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A drone roof inspection is, without a doubt, cheaper than a traditional roof inspection. There are various reasons why this is the case. For starters, drone roof inspections require little human intervention, so there are cutbacks on labor costs.
You can get better results from drone roof inspections than you would from using more traditional means to inspect your roof. Click here to learn how drone roofing works and to know what you are paying for.
When looking at the cost, it’s essential to break it down and ask all the questions to ensure you get what you pay for. Does residential roof inspection cost the same as commercial drone roof inspection?
This article will explore how much it costs for a drone roof inspection. Additionally, you will learn what determines how much you pay for drone roof inspections.
Drone Roof Inspection Costs Estimates
A drone roof inspection in the US can cost roughly $10 to $600. Anything higher than that depends on the extra features that a drone is equipped with to enhance performance.
A more detailed review of residential and commercial drone roofing inspection costs will show where the differences lay.
Individual Property Drone Roof Inspection
The cost of roof inspection on an individual property depends on the square footage, stories, and desired deliverable.
Your drone pilot will charge between 0.10-0.15 cents per square foot. That charge covers standard images if your property is no more than 2,000 square feet.
Residential Community Drone Roof Inspection
Drone roof inspection for residential complexes or townhouses, square footage, number of stories, and requested deliverable also determine cost. The rates you receive for it are better than for individual properties standing at 0.5 cents per square foot.
It’s standard when the area is clear without forest; otherwise, the fee is slightly higher. Residential communities have multiple independent roof structures and occupy large spaces which also influences the overall pricing.
Commercial And Industrial Property Drone Roof Inspection
You have to acquire insurance before drone roof inspection on commercial properties. There’s some risk involved in the process.
Expect the rates to range from 0.05 cents to 0.10 cents per square foot. If there’s more risk than equated, you will likely pay higher rates.
Sometimes the drone roof inspection process can cost the same as a normal one. That said, drone roof inspectors do not use guesswork to develop the various rates.
Knowing what leads your inspector to settle for the rates should help with your peace of mind when you pay.
Factors That Determine Drone Inspection Roof Cost
As mentioned above, some aspects determine how much you pay for a drone roof inspection. It’s essential to explore how each one of those factors plays a role in influencing drone roof inspection costs.
Here are some factors that influence the cost of drone roof inspections:
Size of Your Roof
Sometimes having a large roof will only attract a surcharge during an inspection. The alternative is usually to charge by the square foot of the area under inspection. For instance, a 1,000 sq.ft roof can cost approximately $75, whereas a 3,500 sq.ft inspection will be roughly $350.
The best thing about honoring the rates based on the size of a roof is that contractors are flexible. These are not fixed so there is room for you to negotiate and get the best deal.
Climate
Climate determines visibility when flying a drone. Unfavorable climatic conditions like wind and rain are risks. Drone roof inspectors usually charge extra when there is bad weather to cover the risk associated with operating at such a time.
Usually, drones come designed to prevail even when the weather is hostile. Such sophistication comes at an extra price which your inspector will make you aware of beforehand.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to schedule a roof inspection when it’s sunny and calm without a chance of rain or strong winds.
Roof Accessibility
Roofing trends continue to cause the structure of roofs to change. The introduction of drones in roof inspection was timely. Unlike a traditional inspection, a drone roof inspection can reach the area of a roof that you would consider hard to get to.
Still, some roofs are extra steep but not challenging for a drone. For instance, it takes a certain level of experience and hand steadiness to guide a drone down a chimney. Your contractor will ask for an extra fee for the trouble.
Roof Certification and Report
Roof certifications are necessary when you are planning on selling your property. You must schedule a roof inspection before selling your property, and that’s your chance to get the certification. It shows that your building has integrity.
If you want your inspector to prepare a certificate for you, you will have to pay extra for it. Prepare to part with about $75 to $200 besides the quoted inspection fee. Further, if you want a report after inspection, you will likely have to pay an additional $200.
Type of Roofing Material
It’s suitable that the type of roofing material you have should influence the pricing of a drone inspection. Before you feel excited about the possibility of replacing your roof with exotic roofing material like barrel tiles or wood shingles, know that you might have to pay for inspections.
Roof inspectors can charge four times more for a slate tile roof than an asphalt roof. You would be lucky to pay based on this factor if your inspector is willing to negotiate.
Final Words
You get what you pay for. That’s the one thing you always need to have when paying for services in the back of your mind. Ask your roofing contractor to help you decide what to pay for deliverables. A drone roof inspection is efficient and accurate, so it’s an excellent investment.
Besides accuracy and efficiency, reasons like safety and the fact that drone inspection is cheaper than standard inspection are other reasons to consider paying for it.
If you don’t want to secure a drone pilot to fly it for you, then get ready to invest your time in learning the various software you will need to inspect your roof yourself.
