Comparison

Drone Thermal vs Manual Roof Inspection

How drone thermal inspection compares to traditional rope-access or scaffolding methods.

Drone thermal inspection is faster, safer, and often more accurate than manual roof inspection. Here's the comparison.

Factor	Leak.ca	Manual Roof Inspection
Safety	No roof access required — zero fall risk	Fall protection, scaffolding, or rope access required
Coverage speed	5,000-50,000 sq m per flight (30-60 min)	500-2,000 sq m per day depending on access
Cost	Typically $2K-$8K per building	$5K-$25K for scaffolding setup alone
Data quality	Geo-tagged radiometric thermal + 4K visual	Visual inspection + spot thermal readings
Best for	Large roofs, high-rise, hard-to-access areas	Small accessible roofs, detailed hands-on inspection

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Free phone consult. We'll recommend the best approach for your situation.