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Drones have revolutionized the roofing industry, and we’re rounding up the 17 best drones for roof inspections for your roofing business. Drones provide a new and innovative way to inspect roofs that save you time and give you a level of accuracy that your manual inspections aren’t able to do.
You’ll be able to use your drones to measure roofs, inspect for damage, detect moisture, and generally perform regular inspections to identify early warning signs of damage.
There are many drones on the market at the moment, and with differing technology, many options are based on your roofing needs. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the 17 best drones for roof inspections that will be an absolute timesaver for your roofing business.
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1. DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
This is ultimately the best drone for roof inspections. It captures 4K 20-megapixel images using a 1-inch CMOS sensor and 5-way obstacle sensing. It has pre-programmed automatic inspections and can map flights.
If you need to get closer to a specific area on the roof, there is a manual feature that allows for close-up shots. With a flight time of 30 minutes and a maximum speed of 72 kph, it can integrate with third-party software platforms that produce detailed and high-quality panoramic maps.
With a mechanical shutter, you won’t have to worry about scaring the native birds with loud noises (if that’s a concern). It also eliminates rolling shutter distortion and allows you to focus on offset patter and deck sheathing. We’ll say this again but this is a great drone for professional roof inspections.
2. DJI Mavic 3
Do you need the best drone for roof inspections in windy areas? Well, the DJI Mavic 3 is what you’ll need. With a Hasselblad camera, this drone has Advanced Omnidirectional Sensing, which is excellent even in harsh and hectic weather as it’ll let you know when it’s about to blow away.
This will give you peace of mind knowing you’ll be able to get a stellar job done even in the middle of winter.
With a 15km transmission range, high resolution 5.1K brighter videos, and live transmission, you’ll be guaranteed detailed and quick inspections without worrying about what the weather is doing that day. Particularly excellent in places where you can get four seasons in one day.
3. DJI Mavic Air 2S
This drone seems to be voted the best drones in general, not just roof inspections. What more can you do than get yourself one knowing that it’s been tested by many different types of businesses.
With a powerful 1-inch image sensor, you’ll be able to balance light and color in one frame equaling the exposure system. The camera’s 10-bit Blog-M color profile allows colors to spread, meaning clear images of the roofs being inspected. It does what it needs to do, giving roofers a clear view of what they’re working on within minutes and with half the effort.
4. Parrot Anafi Work
This lightweight (320g) drone is mid-priced and was designed to be the best drone for roof inspections. With pre-programmed and automatic flight patterns, it can also produce 3D models of buildings in minutes. It’s a unique-looking drone that allows you to fold it down, making it a compact drone for when you’re on the road.
With a 21-megapixel 4K HDR camera, a flight time of 25 minutes, and a 3-axis gimbal for stabilization, this drone can not only point straight forward and down, but it can also point straight up, making it handy for those tricky shots.
5. Parrot Anafi Thermal
Are you doing your roof inspections at night? The Parrot Anafi Thermal is the best drone for roof inspections at night. You’re guaranteed clarity, stability, performance, and detail, with 3x Digital zoom and 3-Axis Hybrid Image Stabilization.
Two high-precision cameras allow you to check for internal structural damage and high-level overall deterioration. The 21-megapixel sensor gives you precise inspections when it’s pitch dark outside.
As if it couldn’t get better, the FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal-imaging camera allows you to detect thermal differences in the roof with minimal effort. This drone adapts to each inspection’s requirements and gives you quality data, even when your own eyes can’t see anything. This drone is for you if you work primarily at night or in low light.
6. Hubsan Zino 2 Plus
Do you struggle with getting clear and detailed reports from your roof inspections? Well, this Hubsan Zino 2 is the drone for you. It’s a reliable and affordable drone that allows you to control the drone from 15KM away. It has a higher wind resistance than most drones this size and is excellent for photographic documentation.
With a flight time of up to 33 minutes and an integrated GPS with an automatic return-to-home function, you won’t have to worry about this drone going missing when you’re trying to do the best work you need to do during your roof inspections.
7. DJI Mini 2
Need something that doesn’t put a hole in your wallet? The DJI Mini 2 is what you need to get the job done. It’s compact, making it easy to travel with, but don’t think that means it lacks features.
The DJI Mini has the performance you need for your inspections without the added weight and bulk. Weighing in at around 250 grams, it comes with all the DJI features such as 4K video recording, 3-axis gimbal, video transmission, and a flight time of 30 minutes.
You also get two extra batteries which will help when you need those crucial additional minutes to complete your inspections.
8. DJI Mini 3 Pro
The Mini Pro is lighter than the Mini 2 – like that was even a possibility given how light the Mini 2 is! With safety feature improvements, an upgraded camera, and longer flight time, the Mini 3 Pro takes things to the next level without adding weight and bulk.
9. DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced
If thermal imaging is what you need, the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise goes all-in on thermal imaging. With two cameras, visual and thermal, it can capture HD images and 4K videos, and you can switch between the two cameras or have a split view.
This is particularly helpful when you’re doing a roofing inspection that needs a thermal inspection and an overall inspection to get a complete report.
The features don’t stop at thermal imaging. It does spot and area measurements, which display the average temperature of an object and the average, lowest, and highest temperature in different locations. This is useful when you need to know if a part of your roof is absorbing too much heat, which may result in long-term damage.
