October
28
The Rise of the Drones
Drone piloting has become an increasingly popular hobby for many individuals. There are no federal laws against flying a drone over private property, as long as you keep your drone under a top ceiling of 400 feet. Just be aware that there may be other state or local laws which may apply to personal drone usage. However, if you want to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for commercial, government, or non-recreational purposes, you’ll need to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA.
Using Drones for Roofing Inspections
One area, in particular, that’s seen an uptick in commercial drone usage is that of roof inspection services. Since UAVs can be flown remotely and are capable of capturing HD-quality images and video, there is some good potential for leveraging drones around roofs. Apart from the convenience factor, one of the main draws to using drones for roof inspections is safety. As roofing drone proponents like to suggest, a good drone pilot may be able to prevent the need for having to climb up on a potentially dangerous roof and risking injury during a roof inspection.
In addition, some drones are equipped for obtaining precise roof area, pitch, and length numbers, along with other measurements that are harder to do by hand. There’s also integrated roofing software that can leverage drone data to automatically generate an estimate for roof repairs or roof replacement. Thanks to features like these, fans of roofing drones believe that leveraging drones will help roofers to be safer, save more time, and increase productivity on the job site.
The Drawbacks of Drones
As good as all of that sounds, there are still limitations when it comes to using drones to perform roof inspections. For example, a drone can’t see anything that’s going on below the surface, and a drone can’t tell you about any soft spots in the sheathing underneath. While a UAV can certainly be a useful tool for roofers to add to their arsenal, a drone is still no substitute for having a trained roofing professional examine your roof up-close and in-person.
The Skywalker Approach to Roof Inspections
Skywalker Roofing is one of the best-known, most highly-rated roofing contractors serving North Carolina and Virginia. We’re not just roof inspection contractors; we’re total roofing solution contractors! Skywalker does use drones and other digital video-capturing technology to help document the before-and-after of roofing projects we perform for our satisfied customers. However, these technologies are leveraged as a supplement, rather than as a replacement for work best conducted by the trained hands of a Skywalker team member.
When we inspect a roof as part of the comprehensive roofing services we provide, we take the time to evaluate not just the roofing materials themselves, but also the roof’s structural support, along with the exterior and interior conditions of the home. We can make an incredibly accurate assessment of whether a roof is in good condition or not, what repairs it will require, and whether a roof replacement may really be your best option. Skywalker Roofing performs both residential roof inspection and commercial roof inspection, and we’ve come to be trusted across NC and VA for the many valuable roofing and other home improvement services we provide.
What Does a Skywalker Roof Inspection Include?
As mentioned above, our team members are well-trained in all the finer points of roof inspection services. We know what we’re doing, and we know what to look for!
Here’s a checklist of just some of the items we’ll examine and identify during our exterior roofing inspection:
- Blistered shingles and shingles that are warped, curled, broken, or split
- Shingles that are loose or missing, especially in the hip or ridge line areas
- Shingles with broken seals at connection points
- Shingles with excessive loss of granules
- Eaves and gutters that don’t provide proper overhangs for shingles
- Nails that are exposed or loose, and nails that may have popped up due to improper original installation
- Missing flashing, corroded flashing, and any flashing that isn’t sealed properly
- Cracks in chimneys
- Cracked or worn rubber boots around vent pipes
- Evidence of dry rot beneath the surface
- Damaged or rotted fascia board
- Damaged downspouts and gutters
- Siding that extends above the roofline
We don’t just stop with the roof exterior. Here are some things we’ll look at on the interior of your building, too:
- Roof sheathing is checked for any cracks or soft spots
- Examine the makeup of your attic ventilation system, including both intake and exhaust vents
- Decking between rafters is checked for sagging
- Attic is checked for any evidence of roof infiltration
- Check any interior exhaust fans which vent to the roof
- Check any chimneys, vents, etc., which go through the roof for any leaks
Let Skywalker Take Care of All Your Roofing Needs in NC & VA
In a word, nobody does it better than Skywalker Roofing! We provide comprehensive roofing services – both residential and commercial – for the entire NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Mooresville and Lake Norman area, and southern VA region all the way up to Roanoke. Our professional roof repair and roof replacement services are second to none, and we work with all popular materials, including asphalt shingles, synthetic shingles, wood shakes, slate, tile, standing seam metal roofing, and flat roofing materials.
You don’t have to take our word about Skywalker being the best, either. Just scroll through and see what more than 1000 satisfied customers have to say about us on Guild Quality! And once you’ve seen enough of our 5-star reviews, why not just go ahead and give us a call at +1 (336) 627-5596.
We’d love for you to experience the Skywalker difference for yourself. Just remember, Skywalker is in the business of providing you with the last roof you’ll ever need!
