Drone Roof Inspection for an Insurance Claim
Your own documentation is not a substitute for the carrier's inspection, and it is not meant to be. It exists so that the conversation about your roof starts from dated, high-resolution evidence of what the roof looked like — which matters most when the adjuster's visit is weeks away and the weather has not stopped.
- Free to post
- No commission on the job
- Part 107 certified pilots
118 inspection pilots ready to quoteAcross 37 states & regions
Dated evidence, early
The single most useful property of independent imagery is its timestamp. Damage that is documented the week it happened is much harder to attribute to something that came later, and a roof deteriorates while a claim queue moves.
Nobody walks a damaged roof
A roof that has just taken hail, wind or a fallen limb is the worst possible surface to send someone onto. Getting the imagery without a ladder removes the part of this process most likely to hurt somebody.
Ask for the raw files
Keep the originals, not just the report. Unedited files with their capture metadata intact are what a carrier or a second opinion will want to look at; an exported PDF of cropped images answers fewer questions than the folder it came from.
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 the file should contain
- Establishing shots that locate the roof in its surroundings, so nobody can argue about which building this is.
- Each elevation square-on at consistent height, at enough resolution to resolve individual shingles or tiles.
- Close detail on flashing, valleys, ridges, penetrations, vents and gutters — and on the undamaged areas too.
- Original unedited files with metadata intact, delivered alongside any annotated set rather than instead of it.
What a survey cannot settle
- Tell you the condition of the decking, or feel for soft spots underfoot.
- Establish causation — whether damage is storm-related or the end of a long decline. That is an argument about the roof's history, not about photograph sharpness.
- Guarantee your carrier accepts it. Some want their own inspection first; some run their own aerial programme.
- Add much on hail and wind impact if it is thermal. Thermal earns its place where water has already got in.
Call your adjuster before commissioning the flight and ask two things: whether they accept independent aerial documentation, and what format they want it in. It costs nothing and it is worth more than any general advice.
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.
Pilots who list insurance and claims work
Real published profiles. Open any one to see credentials, kit, service area and sample work before you post.
Stanley T Parker
North Carolina, United States
6 work samples
I’m an FAA Part 107 Certified Commercial Drone Pilot and the owner of True North Aerial Imaging, serving Alexander, Iredell, Catawba, Davie, and Rowan counties. My work blends technical precision with a storyteller’s eye, delivering aerial and ground visuals that help clients see their projects, properties, and events from a higher perspective. Over the years, I’ve flown in a wide range of environments — real estate, construction progress, community events, public‑works projects, and heritage sites. Whether navigating tight spaces, adjusting to fast-changing weather, or coordinating with on‑site teams, I bring a disciplined, checklist-driven workflow to every mission. Safety, clarity, and professionalism are non‑negotiable.
Real estateConstruction
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
Inspection pilots by state
Talk to your adjuster before you commission the flight
Carrier requirements are not uniform and they are not stable. Some accept third-party drone imagery as supporting documentation without comment; some want their own inspection first; some have their own aerial programme and will send it. A five-minute call establishing what your adjuster will actually look at is worth more than any general advice on this page, and it is free. Ask two things: whether they accept independent aerial documentation, and what format they want it in.
What the imagery should contain
Establishing shots that show the whole property and locate the roof in its surroundings, so nobody can argue about which building this is. Then each elevation captured square-on at consistent height, with enough resolution to resolve individual shingles or tiles. Then close detail on every area of concern, with something in frame for scale where possible. Flashing, valleys, ridges, penetrations, vents and gutters photographed specifically, because those are where failures concentrate. And the undamaged areas too — a set that only shows the bad parts invites the question of what the rest looks like.
Where thermal helps and where it does not
For hail and wind damage on a pitched residential roof, high-resolution visual imagery is what a claim normally turns on: an adjuster is looking for bruising, granule loss, creased or lifted shingles, and thermal adds little to that. Where thermal earns its place is water that has already got in — moisture sitting in a flat or low-slope roof build-up, or wetting a ceiling below. If your claim is about the consequences of a leak rather than about impact damage, a post-sunset thermal pass is worth adding.
What a drone survey cannot settle
It cannot tell you the condition of the decking under the covering, it cannot feel for soft spots underfoot, and it cannot lift a shingle to see what is beneath. Causation is frequently the contested part of a roof claim — whether damage is storm-related or the end of a long decline — and that is an argument about the roof's history, its age and its installation, not about how sharp the photographs are. Independent imagery makes the argument better evidenced. It does not decide it, and a pilot who tells you it will is not doing you a favour.
Common questions
Will my insurer accept drone photos?
Many adjusters accept dated drone imagery as supporting documentation, and drone inspection is now widely used by carriers themselves. But requirements genuinely vary by carrier and by claim, so ask your adjuster what they will accept before you pay for a flight rather than after.
Should I get my own inspection or wait for the adjuster?
They serve different purposes and are not mutually exclusive. Independent, dated imagery captured soon after the event protects you against the roof changing while the claim moves. It does not replace the carrier's own inspection, and nothing here is legal or claims advice — if the claim is large or contested, a public adjuster or attorney is the right person to ask.
How much does it cost?
A standard residential drone roof inspection generally runs $150 to $400, with a thermal pass adding roughly $100 to $200. On SkyLog, quotes across all inspection work have ranged from $100 to about $1,550, median $300 — a spread that mostly reflects how much reporting is included. Posting the job costs nothing and gets you real numbers for your roof.
How fast can someone come out?
In normal conditions, within a few days. After a widespread storm, every roof in the region is asking the same question at once and availability is the constraint rather than price. Post as early as you can and say the job is claim-related, because pilots who do this work prioritise it accordingly.
What should I keep?
Everything: the original unedited image files with their metadata, the report, the date, and a note of who flew it and when. Compressed copies emailed around lose the information that makes them useful.
Can the pilot deal with my insurer for me?
No, and be wary of anyone offering to. A drone pilot documents the roof. Negotiating a claim on your behalf is regulated work in most states and is the province of a licensed public adjuster.
Related drone services
Document your roof damage free
Post the job with the date of loss and what you need captured. Pilots who do claims work will quote you directly.
- No commission, ever
- Part 107 certified pilots
- No obligation to hire
Prices and guidance on this page were last reviewed .