Most solar installers in Scotland have a story about a job that went wrong not because of the panels, but because of the roof underneath. A slipped tile, tired pointing, or a cracked slate that was already there becomes the installer's problem once the scaffolding is up and the customer has paid. A roof condition survey before you quote is the cheapest insurance against that conversation.
Why the roof matters before panels go on
Solar panels sit on the roof for twenty-five years or more. If the covering underneath needs replaced in year five, the customer has to pay to remove the panels, re-roof, and reinstall them. That cost rarely stays with the roofer who quoted the original work; it lands on the installer who did not flag it. A clear photographic record of the roof condition at quotation stage protects both you and the customer.
What a drone survey captures
- Close-up photographs of every roof elevation, ridge, valley, hip and chimney stack.
- AI-detected slipped, cracked and broken tiles, plus hail bruising and granule loss.
- Mortar condition on ridges, hips and verges, and the state of lead flashings and soakers.
- Guttering and downpipe defects that could channel water behind the panels.
- Each defect circled, described and graded by severity so the customer can prioritise work.
How it fits your workflow
The survey takes about twenty minutes on site. You upload the aerial photographs, review the AI-marked findings, approve or reject each one, and publish a branded report with your logo and contact details. The customer gets a private link to a web report and a printable PDF. You can attach it to the quote, include it in the contract, and keep a copy on file if a warranty question ever comes up.
This is not a structural survey. It does not probe timber, lift tiles or test loads. It is a non-contact visual inspection of the roof covering — ideal for evidencing the condition before work starts, and for identifying when a chartered surveyor or structural engineer should take a closer look.
The commercial argument
One credit publishes one report. On the 50-credit pack that works out at £7.40 per report. Against the cost of a single callback, a warranty dispute, or a customer who hesitates to sign because they cannot see what you are talking about, the payback is immediate. Many installers bundle the roof report into a premium survey package or offer it as a standalone pre-installation check.
Getting started
Set up a trade account, upload your logo and brand colour, and run your next survey through the system. The report your customer receives will look like yours, not ours. If you already work with a drone operator, they can supply the images and you publish the report under your branding. If you need the flight done for you, we cover G, ML and EH postcodes.