A drone building inspection in Perth uses a camera-equipped drone to assess roof areas that cannot be safely or fully reached on foot. It is not a replacement for a building inspection, it is a tool that makes the roof assessment within a pre-purchase building inspection more thorough, especially on two-storey, steep, or fragile roofs. We use drones across all of our inspection types, from pre-purchase to practical completion, construction progress, and commercial, wherever a roof cannot be safely or fully reached on foot.
This guide explains how a drone building inspection works, when it adds the most value, and what it can reveal about the most expensive part of any home to repair: the roof.
| Drone building inspection at a glance |
Used where a roof cannot be safely accessed on foot, such as two-storey, steep-pitch, or fragile roofs. |
Captures the full roof plane in detail, including ridges, hips, valleys, and flashings. |
Complements, not replaces, the on-foot building inspection. |
Operated by registered builders who know what a roof defect actually looks like. |
Findings form part of your same-day digital report with full-resolution photographs. |
Why use a drone for a building inspection?
Many inspection companies are limited to what can be seen from the ground or from the roof edge. That leaves the centre of the roof plane, and anything on a steep or two-storey roof, effectively unchecked. A drone closes that gap. It lets the inspector view the entire roof surface safely, without the access limitations and safety risks of climbing a fragile or high roof. The result is a far more complete assessment of the area that costs the most to put right.
Safety is the other half of the story. Walking a brittle tiled roof or a steep two-storey pitch carries real risk, both to the inspector and to the roof itself. In fact, WorkSafe requirements prevent us from accessing a two-storey roof on foot, so a drone is the safe and compliant way to assess it, while still capturing close, detailed imagery.
What a drone inspection can reveal
Roof covering defects
From above, the inspector can identify cracked or slipped tiles, spalling on older clay tiles, corrosion on metal roofing, and deteriorated ridge pointing across the whole roof, not just the edges.
Flashings and penetrations
Flashings around chimneys, skylights, and other roof penetrations are common leak points. A drone gives a clear view of these details so the inspector can flag inadequate or deteriorated flashings before they let water in.
Gutters and debris
Blocked or debris-filled gutters and obvious drainage deficiencies are visible from above. Our inspectors visually assess gutters and roof drainage as part of the inspection, and the drone makes that assessment easier on hard-to-reach roofs.
How a drone roof assessment is carried out
On the day, the inspector first decides whether the roof can be safely and adequately assessed on foot. Where it cannot, because the roof is two-storey, steep, fragile, or simply unsafe to walk, the drone comes out. The inspector flies a controlled pattern over the roof, capturing close imagery of the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, and penetrations across the whole plane, not just the parts visible from the ground or the edge.
Because the imagery is high resolution, the findings can be reviewed in detail and included in your report with full-resolution photographs. That means you are not taking the inspector’s word for a defect at the top of a two-storey roof, you can see it for yourself, captured clearly from above.
A drone is not needed on every job. Where the roof can be safely accessed on foot, typically on a single-storey home, there is no need for one. It is an add-on service rather than part of every inspection.
What a drone assessment cannot do
A drone is a roof tool, not a substitute for the rest of the inspection. It does not assess the roof space from inside, the walls, the wet areas, the subfloor, or any of the internal elements, all of which the inspector still assesses in person where accessible. It also cannot see through surfaces: concealed moisture, for example, is assessed separately using a moisture meter on the walls behind showers where accessible. Used for what it does best, capturing a complete and safe view of the roof, the drone makes the overall inspection more thorough rather than replacing any part of it.
Why the roof is worth this attention
The roof is the single most expensive element of a home to repair or replace, and it is also the hardest for a buyer to assess on their own. Most people never see more than the front edge from the driveway. A small, early-stage problem, a few cracked tiles, a lifting flashing, or a section of corroded sheeting, is cheap to fix when it is caught. Left to spread, the same issue lets water into the roof space, the ceilings, and eventually the walls, turning a minor repair into a major one. A complete view of the roof before settlement is one of the highest-value parts of the whole inspection, which is exactly why we will not leave a two-storey or fragile roof half-checked.
How drone fits with the rest of the inspection
A drone assessment is one part of a full building inspection, not a standalone service that replaces it. The inspector still assesses the roof space, walls, wet areas, subfloor, and the rest of the property in person. On roofs where conditions warrant it, thermal imaging can add a further layer, helping identify heat loss from missing insulation and certain concealed concerns under the right conditions. Note that thermal imaging does not detect moisture in brick walls, which is assessed separately with a moisture meter.
All inspections are carried out under AS4349.1 by our extensive team of highly experienced registered builders. You can read more about our drone inspections and request a quote online any time.
Get a free instant quote at bestwestbuilding.com.au or call us on (08) 9444 9562.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drone Building Inspections in Perth
Does a drone replace a normal building inspection?
No. A drone is a tool used within a building inspection to assess roof areas that cannot be safely reached on foot. The inspector still assesses the rest of the property in person.
When is a drone inspection most useful?
On two-storey homes, steep-pitch roofs, and fragile or brittle roofs where walking the roof is unsafe or would risk damage. It is also useful for capturing the full roof plane in detail.
Can a drone see inside the roof or walls?
No. A drone assesses the external roof surface. Concealed areas like the roof space are assessed in person where accessible, and concealed moisture is checked separately with a moisture meter.
Is a drone inspection included in the price?
No. A drone assessment is an add-on service, charged at an additional $99. Where the roof can be safely accessed on foot, such as a single-storey home, it is not needed. Get an instant personalised quote at bestwestbuilding.com.au.
