Best Drone for Roof Inspection
Navigating the realm of drones for roof inspection can be a challenge, which is why I've curated the top 5 drones just for you. After delving into the details of over 45 different drones, I can confidently assert that the Traxxas Aton Plus takes the crown as the best drone for roof inspection. It boasts a user-friendly flying experience, making it suitable for those with limited experience, and its outstanding battery life sets it apart (read more below).
The Best Best Drones for Roof Inspection:
Best Drone for Roof Inspection: Traxxas Aton Plus
- Quad-rotor thrust with auto-leveling...
- High-capacity 650mAh LiPo battery
- Integrated bright, colorful LEDs
- 2.4GHz radio system
- Molded two-piece, two-color canopy in...
The Traxxas Aton Plus is an amazing drone that does not cost as much as the DJI models. It has an adequate speed of up to 50 mph and very easy controls. It can also last up to more than 30 minutes thanks to its 5000 mah battery included. Now, let’s talk about the camera: the Traxxas Aton Plus is nothing else but a GoPro mount that can support all models up to the latest HERO. That means the drone does not have a built-in camera. However, the investment is worth it since its GoPro stability is phenomenal and taking roof shots just look like HD blueprints.
Best Value Drone for Roof Inspection: Parrot Anafi
- This drone with a camera equipped with...
- The ANAFI Parrot Drone can have up to 25...
- With its ultra-compact and lightweight...
- Equipped with a Parrot Skycontroller 3...
- Software updates can make changes to...
The bug-like Parrot Anafi is worth more than what you pay. Capturing at 4K HD and a maximum travel distance of 4km, this powerful drone can also last up to more than 25 minutes, giving you enough time to make those money shots. It is also a smaller camera compared to the others on this list but it does have one of the best picture qualities that not a lot of drones can produce. It is also welcoming to inexperienced droners since it has a simple mode control and a GPS tracking tool that lets it have a mind on its own - given that you configured its coordinates. If you need a no-frills budget drone for roof inspection, get the Parrot Anafi.
Best GoPro Drone for Roof Inspection: Holy Stone HS700
- 4K FHD Camera with 5G Transmission: The...
- GPS Assisted Flight: With GPS location,...
- 22 Mins Max Flight Time: The...
- Brushless Motor: It is so quiet but very...
- Simple Control: Quick launch by pressing...
Built-in with a powerful camera plus an extra slot for the GoPro, the Holy Stone HS700 can take multiple shots on the roof without needing any photography experience. In other words, the HS700 will do all the camera work for you; it just waits for your signal on when to capture it. The drone can support the HERO 2, 3 and 4 models but with a few tweaks, you can make it work on more modern GoPros. It has a large 110-degree Field of View lens under a 5G 1080p resolution camera that is very useful when taking pictures of large roofs without needing a very high altitude.
If you need more options, see our best GoPro drone review here.
Best Camera Drone for Roof Inspection: DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- Camera with 1-inch 20MP sensor the...
- Five-directions of obstacle sensing....
- More powerful video processing supports...
- Note: Refer the Instructional Video and...
- Max Flight Time Approx. 30 minutes
If you happen to have experience with photography and want to take some of the most elaborate picture qualities of just the roof, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is yours to keep. Of course, it is nothing without its signature 20MP camera with extra zoom features and a 4K 60 fps video quality. Originally, this model would have been obsolete since 2 years ago but due to popular demand, you should not worry about finding this specific model. It has a wide field of view plus it includes long battery life and a far-off distance reception so you shouldn’t have any problem regarding roof pictures at high altitudes.
Best Budget Drone for Roof Inspection: Ryze Tello
- Equipped with a high-quality image...
- Camera features 5MP (2592x1936) photos...
- Tello has two antennas that make video...
- Thanks to all the tech that Tello’s...
- What you get: RyzeTech Tello powered by...
While it only uses a 720p camera, the Ryze Tello tells it all with its rather crisp colors when taking pictures. It does not have the farthest distance nor the longest battery life, but if you are planning to cut costs because let’s face it, drones are expensive, the Ryze Tello should definitely suffice. The shots are clear enough when inspecting roofs and the clear visuals plus strong stability make this worth your while. Of course, there are better options but the price gap is large compared to the Tello when it comes to the best budget drone for a roof inspection.
Conclusion (Why I Would Buy It)
Among the 5 best drones for roof inspection, I really prefer the Traxxas Aton Plus because of the convenience it brings for roof inspectors thanks to its simple controls and reasonable price. The Parrot Anafi is good too thanks to its 4K capabilities while the Holy Stone HS700 works well when you have a GoPro with you. And if you want to a large budget, go for the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Above all else, when you don’t have enough money and you need a decent drone for roof inspections, go with the Ryze Tello. None of these are wrong answers; it all depends on your preference.
Drone Buying Guide
Camera Quality
Of course, the best resolution to use is 4K but there are some exceptions like the Ryze Tello that happens to create wonderful visuals and images at just under 720p. It just depends on whether you like your drone inspection to look very high definition but as long as the camera is clear and it can spot small details on the roof, that should be good enough.
Altitude Distance
Sure, the higher the altitude the better. But, in the case of roof inspections, the least distance you should go for is 1km. Anything above that should definitely be future-proof for you. Although if you want the most optimal distance, opt for a drone that can travel up to 4km.
FPV or Not
Since you are just inspecting the roof, a normal camera drone should work already. Otherwise, if you prefer a bit of a challenge or some wow factor into your inspections, an FPV drone is good too - it’s just that the latter is much more expensive than a camera mount or R/C drone.
Speed or Battery Life
Obviously, speed doesn’t matter with the drone if you are just using it to check out rooftops. The one you should look for is a drone with a long battery life of at least 20 minutes.
With the help of modern technology, drones can now pinpoint the measurements of a roof thanks to a certain software called EZ3D. However, you will need to have experience in configuring a drone. If you don’t, just contact someone who can do it for you instead.
The best choices are always around $150 to slightly more than $300. You wouldn’t need many vital specs except for altitude, battery life and camera quality. Although, you can still spend some more, especially if you want something like the DJI which usually costs around $700 or more..
These days, a lot of home inspectors use drones because it is very convenient. No longer do home inspectors have to use a ladder and manually check each nook and cranny of the rooftop when they could just launch a drone to oculate the roof exterior instead.
The answer to this question will depend on your preference. Some drones are more inclined to long battery life, others focus on high altitudes while another half prefers a better camera quality. To me, the best answer is a mix of all of them. After all, balance is always key.
