How Thermal Imaging Is Used For Commercial Roof Inspections

  • Author: Fazal Umer
  • Posted On: March 22, 2024
  • Updated On: March 22, 2024

Whether it is your own house or commercial unit, roof is one of the most vital aspects of a structure. It safeguards people and assets inside by keeping away everything that may cause them harm. 

However, everything has an expiry time. Nothing in this world lasts forever. As the time goes by, your roof gets older and becomes more exposed to natural and harsh elements leading to its damages and decay. 

Importance of Regular Inspection 

The greatest advantage of routine roof inspection, which is a part of maintenance, is any potential issue, even minor ones, can be detected and rectified. Without regular inspection, these small issues often go unnoticed and snowball into costly repairs later. 

Many times, everything looks fine on the surface. However, that’s not a sure way to tell that everything is equally flawless underneath. Hiring a professional to check everything on a regular basis, at least from time to time, is the best option to catch micro issues before they grow bigger. 

Thermal Imaging for Roof Inspection: Digging into History 

Professional roofers have training and skills  to find out the hidden damage and figure out the causes for it. They have necessary tools and technology at their disposal for inspection. 

Commercial roof thermal imaging inspection is one such technology that has been in use since the 1970s for roof inspection. The technology streamlines the process and ensures accuracy in the findings that can, without any doubt, determine if your building requires roof replacement or fixing the damages is enough. 

How Roofers Read Thermal Images

Thermal imaging clearly shows what cannot be seen in naked eyes. Many times, the problems are not identifiable until materials are removed. Thermal imaging relieves you from the trouble and time of removing things. 

Thermal imaging uses different colours. Usually, purples and blues are marked as cool colours whereas red, orange and yellow are portrayed as warm colours. 

The brighter the warm colours look, the more moisture exists under the surface. It is a clear indication that your roof needs some urgent renovation or replacement. 

Advantages of Thermal Imaging for Roof Inspection 

Thermal imaging is a cost-effective way to assess the existing condition and extent of roof damages. It cuts down on both effort and time for roof inspection and also ensures enhanced accuracy.  

Despite not being an invasive procedure, thermal imaging is efficient and 100% accurate in identifying hidden issues. It helps roofers plan repair and replacement while eliminating unnecessary steps in the process. 

To get a clear image of your roof, some conditions must be fulfilled. These are:

  • The roof must be dry and clear
  • The roof must be flat or low-slopped 
  • A warm or sunny day is required for clear images
  • A little or no wind is a suitable condition
  • It must be a clear night

If you have a plan of getting your residential or commercial roof properly inspected, hiring trained and experienced roofers is the best option. 

Moisture is a big monster for your roof’s health. Thermal imaging helps roofers understand the condition of your roof. Images help them determine the kind of treatment it should receive. 

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Author: Fazal Umer

Fazal is a dedicated industry expert in the field of civil engineering. As an Editor at ConstructionHow, he leverages his experience as a civil engineer to enrich the readers looking to learn a thing or two in detail in the respective field. Over the years he has provided written verdicts to publications and exhibited a deep-seated value in providing informative pieces on infrastructure, construction, and design.

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