So, you are planning to inspect your roof without leaving the ground? Yes, drone technology is like the new cool tool for a roof inspection. We are going to discuss five amazing choices of the best drone for roof inspections. Roof climbing is very risky, and traditional manual inspection is extremely time-consuming.
Hence, drone roof inspection is getting more popular. It’s safe, convenient, and effective.
Traditional roof inspections are decreasing day by day. A stat says that the Eagle view can save up to 70 percent of roof inspection costs for inspectors. In some states, Inspectors are not even allowed to walk over the roofs.
For my fellow roof inspectors out here, we have decided to take things into our own hands.
We have taken some serious interviews with professional roof inspectors, gathered a lot of reviews, and finally checked over 35+ drones for a roof inspection and home inspection.
With some very rough measures, we have selected only five drones that we consider the best drones for roof inspections. We considered authentic feedback, public safety, drone roof inspection cost, quality of drone imagery, and of course, the prices.
Ultimate Drones For Professional Roof Inspections in 2023: Our Picks
So, what is the best drone for roof inspections? We have worked out the list of the best drone for home inspections after reviewing the drones using recent technology and fantastic performances.
Table could not be displayed.DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
DJI most probably has the maximum amount of research on drones and manufactured drones in the market.
However, more than the brand value, we have considered the significant features of DJI mini 2 fly more combo.
For starters, The size of the Mini 2 fly is very tiny. If you place it beside a late 2020 average smartphone, they will look quite similar in size.
In some regions, you cannot fly a drone that is over 250 grams without a solid permit.
This drone is 242 grams. A very unnoticeable loophole, but it can be handy in some situations.
It is equipped with a High resolution 4K camera. You can capture solid super high-resolution videos and pictures. Guess what? These will be 4K 30 fps videos. Also, you can avail of 4X zoom.
DJI came up with Ocusync 2.0. This amazing feature provides a very reliable transmission for the drone pilot.
Ocusync 2.0 does that, but better. We are very impressed to see the connectivity on both sides. The drone can have a very stable connection within a 10-kilometer distance.
Also, it is very quiet!
See, you are getting a drone that is very small in size and produces less sound. The less attention your drone grabs, the better drone inspection you will have.
It has 31 minutes of flight time. However, we would suggest flying for less than 20 to 25 minutes to be safe. Also, we recommend taking two more batteries on the go.
The drone has automatic panorama mode for wider-angle shots. So, you will love the versatility of this drone. Also, quick shots are dynamic kinds of shots. Quick shots can turn very amateur shots into professional shots.
Pros:
- 4K videos with 30 frames per second.
- Ocusync 2.0 for great transmission.
- Max 31 minutes of flying time.
Cons:
- Level five wind resistance
- Not great in low light
DJI Mavic 3 Fly More Combo(best drone for roof inspection)
Another dji drone on our list.
DJI Mavic 3 fly more combo is quite the extraordinary drone on this list for a roofing inspection.
A beast in the run, an impeccable tool for the roof inspector. Mavic 3 is genuinely the best drone for roof inspection; maybe something more.
Being all boosted up with the Hasselblad camera with a 4/3 CMOS sensor, Mavic 3 possesses the highest quality sensor in a drone. The low-light performance is amazingly great.
Though 5.1K video resolution, you can get both clarity and details in the video. You will also get slow-mo shots in 4K 120 fps.
The 10-bit color depth and D-log image profile can provide natural colors and high-quality raw photos. Another additional great feature would be the Hasselblad natural color solution.
In Mavic 3, you can have an additional ½ inch sensor tele camera in explore mode. On the primary camera, you can go up to 28X zoom, Wide angle camera. With the master shots feature, you can take professional shots in tricky situations.
Also, multiple sensors enable the accurate recognition of objects. Guess what? It can follow you omnidirectionally.
Don’t worry about the low battery situations. The juice comes from a 5000 mAH battery. The charging port is the USB-c type—an amazingly exclusive feature.
One small feature that took our attention would be the gimbal lock when you turn off the camera. Extremely convenient when you have a wobbly camera on the drone.
Active track 5.0 makes the auto-tracking object feature smoother. This roof inspection drone can also return home with a simple return-to-home feature.
It has a solid 46 minutes of flying time and 15 kilometers of distance covered. Great for checking roof damage.
Pros:
- 5.1K video resolution.
- Omnidirectional object recognition.
- Activetrack 5.0 for smoother object recognition.
- Return to home feature.
Cons:
- Basic fly app.
Parrot-Thermal Drone 4K
Parrot thermal drone is excellent for roof inspections, fire intensity detection, power inspection, and wildlife protection.
Parrot thermal drone 4K comes with two extra rechargeable batteries, one controller, and various charging cables. All these goods come with a box, and the drone comes with a padded carrying box.
