Review, comment, deliver
You and your roofer review in the project record, request any reshoots, and get final files by link.
Common roof inspection mistakes
Flying on a wet or frosty morning
Moisture hides granule loss and makes sealant look fresh. Frost patterns can be mistaken for damage.
Only wide shots
Pretty overview images look good in a report but cannot show a cracked vent boot or a lifted tab.
No way to find the spot again
A close-up of a problem with no reference means the roofer searches the whole slope on the day of the repair.
Questions
Can a drone inspect a roof as well as a person on the roof?
It sees more of the surface, including areas a person cannot safely walk, and does it without damaging fragile materials. It cannot feel soft decking or lift a shingle to check the nails. The best result is a drone survey followed by targeted hands-on checks where the images point.
How long does a drone roof inspection take?
A typical house roof is a short flight on site. A large commercial roof with a mapping grid takes longer, and processing an orthomosaic adds time after the flight.
Do home inspectors use drones?
Many do, or hire a pilot for roofs they cannot walk. The inspector remains responsible for the report and should state which areas were viewed by drone and what was not visible.
Can a drone measure my roof for a quote?
Yes. A mapping flight produces an orthomosaic and 3D model that a roofer can use for area, pitch and edge lengths. Measurement accuracy depends on the method and ground control, so your roofer should confirm critical dimensions.
Does a drone roof inspection find leaks?
It finds likely entry points: failed flashing, open seams, damaged boots, blocked drains. Tracing a leak through the building often also needs an interior check or thermal imaging under the right conditions.
Do my neighbours need to be told?
It is good practice to let immediate neighbours or residents know. We keep the camera on your building and plan angles to avoid capturing private yards and windows.
What drives the cost of a drone roof inspection?
Roof size and complexity, height, access for take-off, airspace permissions, whether you need measurements or thermal, and travel. We explain the scope before you commit.
Keep reading
Tell us about your Vancouver site.
An address and what you need is enough to start. We reply with the price, who will fly it and when.