Drone Roof Inspection Saves Thousands on Historic Cathedral Flashing Inspection
The contractor expected four days of lift rentals and thousands of dollars in access costs. Instead, Western UAS documented 1,232 linear feet of flashing and gutters in four hours while the project team watched the inspection live.
The Cathedral of
St. John the Evangelist
Most commercial roof inspections are straightforward.
This one wasn't.
A roofing contractor was investigating the source of water intrusion at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Washington. The suspected problem areas were located where the copper roof flashing was built into the cathedral's sandstone walls nearly 200 feet above the ground. The contractor also needed a detailed evaluation of the gutter system surrounding the building.
The challenge wasn't just finding the leak.
The challenge was safely accessing more than 1,232 linear feet of flashing and gutters on one of Spokane's most recognizable historic buildings.
Rather than renting a specialized man-lift and spending days inspecting the roof by hand, the contractor chose a commercial drone roof inspection.
The result was faster, safer, less expensive, and produced better documentation for planning repairs.
The Challenge
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is a Gothic Revival landmark constructed between 1925 and 1954. Its steep rooflines, sandstone walls, copper flashing, and complex architectural details make it beautiful to look at, but extremely difficult to inspect.
Traditional inspection methods created several challenges:
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A specialized 200-foot man-lift was required to safely reach the roof.
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Lift rental alone was estimated at approximately $2,000 per day.
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The inspection was expected to take approximately four days, resulting in about $8,000 in lift rental costs before labor.
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A two-person inspection crew would still be needed to access, photograph, and document every area.
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Working nearly 200 feet above the ground increased safety risks and complicated the inspection.
Before anyone could determine why water was entering the building, the contractor first had to solve the problem of simply reaching the roof.
The Solution
Western UAS performed a commercial drone roof inspection using high-resolution aerial imaging to document every section of flashing and gutter around the cathedral.
Instead of spending multiple days moving lift equipment around the building, the entire inspection was completed in approximately four hours.
One of the biggest advantages wasn't just speed.
The contractor's project managers and lead staff were able to watch the inspection live as it happened. Whenever they noticed an area that needed closer examination, they simply asked for additional photographs while the drone was already in position.
This collaborative approach eliminated guesswork and reduced the likelihood of return visits.
Within two days, the contractor received a complete set of high-resolution inspection photographs for detailed review and project planning.
Results
By replacing traditional access methods with drone technology, the contractor was able to:
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Eliminate approximately $8,000 in lift rental costs
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Avoid multiple days of setup and repositioning
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Greatly reduce worker safety risks
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Inspect 1,232 linear feet of flashing and gutters in a single visit
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Review the inspection in real time with project staff
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Receive detailed photographic documentation within two days
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Begin planning repairs sooner with greater confidence
Why Drone Roof Inspections Are Often the Better Choice
When commercial roofs are difficult to access, the cost of reaching the problem can exceed the cost of diagnosing it.
Historic buildings, churches, schools, industrial facilities, and commercial properties often require expensive lift equipment, scaffolding, or extended labor simply to perform a visual inspection.
A commercial drone roof inspection provides a smarter alternative by allowing contractors and building owners to:
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Inspect difficult-to-reach roof areas without specialized lift equipment
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Reduce inspection costs and project delays
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Improve worker safety by keeping personnel on the ground
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Capture high-resolution documentation for repair planning
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Review areas of concern in real time during the inspection
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Create a permanent photographic record of existing conditions
For many commercial roofing projects, better access leads to better decisions.
Why Experience Matters
A drone captures images.
An experienced inspector captures the right images.
Knowing where to look, understanding how roof systems are constructed, and recognizing the subtle signs of water intrusion, deteriorating flashing, or drainage problems are what transform aerial photographs into actionable information.
Technology makes the inspection possible.
Experience makes the inspection valuable.
Need a Better Way to Inspect a Commercial Roof?
If your building is difficult, expensive, or hazardous to inspect using traditional methods, a commercial drone roof inspection may provide the answers you need while reducing costs and improving safety.
Whether you're investigating a roof leak, evaluating flashing, documenting existing conditions, or planning repairs, Western UAS Drone Thermography provides detailed aerial inspections that help contractors, facility managers, architects, engineers, and building owners make informed decisions.
Contact Western UAS to discuss your next commercial roof inspection.