Using a scissor lift, to ensure our pilot had the drone always in line of site, we worked on-site with an asbestos roofing expert to identify the problems that in the first instance were causing leaks inside the buildings and onto valuable goods and then the overall condition of the panels, rooflights and gutters. Post flight we worked with the asbestos specialist to record all the problems and compile a comprehensive report for each roof with remedial recommendations from the over 1000 stills taken on the day.

You can download our roof ‘Overview’ report, one of our specific Roof/condition/ faults reports and the roof dimensions report and to see just how practical and valuable SkyEyePlus drone surveys are.

Click here to view reports:

• Overview report PDF
• Roof B report PDF
• Roof measurement report PDF
• Asbestos: The survey guide from HSE

Geotagged photography located on Google Earth

All of our stills are Geotagged with precise longitude/latitude information.  We then import them into the map function of Adobe Lightroom which is directly linked to Google Maps. The software accurately places the photos in folders superimposed over the Google Map photo of the roof of the building that was surveyed. The folder indicates the number of photos contained in that folder that were taken of that section of the roof. This is a very powerful tool as we can immediately determine if internal leaks are caused by localised damage or whether it is due to the overall condition of the roof.

Hover over the images below to see how you can clearly view your roofing survey.

Your roof is out of sight but putting out of your mind could cost you dearly!

A stitch in time!

When roofs become porous and brittle they need encapsulating as soon as possible. A roof in this state can very quickly start cracking which moves the roof from a repair to a roof demolition and replacement. The cost incurred through demolition, asbestos disposal and business interruption can be very inhibitive. It is the classical case of a stitch in time! If an asbestos roof is caught in time and is cleaned and encapsulated it could add another 25 years to their functional life expectancy.

Asbestos Roofs

According to the Land Registry, an incredible 55% of all industrial type properties in the UK have an asbestos cement roof and 75% of all asbestos roofs ever installed are still in-situ today.

The roof profiles are constructed from asbestos cement – most typically Chrysotile (white) asbestos.

Asbestos Roof Deterioration

Many asbestos roofs are over 40 years of age and with age comes delaminating (the surface on the panels starts to flake and peel) the panels then become porous and are prone and leaks.

This creates additional problems because as they get porous, they are also weakened considerably, yet show little sign of this from the outside, visually appearing soiled and mossy. Because moss or lichens growing on a roof surface will hold moisture on the roof longer than other areas, these growths can reduce the life of the roof covering particularly where the roofing materials are of a composite nature like asbestos cement. Holding water on the roof surface by any means speeds up wear of the roof panels.

In freezing conditions there may be faster frost damage, cracking, and wear of the roof panels under the moss or lichens. Moss and lichen on roofs also creates roof traction preventing snow from sliding off the roof. Build up of snow on weakened asbestos roofs causes cracking.

Roof- Lights

UV light causes the roof- lights top resin coating and the sealant to degrade. Moss will also grow up and under the roof-lights allowing water to enter past the degraded sealant via capillary action. With our aerial roof survey all roof-lights are inspected and counted. When repairing roof-lights in mass it is often advisable to replace all or apply the same repair remedy to all, otherwise you end up with a roof that is in various stages of wear and repair. This scenario leads to continual unsynchronised roof repairs, which is costly both in terms of repair costs and business interruption.

Caution at all times

Extreme caution should therefore be applied when walking on an asbestos cement roof, with professional access equipment being employed wherever possible.

When broken, an asbestos cement panel can release fibres and therefore, if working on a panel, it is strongly advised that breathing masks be worn to protect the lungs from asbestos fibres.

The cleaning and encapsulating remedy

Older asbestos roofs are often covered in moss that retains water during rainfall and encourages lichen growth that can, if left, permeate the roof causing failure of the cement base and ultimately, asbestos fibre release into the building.

Asbestos roofs can be cleaned and resealed in certain circumstances and as part of a planned maintenance programme, this is recommended, as it will prolong the life of the roof. Cleaning an asbestos roof on a commercial property is a specialist job and in addition to the cost of cleaning, there will also be scaffolding and other health and safety considerations.

Sky Eye aerial survey and report

The Sky Eye areal survey is a comprehensive survey that photo documents every square metre of your roof. Our asbestos surveyor examines these photos and applies his comments and suggested remedies. From his notes a report is compiled. Our Asbestos Surveyor’s qualifications are: P402 Bulk sampling and Surveying and P405 Management of Asbestos in Buildings. Both are British Occupational Hygiene Society Qualifications.

Our report is compiled explaining the issues and potential solutions, along with budget costs for each option.

You are then free to either get the works completed yourself using your preferred contractor or we can, for a fee based on a percentage of the contract value, manage the project and perform the following duties:

• Produce a specification for the works
• Produce Health and Safety specification
• Tender the works
• Appoint a suitably qualified contractor
• Manage stage payments on your behalf
• Inspect the works
• Issue warranties and guarantees
• Handle any asbestos removal certification required

As a consequence of our aerial survey examining every square metre of the roof and calculating accurately its surface area along with the recommended remedies this makes it a robust tendering document for contractors. Contractors don’t have do undertake their own surveys and most importantly they don’t have to build into their quotes contingency for unforeseen roof problems. They are also aware a comprehensive aerial roof survey is undertaken after the work is completed to ascertain the work has been carried out to the job specifications.

Because of the complexities involved in the tendering and the job management process many companies prefer to go our managed route which gives them peace of mind that the job will be carried out safely and professionally.