Drone Facade Inspection
A facade survey used to mean a swing stage, a rope team or a scaffold, and it was priced accordingly — so it happened as rarely as the rules allowed. Getting a camera to every elevation without any of that changes how often the question can be asked.
- Free to post
- No commission on the job
- Part 107 certified pilots
118 inspection pilots ready to quoteAcross 37 states & regions
Every elevation, same standard
A flight captures all four sides at consistent distance and resolution, including the returns and setbacks that are awkward to reach and therefore tend to be under-documented. Consistency is what makes the survey comparable to the next one.
No suspended access to survey
The reconnaissance stops requiring the equipment. A rope team or stage still goes up for hands-on work, but it goes up knowing where to go rather than to find out.
A record you can compare
Cracking, displacement and spalling are progressive. Photographing the same elevations the same way each cycle turns a folder of images into a record of whether something is moving, which is the actual question.
Free to post
Posting and receiving quotes costs nothing, and SkyLog takes no commission and adds no markup. You pay the pilot you hire, at the price the two of you agree.
What this settles
- Cracking in masonry and concrete, spalling, exposed reinforcement, displaced units and failed pointing.
- Sealant failure at joints and openings, corrosion staining, and distress around lintels and shelf angles.
- Copings, parapets and flashings at the top of the building, where problems concentrate and nobody looks.
- Panel displacement, gasket failure, damaged glazing and fixing corrosion on cladding and curtain wall — plus the water paths that staining reveals.
What it does not
- Satisfy a statutory facade inspection. Those regimes are specific about hands-on examination and about who signs the report.
- Sound or probe anything, or assess what is behind the face beyond what staining and distress imply.
- Suit a general aerial photographer. Near a facade, GPS multipaths off glass, compasses degrade near steel, and wind is unpredictable.
- Happen without planning on an urban site — flight over people, restricted launch areas and controlled airspace are the norm.
Where it earns its money is making the statutory cycle cheaper and better targeted: the drone surveys the whole envelope so the qualified professional can scope hands-on work to where it is needed rather than sampling arbitrarily.
How it works
Three steps, no account needed to start, and nothing to pay at any point in it.
- 1
Describe the job
The form opens with this page's answers already filled in — service, deliverable, site access. Add the location and anything specific to your site.
- 2
Pilots quote it
Every pilot whose service area and services match is notified. You get itemised quotes back with their credentials, kit and sample work attached.
- 3
Compare and hire
Pick on price, proximity or portfolio, and pay the pilot directly. SkyLog takes no cut and adds no markup to what you agree.
Inspection pilots with published profiles
Real published profiles. Open any one to see credentials, kit, service area and sample work before you post.
chris aldridge
Texas, United States
20 work samples
I’m a commercial drone pilot providing aerial mapping, property line overlays, topographic mapping, construction site data, radiometric thermal inspections, 3D modeling, real estate listing photography and video, property marketing, and professional aerial imagery for businesses and landowners.
Real estateWeddingEventInspectionMapping / surveyFilm / TVConstructionOther- George Benes
Oregon, United States
13 work samples
I've been a Part 107 drone pilot since 2019, working with Pacific Northwest clients on Real estate, construction progress, mapping, telecom inspections, architectural photography and events. I am very flexible and can provide deliverables within 24 - 48 hours. I take great pride in my work and having a photography business, my delivered photos are edited and culled to the best of the best. I worked for 30+ years as a commercial construction Superintendent, managing multi-million dollar construction projects and this experience allows me to be very safety oriented and knowledgeable on construction sites, providing the construction companies with usable deliverables that they can share with all stakeholders involved in their building project.
Real estateEventInspectionMapping / surveyConstruction 
Andy Jones
California, United States
12 work samples
FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot based in Southern California, specializing in construction documentation, infrastructure inspections, mapping, orthomosaics, and aerial imagery. With more than two decades of experience managing complex federal construction projects, I understand the importance of accuracy, safety, and delivering actionable data—not just photos. I operate professional DJI Enterprise aircraft, including the DJI Matrice 4E, DJI Matrice 4T, as well as the DJI Air 3S for high-resolution imaging and the DJI Neo 2 for specialized close-range operations. My services include construction progress documentation, roof and property inspections, land development, infrastructure photography, photogrammetry, mapping, and custom aerial imaging. I also conduct search operations for lost pets using aerial search techniques and thermal imaging. Every mission is conducted in compliance with FAA regulations, with careful mission planning, clear communication, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results on schedule. Whether you need a single inspection or recurring project documentation, my goal is to provide reliable aerial data you can confidently use to make decisions.
Real estateEventInspectionMapping / surveyConstructionAgricultureOtherFilm / TVWedding
George Colonna
Maryland, United States
12 work samples
Started flying drones for General Dynamics Robotics Systems in 2009 as the subject matter expert and lead test engineer for RCTA and a program called the Soldier Machine Interface. We developed leader/follower code for up-armored autonomous assets a full decade before Google fielded their driverless car "train" and a UI that let soldiers/marines plan missions on the ground and in the air. My job was to ensure the software worked, more importantly, met customer requirements. Working in the field afforded me a wealth of experience regarding process and implementation, but also how to think critically and resolve issues on the fly. If interested in learning more about my credentials, please see my website. My current fleet is primarily DJI and Autel. I have RTK capability and a complete field kit to sustain remote operations for several days.
