Our roofs are what we depend on to keep us safe from the elements, and a well-constructed ceiling can stand up to a lot of punishment over time. However, while rain and snow can be problems, few things can do as much damage to a roof as a hail storm. And whether it was a passing shower, or a sustained barrage, it’s important to get eyes on your roof and to look for damages once the storm has passed.
If you have a particularly large building, or several different buildings on a single property that all weathered a hail storm together, then you might want to consider using a drone to inspect your roofs. Because…
Benefit #1: Eyes in The Sky, Feet on The Ground
There is always an inherent risk whenever an inspector has to climb up to a high place, and that risk is compounded whenever there is a potential that the roof has been damaged and is no longer as structurally sound as it was. As such, using a drone ensures the minimum amount of risk, while still allowing inspectors to see a roof in full color. While it may still be necessary to go up to examine damage that’s found, eventually, a drone inspection ensures the minimum amount of risk is taken by actual people.
Benefit #2: Recorded For Posterity
Another benefit of using a drone over a standard inspection is that it records everything it sees when it does a fly over. While most inspectors will have a camera with them when they go up to examine a roof, a drone can often reach places that would be more difficult or dangerous for humans to get to, and a drone can usually see a roof from an angle that would be outright impossible for the human eye to reach. Once the video is captured it can be viewed remotely, saved for tax purposes (since repairs are often deductible as business expenses), and held as a record.
Benefit #3: Time is of The Essence
Traditional roof inspections can take a great deal of time. Inspectors have to make sure they have the appropriate safety gear, then they have to ascend, and they have to proceed carefully over a roof while looking for any spots of damage. Then, if there are multiple structures on the same property, they have to descend, move to the next property, and start the whole process over again. A drone, on the other hand, can simply fly up to the roof from the ground level, taking the minimum amount of time. And if there are multiple buildings, it can simply fly from one building to the next. At the end of the day, this greatly minimizes the amount of time an inspection would take, reducing something that could take several hours (or even several days in some cases) down to a fraction of that requirement.
Benefit #4: Less Expensive
While time is money, using a drone to inspect your roof for hail damage is also just cheaper all around. It saves your contractors time, but it also answers questions people might have because the video can address most concerns. A drone inspection can generally be done with little supporting equipment, as well, and it allows you to move quickly on making repairs. While there is often some sticker shock up-front, the amount of money a drone inspection saves in the long run is often more than worth that initial cost.
For more information on drone inspections, and how they can help when it comes to hail damage to your properties’ roofs, simply contact us today!