Aerial Roof Inspection Study: New Build Property
Aerial inspection was carried out on a newly completed residential property to assess solar panels under dispute and roof condition as part of a preventative maintenance approach, using drone inspection methods. Despite the property being recently constructed, limited visibility from ground level meant key areas could not be properly reviewed.
The Challenge
The property was assumed to be in good condition, but there was no clear way to confirm the quality and completeness of the roof installation and solar panels without intrusive access. Our key challenge was to gain a clear, accurate view of the roof and solar panels, identify any issues and provide confidence in the overall condition of the roof, fascia and upper windows.
<7 yrs
The Approach
The aerial roof inspection was conducted using drone technology to capture high-resolution imagery across all roof areas. This approach enabled: safe and complete access to all roof elevations, detailed visual inspection data and imagery without scaffolding, accurate documentation of roof condition.
Key Findings
We found the aerial inspection revealed numerous issues not visible from ground level
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Inconsistent finishing across roof sections
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Early-stage material concerns
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Isolated defects with potential for water ingress if left unaddressed
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Variations in workmanship across different sections of the roof
What this Means
This case highlights a common issue with new build properties: Assumptions about condition do not alway reflect reality and are often only identified through aerial inspection.
Even recently completed buildings can contain defects or incomplete work that are not immediately visible. Without aerial visibility, these issues can go unnoticed until they begin to cause problems. This reinforces the importance of :- independent inspections, early-stage verification and proactive identification of defects.
Even recently completed buildings can contain defects or incomplete work that are not immediately visible. Without aerial visibility, these issues can go unnoticed until they begin to cause problems. This reinforces the importance of :- independent inspections, early-stage verification and proactive identification of defects. This reflects wider patterns identified across residential properties ➡️ Aerial Insights
Outcome
The inspection provided clear, evidence based insight into the condition of the property, enabling informed decisions to be made regarding remedial work and next steps.By identifying issues early, the client was able to: address defects before escalation, avoid future disruption and cost, gain confidence in the overall condition of the property and continue her dispute with the solar installers with evidence based imagery.
“New does not mean problem-free. The aerial survey gave me the evidence to support a dispute, the knowledge to fix what needed to be fixed and the confidence I was covering bases with my insuraance policy” - Property Owner, Somerset
The owner also has a completed report and image set now serve as a documented record of active preventative maintenance - filed by the homeowner as evidence that she is meeting the obligations of her buildings insurance policy, and as a reference point for contractors and specialists going forward.
Concerned About What You Can't See?
Aerial drone inspection provides a clear independent view of roof condition - helping identify hidden defects before they become costly problems without the need for intrusive access. Learn more about our homes aerial inspections ➡️