InspectionMapping / surveyConstructionOtherFilm / TV- K Enagonio
Tennessee, United States
10 work samples
I've been flying since 2015 and specialize in both cinematic filmmaking as well as surveying, construction, sensitive infrastructure capture, and music videos and events.
Film / TVConstructionInspectionEventAgricultureReal estateMapping / surveyOther 
Casey Jones
Arizona, United States
9 work samples
FAA Part 107 commercial drone pilot specializing in RTK mapping, aerial photography, thermal imaging, property documentation, construction progress, and detailed site capture. I operate professional DJI aircraft including the Matrice 4E and Matrice 4T, with RTK capability for repeatable, high-quality data collection. I approach each assignment as a complete mission, from airspace and site planning through safe flight operations, field verification, data handling, and final delivery. I serve clients throughout the California, Nevada, and Arizona tri-state region and am available for both individual assignments and multi-site projects.
Real estateEventMapping / surveyConstructionAgricultureOtherInspection
Inspection pilots by state
What an aerial facade survey finds
Surface and interface conditions, in detail: cracking in masonry and concrete, spalling and exposed reinforcement, displaced or missing units, failed or missing pointing, sealant failure at joints and around openings, corrosion staining that indicates something rusting behind the face, distress around lintels and shelf angles, and the state of copings, parapets and flashings at the top of the building where problems concentrate and nobody looks. On cladding and curtain wall it picks up panel displacement, gasket failure, damaged glazing and fixing corrosion. What it also does well, and quietly, is document water paths — staining tells you where water has been running for years.
Where it fits with statutory inspection
Several jurisdictions require periodic facade inspection on taller buildings, and the requirements are specific about who signs the report and about hands-on examination of a proportion of the envelope. New York's FISP is the best-known, and it is not the only one. Aerial survey does not replace those obligations. What it does is make them cheaper and better targeted: the drone surveys the whole envelope so the qualified professional can decide where hands-on examination is needed, and the close-up work is scoped to those places rather than sampled arbitrarily. If your survey is for a statutory cycle, involve the qualified professional in specifying the flight, because their requirements govern.
Flying close to a building is its own discipline
This is not a job for the general aerial photographer. Near a facade the aircraft is in the building's wind shadow one moment and its accelerated flow the next, GPS multipaths off glass and masonry, and compass behaviour degrades near steel. Urban sites add flight over people and vehicles, restricted launch and recovery areas, and frequently controlled airspace. The mitigations are real and boring: pilots with close-proximity experience, appropriate waivers where flight over people is unavoidable, adequate liability cover for the value of what is below, and often a spotter. Ask what a pilot has flown at this proximity and what their plan is if the wind picks up.
Specifying the survey
State the building height, the number of elevations and whether any are inaccessible from the ground. Say what resolution you need in terms of the smallest thing that must be visible — a crack you can measure is a much tighter specification than a panel you can identify — because that sets the standoff distance and therefore the flight time. Decide whether you want the elevations delivered as image sets or as stitched orthographic views of each face, which are far easier to mark up and compare between cycles. Say if you want a 3D model. And flag the site constraints early: occupancy, adjacent property, pedestrian routes below, and whether the building operator needs notice.
Common questions
Does a drone survey satisfy a statutory facade inspection?
Not on its own. Regimes like FISP set requirements about hands-on examination and about who is qualified to sign the report, and a drone changes neither. It is used to survey the whole envelope so the qualified professional can target the close-up work — check with them before commissioning.
What does a facade inspection cost?
It scales with building height, number of elevations and reporting depth. Inspection quotes on SkyLog have ranged from $100 to about $1,550 with a $300 median across 13 quotes, spanning every inspection type — a multi-elevation facade survey on a tall building sits above that middle. Post the building and get real numbers.
How close can the drone get?
Close enough to resolve fine cracking, given a competent pilot and reasonable conditions. How close is a judgement about wind, the airframe and what is below, and it is one to leave to the pilot on the day rather than to specify from a desk.
Can it survey a building in a dense city centre?
Usually, but it takes more planning: controlled airspace authorisation, a launch and recovery area, management of pedestrian routes below, and sometimes a waiver for flight over people. Give the exact address when you post so pilots can assess it properly rather than optimistically.
Can I get a 3D model of the elevation?
Yes — the same capture supports a photogrammetric model, and orthographic views of each face are often more useful than the model itself for marking up defects and comparing between surveys. Ask for it up front, because it changes the flight plan.
What about glass and reflective cladding?
Highly reflective surfaces are harder for both photogrammetry and any thermal work, and they need more care with angles and lighting. Say what the facade is made of when you post; a pilot who has flown glass buildings will tell you what is realistic.
Related drone services
Post your facade survey free
Give the building height, elevations and what the survey is for. Pilots experienced in close-proximity work will quote directly.
- No commission, ever
- Part 107 certified pilots
- No obligation to hire
Prices and guidance on this page were last reviewed .