10. Autel Evo 2 Dual 640T
This is the best geofencing drone for roof inspections. With the ability to take 60 frames per second at 4K resolution, you’ll get clear and crisp videos to look back at when you’re writing reports of your roof inspections. From blocked drains and leaks to mold and fungus, this camera can catch it all in no time.
11. DJI Matrice 30T
This is the best drone for roof inspections for inspections of large industrial sites and commercial buildings because it’s the most advanced drone on this list.
This powerful and compact drone comes equipped with a multi-sensor payload that includes a 4K, 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 48-megapixel 4K zoom camera, and a high-resolution thermal imaging camera, and a laser rangefinder.
This has an IP55 rating meaning it works well in rain, windy, and cold, snowy climates. This is ideal for businesses that can’t afford to take a break when the weather decides not to play ball. With many autonomous flight modes, 41 minutes of flight time, and a transmission range of 15KM, this drone is the definition of fully equipped.
12. Fimi X8 Mini
If you’re new to the roof inspection drone game, this Fimi X8 Mini is exactly what you need. It’s budget-friendly and full of features such as 35 minutes of flight time, 1080p FHD resolution Livestream, and two extra batteries. This is what you need as a beginner who is trying their hand at using drones for roof inspections.
The high-quality camera provides footage, all easily foldable so that you can take it with you on the road.
13. SKYDIO 2+
This drone is a great all-rounder for roof inspections. Particularly because it comes with 360-degree obstacle avoidance, it’s constantly aware of what’s happening around it and won’t crash into obstacles.
Ideal when you’re doing roof inspections in dense areas that mean you don’t have the best visibility yourself. It also means that you don’t have to worry about damaging the drone itself – which you don’t want to do, given the price tag.
With a 23-minute flight time and 3.5KM flight range, it’s also 50% quieter than most other models, meaning it’s great for residential roof inspections. With its excellent camera quality and a boat load of features, this is one to add to your list of best drones for roof inspections.
14. AUTEL NANO
Another lightweight drone that’s excellent for travel, but this one takes up a notch with an impressive built-in three-way obstacle avoidance. We mentioned this earlier, but this is great when you need to get close up during your inspections and to keep your drone safe from smashing into hurdles.
15. Holy Stone HS260
Are you inspecting roofs that have been storm damaged? Well, this drone, is perfect for this. It’s made for the storm season and has a control system that you can control using an app.
It also has gravity, voice, gesture control, and a 90-degree up and down manoeuvre, which is excellent for preparing accurate reports. So if you’re in stormy weather, this one’s for you.
16. SNAPTAIN SP650
Another one for the beginner roof inspector. With a 120-degree wide lens, this drone can capture more surroundings right down to seeing the texture of the roofing when you’re getting down to the detail of your roof inspection. It’s a sturdy and controllable drone making it perfect for a beginner. Inspections won’t be affected by a newbie learning the art of roof inspections using a drone.
17. RUKO F11 Pro
One for someone on a budget, this is a budget-friendly drone for roof inspections without compromising quality. With crystal quality images and videos, with features such as TapFly, Follow Me, and Gesture Shots, this affordable drone comes packed to the brim with features.
Why Use A Drone To Inspect A Roof?
Drones make it easier when doing roof inspections because they reduce or eliminate the risk of injury and can save you time. When you’ve got many inspections on your docket, you’ll want one of the best drones for roof inspections, so you get the most out of your day and your team.
How Can A Drone Help with A Roof Inspection?
Drones can get up close and into niggly spots that you may not be able to reach. Specialized drone software makes it easy to generate a variety of roof reports, and technology now means you can also develop detailed 3-D models of the roofs inspected.
Using one of the best drones for roof inspections means identifying significant issues, taking roof measurements, determining roof slopes, and even conducting storm inspections. You don’t have to worry about the weather when doing your job.
Drones And Thermal Roof Scans
We’ve talked about thermal cameras on some of the specific drones above. Still, a thermal roof scan can reveal temperature differences in roofs which identity wet roof insulation or gaps in the thermal envelope.
Limitations Of Drone Roof Inspections
The best drones for roof inspections are a great tool in your inspection toolkit. But there are some things a drone can’t do that you would need to get onto the roof to investigate—for example, sealant adhesion, probe membrane seams, or spotting roof blisters.
Restricted Airspace For Drones
Before purchasing one of the best drones for roof inspections, check your local rules, as there are some restricted areas for drones. These areas include national security installations, airports, prisons, and power plants. Check the address of the property you’re inspecting to see if you can use the drone before purchasing one.
What To Look For In A Roof Inspection Drone
In all drones, there are a couple of things you need to look for:
- Flight time
- Camera quality
- Flight stability
- Gimbal
- GPS
- Range
- Software options
- Speed
- Thermal imaging
- Video quality
- Weight
Can You Measure A Roof With A Drone
If we haven’t convinced you already, drones present a unique opportunity for getting a clear view of your rooftop and allowing you to get precise roof measurements. When purchasing your best drone for roof inspections, make sure that it has the right software and programmes that integrate with the drone and give you the ability to take measurements.
Well, there you have it; we’ve rounded up the 17 best drones for roof inspections based on your needs, from beginner roof inspectors to professional large commercial operations. Each of these drones comes equipped with a range of features that will make your day-to-day as a roof inspector much easier, and you’ll be able to deliver detailed reports and help you do your job better.
The fact that some of these drones can work in the worst weather is reason enough to switch over to using a drone for your roof inspections as soon as possible. So what are you waiting for! Get onto it!
