Thermal drone inspection questions, answered

A radiometric thermal camera measures surface temperature and converts it into a color-mapped image. Missing or thin insulation lets heat move through a ceiling or wall faster than the surrounding insulated areas, creating a detectable temperature contrast. Roof moisture works differently — wet material holds heat longer than dry material after sunset, so trapped moisture under a membrane roof shows up as a warmer patch during a nighttime flight. Both rely on real physics, not guesswork, but both need the right conditions to produce a clear read.

Insulation and envelope scans need a meaningful temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air, which is why we typically fly early morning or evening. Roof moisture surveys need a sunny, warm day followed by a clear night with a real temperature swing, flown a few hours after sunset. Rain, high wind, and heavy cloud cover can all distort a reading, so flights are scheduled around conditions rather than a fixed calendar date.

No. It's a focused, specialized tool for roof, envelope, and insulation issues — commonly used alongside a standard general home inspection, not as a replacement for one. A licensed general inspector covers structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems that a thermal scan doesn't address.

Pricing depends on the size and complexity of the property, roof type, travel distance, and how fast you need the report turned around. Residential scans are typically priced per inspection; larger commercial and portfolio work is often scoped by total roof square footage. See our pricing page for typical ranges, or request an inspection for a firm quote on your specific property.

The flight itself is usually completed in under a couple of hours on-site, depending on property size. From there, standard reports typically deliver in 24-48 hours once our team has reviewed and annotated the imagery.

Yes — but it's more specific than just "no rain." Insulation scans need a real indoor/outdoor temperature difference, and roof moisture surveys need a clear night after a sunny day. We'll confirm the best available window when scheduling and reschedule if conditions won't produce a reliable read, rather than fly a scan that won't hold up.

Unexplained hot or cold rooms, a summer or winter energy bill that doesn't match your home's size, or simply wanting an unbiased map of where insulation is actually missing before hiring a contractor are the most common reasons. It gives you documented, specific findings instead of a guess.

Yes — a pre-purchase thermal scan is one of our most requested services. It adds roof and insulation findings a standard inspection doesn't typically cover, and the dated report can support a repair request or price negotiation during your option period. See our Pre-Purchase Inspection service page for details.

Not for most residential scans, since flights are typically flown entirely from outside the property. We'll confirm any specific access needs when we schedule your inspection.

Flat and low-slope commercial roofing — EPDM, TPO, built-up, and modified bitumen systems — are the primary use case, since trapped moisture under a membrane is common and typically invisible from a visual inspection.

Yes — portfolio and recurring condition-assessment work is one of our core commercial service lines. We coordinate scheduling across sites and typically consolidate findings into a single reporting package. See our Commercial Roof Condition Assessment page for how periodic assessments work.

A dated, GPS-tagged thermal inspection report can serve as independent, third-party documentation that you or your contractor submit as part of your own claims process. We're a drone inspection service — we document roof and building conditions; we don't file, handle, or negotiate insurance claims, and we don't represent any insurance carrier.

Yes — our pilots hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates, the credential required for any commercial drone operation in U.S. airspace. We also carry commercial drone liability coverage as standard practice.

We dispatch FAA Part 107 certified pilots nationwide. Tell us your location when you request an inspection and we'll confirm scheduling and any travel considerations for your area.

Every inspection includes an annotated report pairing thermal imagery with matching visual-light photos for each flagged area, GPS-tagged and timestamped, with plain-language notes on likely cause and location. Commercial and portfolio reports include additional roof-plan mapping and, for recurring assessments, a comparison against prior survey cycles.