Professional Drone Inspections for Roofs & Hard-to-Reach Exterior Areas

A drone inspection uses a small unmanned aircraft equipped with a high-resolution camera to visually evaluate roofs, chimneys and other elevated exterior areas. Drones can be especially useful when direct access is unsafe, impractical or limited by the building or site conditions. 

We may use a drone when a roof is too steep, wet, icy, snow-covered, fragile, unusually high or otherwise difficult to access safely. Drone technology can also be useful for multi-story buildings, chimneys and properties where ladder placement is restricted. 

Not always. A drone provides detailed visual information, but it cannot physically walk the roof, feel soft decking, manipulate roofing materials or perform other hands-on evaluation methods. When a roof can be safely accessed, direct inspection may provide additional information that aerial imagery alone cannot. 

High-resolution aerial imagery may help document visible conditions such as damaged or missing roofing materials, flashing concerns, chimney deterioration, surface damage and other exterior conditions that warrant closer evaluation. A drone inspection remains a visual inspection and does not reveal concealed conditions beneath roofing or exterior materials. 

Yes. Wind, rain, snow, ice and other weather conditions can make drone operation unsafe or impractical. If conditions do not allow for a safe flight, the inspector may need to use another inspection method or recommend additional evaluation when conditions improve. 

No. Trees, power lines, neighboring buildings and other physical obstacles can limit a drone's flight path. FAA airspace restrictions can also affect whether a flight can be performed. Properties located in controlled airspace, including some areas near airports, may require FAA authorization before flight.

Yes. Under FAA Part 107, the person operating a drone for business purposes must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate or operate under the direct supervision of someone who does. FAA-certified remote pilots must also maintain their required aeronautical knowledge recency. Dunsing's drone pilots hold current FAA Remote Pilot Certificates. 

Part 107 operators must comply with applicable FAA aircraft registration requirements, and drones subject to Remote ID rules must meet those requirements as well. The FAA also requires pilots to follow applicable operating and airspace rules during commercial flights. 

When drone imagery is used as part of an inspection, relevant photos and visible findings can be incorporated into the inspection documentation just like other inspection photographs. The amount of drone imagery included will depend on the property, conditions observed and scope of the inspection.