Coming with a high-quality thermal sensor and two high-precision cameras, this thermal drone can produce 4K HDR videos with great thermal imaging clarity.
It literally deploys in 10 seconds. You must check the vertigo effect on 1080p.
Parrot thermal would be a very lightweight drone with amazing attention to detail. It has a solid 25 minutes of flying time, and it travels in a very quiet way.
The camera can take shots of both visible and invisible objects, thanks to the thermal sensor. The camera includes sports mode for shaky shots and film mode for more stable and cinematic shots.
The app comes with great customization capability. You can also avail of the In-app thermal analysis. How amazing is that?
We have encountered wild breezes while having the hands-on review. Surprisingly, it comes with great wind resistance. Also, the gimbal allows you to tilt the camera up and down at 90 degrees.
Pros:
- Thermal camera with two high-resolution cameras.
- In-app thermal analysis.
- It comes with a 180-degree tilt with 3X zoom.
- Can approach animals without scaring them.
Cons:
- Sometimes the GPS can be problematic.
Autel Robotics Evo II Dual 640T
It’s time for the Autel robotics Evo II dual 640T.
Yes, a bit bigger name. Let’s ignore that for a while.
The high-resolution thermal camera would be amazing for any kind of roof inspection. Well, you need to check thermal positions correctly while inspecting.
Now imagine an 8K resolution of that! Yes, Evo II is packed up with both 8K and 4K video quality and a 48-megapixel camera. Providing the best quality thermal
With the camera, you can avail of lossless 4X zoom and 16 times regular zoom as well.
Also, the camera comes with ten different thermal color palettes and an image enhancement feature.
Yes, you heard right. It’s the thermal color palettes.
It comes with three batteries and one smart remote controller with nine inches of screen. Fun fact, Evo II comes with a 640 by 512 Thermal sensor, the highest resolution you can get in the market
Guess what? It’s packed with features like picture and picture display mode, follow me, orbit, 360 degrees of obstacle avoidance, and much more.
One exciting small feature would be ads-in for airplane check. If any plane is nearby, it will alert you and keep a minimal distance from the object.
Flying time would be around 38 minutes at best.
Most importantly, you can avail of central thermal measurement, spot thermal measurement, and regional temperature measurement.
Pros:
- Highest resolution thermal camera.
- Spot thermal camera
- Ten thermal camera pellets.
Cons:
- Many features require a smartphone.
DJI Mini 2- Ultralight and Foldable Drone(cheap drone for roof inspection)
Let us wrap up the list with this little monster called Dji mini 2.
First things first, great brand value and amazing video connectivity.
This little thing is around 249 grams. Being one of the most extremely lightweight drones, it comes with a few perks.
You will not need a license in many areas to fly this drone. Fingers crossed!
Speaking of the camera, the mini 2 has a 12 mp high-resolution camera. You can shoot videos in 4K at 30 fps and 2.7K at 60 fps.
We were surprised to see the quality of the videos on this drone. You can capture 1080p as well.
It also supports 4X zoom in two separate segments.
The drone has a very responsive controller with three modes. They are cinematic, sports, and normal. Sports mode can be extremely effective for a bit of troubled weather.
You need to connect the phone to the controller to avail many features.
DJI put much thought into the security of drones. You have a GPS lock on this minimalistic drone.
Also, the drone can sense the landing. Whenever it lands on the ground or the surface, it ensures it lands safely.
The drone can return to home feature when the battery gets low. You can also pause the drone.
Adding on the best features, It is an extremely quiet drone. You won’t notice the sound if you check very carefully.
The video transmission is amazingly perfect. With the DJI’s OcuSync 2.0, it can cover a 10 KM range of video transmission
You can avail extra 20 degrees up and down with the gimbal settings. Also, Dji fly apps help you to have professional videos with great filters and soundtracks.
In a word, best drone for roofing.
Pros:
- Lightweight drone.
- Great cinematic shots.
- Extremely responsive controller.
Cons:
- Sometimes the drone shows operator error.
- Heavy wind can be a problem.
What to Look for in a Roof Inspection Drone
When we were small, we used to play with remote controller helicopters or planes which used to fly with commands generated from the remote in our hand. The drone is just like that, and it is an aircraft that is operated with remote control.
Types of Drones and Which One to Choose
There are advanced drones that can fly with pre-set flight commend as well. The difference between a toy helicopter/plane and a drone is that the drone has a high-resolution camera that can shoot from above. There are drones of different categories with different price ranges, different features, and qualities.
Similarly, a roof inspection drone is an electronic aircraft with high definition camera and memory that can be operated with both a remote controller and pre-set flight plan system. Through this drone, you can see every detail of the roof with an aerial view which is hard for a human to see on his own.
