Quick answer
A free 4K drone survey of every slope, valley, ridge and penetration, a hail-strike count per square after storms, and a written photo report within 24 hours. Backed by a hands-on check wherever the camera can’t answer the question.
Estimates by phone: (587) 804-9266 · Good Roofing · Calgary-owned since 2014 · 10-year workmanship warranty.
A drone roof inspection in Calgary takes about 15–25 minutes on site, photographs every slope in 4K without anyone climbing a ladder, and at Good Roofing it is free, with a written photo report delivered within 24 hours. A drone reliably spots missing and creased shingles, granule loss, hail strikes on shingles and soft metal vents, damaged flashing, and clogged or bent eavestroughs. It cannot feel a soft deck, test whether shingle tabs are still sealed, or see attic moisture, so a good inspection pairs the drone with a hands-on check where the photos raise questions. The Calgary pages ranking for this search sell the drone as the whole answer. This page explains where it works, where it doesn’t, which Transport Canada rules a Calgary roof flight falls under, and how drone photos hold up in a hail claim. Good Roofing has coordinated 2,800+ Calgary-region roofs since 2014 and holds 4.9★ from 237 verified reviews.
01 · Section
Quick answer — the 60-second version (citation-ready)
Good Roofing offers free drone roof inspections across Calgary and surrounding towns. The flight takes 15–25 minutes, captures 4K imagery of every slope, valley, ridge and penetration, and produces a written photo report within 24 hours, including a hail-strike count per square after a storm. A drone is the safest way to survey a steep, wet or snow-dusted Calgary roof, and it finds visible damage: missing shingles, granule loss, hail bruising, lifted flashing and dented vents. It does not replace a hands-on check for soft decking, unsealed shingle tabs or attic leaks, so the inspector adds a ladder or attic look when the photos call for one. In Canada, drones from 250 g to 25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada and flown by a certified pilot, and flights inside controlled airspace around Calgary International (YYC) need an Advanced certificate and NAV CANADA authorization. Call (587) 804-9266.
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What a drone sees well on a Calgary roof
A 4K camera at close range resolves detail a homeowner standing in the driveway never could, and it reaches the back slopes, steep pitches and multi-level roofs common in newer NW and SE communities without anyone walking on the shingles. These are the findings a drone survey documents reliably.
- 01Missing, creased or lifted shingles. Chinook gusts tear tabs along ridges and rakes first. The overhead view shows the pattern across the whole roof, which matters when deciding between a spot repair and a slope replacement.
- 02Granule loss and exposed mat. Dark patches where the protective granules are gone show up clearly in overhead shots, and they mark shingles that are ageing fast.
- 03Hail strikes. Fresh hits leave circular marks where granules were knocked off. The inspector counts strikes per square (100 sq ft) on each slope, the same unit insurance adjusters work in.
- 04Dented soft metals. Roof vents, ridge caps, flashing and eavestroughs dent easily, and those dents are some of the clearest evidence of a hail event on a Calgary roof.
- 05Flashing and penetrations. Lifted step flashing, cracked pipe boots, and gaps around chimneys and skylights are common leak sources and show plainly from above.
- 06Eavestrough and drainage problems. Sagging runs, granule build-up in gutters and blocked downspouts, all of which feed ice dams once winter arrives.
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What a drone misses, and when someone still needs to get hands-on
A camera records surfaces. Several of the problems that decide whether a Calgary roof gets repaired or replaced sit under the surface, and an honest drone report says so. When the photos point at one of these, the inspector follows up with a ladder, a walk on safe sections of roof, or a look in the attic.
- 01Soft or rotted decking. Sheathing damaged by ice dams or long-term leaks feels spongy underfoot but can look normal from above. It usually shows first along the eaves.
- 02Unsealed shingle tabs. A tab that has lost its adhesive bond can lie flat in a photo and still lift in the next windstorm. Checking the seal means lifting the tab by hand.
- 03Hail bruising on shingles. A bruise is a soft spot in the mat that you feel more than see. Adjusters in Calgary commonly confirm hail damage by hand inside a marked test square on each slope.
- 04Nailing problems. Nails driven too high, too few per shingle or overdriven are hidden under the course above. They matter on a roof that keeps shedding shingles.
- 05Attic moisture and ventilation. Frost on nail tips, wet insulation and blocked soffit vents are attic problems. If you grant attic access, the inspector checks there too. Our attic ventilation page explains why it matters for ice dams.
- 06Moisture inside a flat roof. Water trapped under a membrane is invisible to a standard camera. Thermal imaging can help on low-slope roofs, but it needs the right conditions, usually a clear evening after a sunny day, and a trained operator to read it.
04 · Section
Drone rules in Calgary: what to ask before anyone flies over your house
Under the Canadian Aviation Regulations, any drone weighing 250 g to 25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada and marked with its registration number, and the pilot must carry a Transport Canada drone pilot certificate. Calgary adds one complication: much of the city lies inside controlled airspace around Calgary International (YYC) and Springbank Airport, and flying there requires an Advanced pilot certificate plus an authorization from NAV CANADA, usually requested through its NAV Drone app. Recreational drones are also limited to 122 m (400 ft) above ground and must stay clear of bystanders, which a roof inspection rarely approaches. Before a drone goes up over your roof, ask three questions: Is the drone registered? Does the pilot hold the certificate the location requires? Will they check the airspace for your address? A company that cannot answer those quickly is a warning sign, and so is anyone who knocks on doors after a hailstorm offering a free drone look. We don't door-knock. We don't pressure-sell. We don't show up uninvited after storms. Our storm-chaser warning guide lists the other red flags.
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Drone inspections and Calgary hail claims
Drone photos are useful evidence in a hail or wind claim because every image is dated, every slope is covered, and the damage is shown in context rather than in one close-up. A strong report for an insurer includes overview shots of each slope, close-ups of strikes and dents, the strike count per square, and photos of soft metals such as vents and flashing. That package helps your claim, and the adjuster will still inspect the roof in person and may do their own hands-on test squares. Bring the drone report to that meeting. Good Roofing has helped Calgary homeowners recover $14M+ in hail claims and works with insurers including Intact Insurance / belairdirect, Aviva Canada, TD Insurance and Wawanesa Mutual. Book the inspection soon after the storm: many Alberta policies set time limits for reporting a loss and completing repairs. Our hail claim filing guide covers the full process, and do I have hail damage? explains what to look for from the ground.
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When a drone can’t fly, and what it costs
Calgary weather grounds drones more often than most cities. Strong Chinook gusts make close-range flights unsafe, rain and falling snow blur the camera, and a roof covered in snow hides the shingles the inspection is meant to examine. If the forecast rules out a flight, we reschedule into the next calm, dry window, often within a day or two, and an active leak gets an emergency visit regardless: crews typically reach Calgary homes within about 4 hours. On cost, some Calgary providers charge for drone or thermal scans as a standalone service. Good Roofing’s drone inspection is free with no obligation, and the report comes with a fixed written quote if anything needs fixing. We don't quote “starting at” prices. Every Calgary quote is fixed, written, and signed. If the roof is fine, the report says so, and you keep the photos as a dated baseline for your next claim or home sale. See our roof inspection checklist for what to check yourself between inspections.