Free Drone Roof Inspection: What It Shows and How It Works

What is a free drone roof inspection?

Published October 22, 2026 · John Beal, Owner, John Beal Roofing

It's a full roof inspection done with a drone instead of a ladder. We fly above, around and right down on top of your roof, photograph every slope, and show you exactly what we found. No climbing, no guessing, and it's free.

Most roof problems start where nobody looks. From the driveway a roof can look fine while a cracked pipe boot lets water into the attic, or a few hail-bruised shingles start shedding their granules. A drone roof inspection gets a camera over every slope, so what's actually up there stops being a guess.

What a drone roof inspection is

Instead of setting a ladder against your gutters and walking the roof, we fly a drone over it. It goes above the roof for the full picture, around it for the edges and walls, and right down close to the shingles, flashing and vents. Every slope gets photographed, and then we sit down with you and go through what we found.

What the drone can find

Hail hits on shingles, vents and metal flashing.
Lifted, creased or missing shingles after a windstorm.
Busted pipe boots, the rubber collars around plumbing vents, one of the most common leak sources we see.
Clogged gutters that back water up under the roof edge.
Worn or loose flashing around chimneys, skylights and walls.
Ponding and seam trouble on flat roofs.

Shingle or flat, home or business

We fly residential shingle roofs and commercial flat roofs alike. On a large commercial roof the drone covers ground a person would need hours to walk; on a steep home roof it gets the close-ups without anyone stepping on it.

Why use a drone instead of a ladder?

Nobody climbs. Steep, wet or storm-damaged roofs are dangerous, and you should never be the one up there. Every square foot gets seen. Ridges, valleys and back slopes you can't see from the yard are all in frame. The photos don't lie. You see the same pictures we see, so you don't have to take anyone's word for it.

When to ask for one

After any hailstorm or high wind. When you find a water stain on the ceiling. When the roof is getting older and you want to know how much life it has left. Before you buy or sell a house. And before you call your insurance company, so you know whether there's real damage first.

How our free drone inspection works

Call or fill out the form. 1-800-JOHN-BEAL is answered 24/7 by a real person.
We fly the roof. Above, around and close-up on every slope.
We show you the photos and explain what we see, good or bad.
You decide. If it needs nothing, we'll tell you. No obligation.

Why John Beal Roofing

We're family-run, three generations, roofing Midwest homes and businesses since 1947. We're a top 100 roofing company, we answer 24/7 for emergencies, and our work carries a lifetime workmanship warranty.

What's said in the video

Transcript: From up here, nothing hides. Every roof tells a story. Hail hits, lifted shingles, busted pipe boots, clogged gutters. Shingle roofs, flat roofs, residential or commercial, we get above it, around it, and right down on top of it. Our drone roof inspections put eyes on every square foot, and the photos don't lie. Three generations, a top 100 roofing company, 24/7 emergency service, and a lifetime workmanship warranty. John Beal Roofing. Call us today for your drone roof inspection. If your ceiling's sagging down or your roof falls to the ground, call John Beal, call John Beal, call John Beal.

Frequently asked questions

Is the drone roof inspection really free?

Yes. There's no charge and no obligation. We inspect the roof, show you the photos, and tell you straight what we see.

Do I need to be home for a drone roof inspection?

It helps, because we like to walk you through the photos, but we can schedule around you. Call 1-800-JOHN-BEAL and we'll set a time that works.

Can a drone see hail damage on a roof?

A drone gets close, overhead photos of every slope, so it can show hail hits, missing or lifted shingles, damaged pipe boots and clogged gutters you can't see from the driveway.

Do you do drone inspections on flat and commercial roofs?

Yes. We fly shingle roofs and flat roofs, homes and commercial buildings.

Is a drone inspection safer than climbing on the roof?

For you, yes. Nobody in your family needs to get on a ladder, and a steep or storm-damaged roof can be photographed without walking on it.

Can I use the drone photos for my insurance claim?

The photos document what is on the roof the day we inspect. Have the roof inspected and documented before you file, so you know whether there's real damage and have the pictures to show it.

Where do you offer free drone roof inspections?

Across our Midwest markets: Greater St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Jefferson City, Springfield, Lake of the Ozarks, Farmington, Cape Girardeau, Carbondale and the Metro East, Paducah and Indianapolis.