You can easily see the live video through your phone or computer, or you can see the recorded video later. While choosing a roof inspection drone, you need to have an idea of what qualities you should be looking for in it.
Usability of the Roof Inspection Drone
1st thing you need to consider for buying a roof-inspecting drone is which purpose it will be used for. Usability plays an important role when choosing a model for this. For example, roof inspecting a drone with cold weather-resistant features is costlier, but you do not need this feature.
If you already know your criteria, you will be able to save some pennies. Also, if you need a cold weather-resistant feature, but you did not know it before buying, then you will be in a problem.
Stability: How Stable is the Drone
Stability is one of the most important key criteria for roof inspection drones. If the drone is not stable, then you will not be able to inspect the roof properly.
You won’t be able to rectify the problem areas if the drone is unstable. Therefore while buying a roof inspection drone, make sure to buy one which comes with an integrated gimbal. That means you need a gimbal drone for roof inspections.
Camera Quality: Can it Shoot Good Photos?
The drone camera quality will decide the production your drone will serve you. A roof inspection drone with good camera quality will provide you with clear and detailed information; the better the camera gets, the better-detailed information you get.
You can easily zoom through pictures if the picture resolution is higher; the zooming option will allow you to focus on the smallest details you need to inspect as well. Hence do not hesitate to spend some money on a drone with good camera quality.
Battery Life: How Long Can It Stay on Sky
Battery life is also very important. A roof inspection may need time, and you may need to move your drone frequently from place to place to inspect.
If you have a roof-inspecting drone with good battery life, then you won’t have the headache of losing your drone on the roof. Also, make sure to keep emergency batteries for the drone. A roof-inspecting drone with 25-30 minutes of battery support is a good deal.
Signal Receiver of the Drone for Inspecting the Roof
If your drone does not have a good range, then you will not be able to work with it smoothly. Roof inspection needs a good signal-receiving drone. Also, this feature is not very hard to find as good quality drones mostly come with good signal reception.
GPS: And Important Feature
Choose a roof-inspecting drone with “Geo-fencing.” There are areas where you cannot fly your drone because the areas are restricted. You need special permission from the authority to fly a drone in those areas, and this is applicable to both those who use a drone for professional use and for personal use.
With the help of GPS, geo-fencing gives you a signal and automatically shuts down if it enters any restricted area. This option is not there in every drone; therefore, while choosing, you should look for this feature in your drone.
Drone License
After buying a drone, you must go for a drone license from FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). This license is applicable to any civilian who uses a drone. It does not matter whether you use it professionally or personally; you need this license. This is for your own safety as well, you can fly the drone without a license, but if you get caught, you will face severe actions by FAA.
I hope these features will help you buy a good roof-inspecting drone and will help you inspect roofs smoothly.
FAQ on the Best Roof Inspection Drones
Here are the most important questions we have found over the internet. We tried to solve them with our brief answers for roof inspection drones.
Are Drones Good For Roof Inspections?
Traditional processes used to be the only option for roof inspections before drones. Well, convenience always replaces effort via technology.
Drones have eagle-eye views, and this is very convenient for a roof inspection, with better camera angles and detailed views.
Conventional roof inspections are risky to start with. There is always a chance of getting hurt. Also, the data cannot be much precise.
Drones increase safety for roof inspectors and collect more data than traditional inspection.
Also, insurance costs can be minimized, and inspections can be done quickly. You don’t even need any specialized equipment to inspect the roofs.
So, obviously, it is more effective to use a drone for roof inspections.
Can I Measure A Roof With A Drone?
Yes, you can do roof measurements with a drone with simple steps.
- Check the weather first.
- Fly your drone with proper setup (with the license, of course)
- Make sure your drone is in camera mode. You will be taking pictures.
- Take more pictures than you need.
- Cover all the angles for the 3d model.
- Find all the necessary parts for roof repair.
- Make sure you get the close-up shots as well.
- Transfer the pictures to your computer for the roof report.
- Use any reliable roof inspection software to get perfect results.
What Does A Drone See From 400 Feet?
In 400 feet, both residential and commercial spaces look way smaller. The buildings and trees look like miniatures. From 400 feet, you can have a peak into the whole area.
FAA allows the roof inspectors to fly the small unnamed aircraft systems around 400 feet. It keeps the drone safe from airplanes or helicopters.
Last Thought
Do not just buy any drone and start the roof inspection by yourself. You need to be a licensed and registered member or roofing contractor for a roof inspection. Otherwise, you can get into legal trouble.
Be a certified professional inspector to get started. The Federal Aviation Administration provides specialized training and certification for a roof inspection. Still, the process includes Informing the police and knowing the local guidelines.
Get trained, be a certified pilot, and collect your approval from the administration.
Related Article: How to get good drone footage.
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