According to all the training I have studied in this past year, I come to this conclusion:
All that is nonsense. If you are not competent stay home.
What change would that be? SOP does not require it. Many inspectors do not do it.
Walter, thanks for your aggressive viewpoint, but InterNACHI’s own training material suggests the same ideas. Especially so does AHIT-NHIE training. You can counter it with a macho construction attitude, but the real-world experiences are really there for us to consider.
True, Brian, the SOP already tends to discourage it. Many inspectors don’t do it; and many inspectors do engage in this risky on-the-roof behavior. GoPros on extension poles and tiny drones are a big step in a sensible direction.
Don’t drag this industry down because of your own incompetence. You are getting paid to inspect not make excuses. Drones have their place but are not a substitute for walking the roof.
Agreed. I think the industry is undergoing a fundamental change organically. I also see where those roof inspection alternatives could take a larger role in training.
I walk some roofs, avoid others and it is my responsibility to set this expectation for my customer. Learning how to set those expectations is part of being a competent inspector. This business is much more complex than any REA or customer will likely realize.
Jump on up! I chose not to.
Wha??
Some are great risk takers for the client… … …
Others do not give a crap & use it for an excuse to disservice the client.
I’ve done a few inspections in my career & have always accessed rooftops unless snow/rain wet or 2 stories.
Don’t forget to never remove the dead front of a circuit breaker panel like the WAFI does.
Absolutely I would walk that roof.
Then there are those who do give a crap but have safety limitations. Not an excuse, but a reason. I think we should be careful here not to admonish safety concerns.
I know some damn good inspectors who do not walk roofs but would run circles around some that do. Best to understand your limitations and clearly express those to your client.
Example: I told my client I will not be walking that roof. I will not be removing panel covers if unsafe conditions exist such as sharp tipped screws. I will not crawl thru sh*t water in a crawlspace. I am still capable of providing a very good home inspection and I do give a crap.
One other comment about drones, even though that really isn’t the intent of this thread. If you inspect in an area with lots of big and little airports, the newer drones won’t always work, they are locked out. I know an inspector who got a drone and found out the hard way. Tried to use it on 10 inspections the first 2 months he had it, but was locked out on 9 of them. Now he knows the area where it will be locked out, which is about 50% of the areas that he does inspections, because the house is too close to an airport. Sorry, I don’t know what that distance is. Maybe someone who has a drone can speak better about that limitation.
I won’t crawl thru shit either. But we are home inspectors and are getting paid to inspect. As I said there are times when drones or poles are valuable but they are no substitute for walking the roof. If you have issues in confined spaces or are afraid of heights you picked the wrong career. Its like a plumber afraid of water.
These are statement you made because someone may choose not to walk a roof. Yet you will not crawl thru sh*t.
If @mwitherell was willing to crawl thru sh*t, could he not say the same about you?
I have a drone but I do not use it often. It is not the same as walking the roof. I will bring out the drone when the roof is wet and/or icy or use the camera pole from the ladder or ground. As Master Brian Cawhern notes:
and, I’m not macho, just old and cranky.
Wow! I never expected this thread to blown up like this. I love all the discussion and different viewpoints. Lots of good insight from different viewpoints and contexts.
I am looking into a camera and pike first, since it does not carry the same cost/liability as a drone, though a drone would be something nice to work towards in the future. Just as an additional options and to enhance my overall ability to inspect.
My understanding is in fact however that you can’t really replace actually getting up on the roof and seeing it with your own eyes. I am still young and very comfortable with my own limits and with heights.
Always best when done safely within your limits. I encourage you to watch and read the boring ladder safety training info. Dangers are out there; from power lines to mounting and dismounting a ladder. Best of luck!
You would not have caught me on that roof 
Wow, you wouldn’t find me on that what appears to be 10/12 pitch.
I typically don’t get on 8/12 unless it’s healthy shingles… I’ve had a couple scares. Getting up is easy, getting down is not.
I agree, walking roof is best, but I like my legs and back too much. Haha.
One thing I hate about using drones is that I can’t check the dryer vent boot to check for a screen… I find that alot, even with brand new homes.
