"High-resolution aerial inspection technology — performed by an FAA Part 107 Licensed pilot — gets a clear, close-up look at every square foot of your roof safely. No ladders, no risk, no missed details."
Some roofs simply can't be safely walked — steep pitches, fragile materials, multi-story commercial buildings, or properties where ladder access is limited. Carolina Property Inspections solves that problem with FAA Part 107 Licensed drone inspection technology, giving Central South Carolina property owners high-resolution aerial documentation of every roof surface, chimney, gutter run, and hard-to-reach area without putting any inspector at risk.
Drone inspection technology lets Rusty get an extraordinarily detailed close-up look at every square foot of a roof — including areas that simply aren't safely accessible by ladder or by walking the roof itself. Steep-pitch roofs, multi-story buildings, slate and clay tile roofs, and properties with surrounding obstacles all become straightforward inspections with drone technology.
The output is high-resolution photo and video documentation of every roof surface, every flashing detail, every chimney condition, and every gutter run — all reviewable by you, your real estate agent, your insurance adjuster, or your roofing contractor. The visual record alone is worth the inspection cost: many roofing decisions become much easier when you can actually see what's up there at close range.
Rusty holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which is the federal license required to perform commercial drone operations. That's a significant credential — most home inspectors who offer drone inspection are not actually FAA-licensed, which can become a liability issue in disputed claims. Rusty's licensure is documented and current.
Central South Carolina sees its share of severe weather every year — thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail events, occasional ice storms, and the residual effects of tropical systems pushing inland from the coast. After any of these events, homeowners and insurance adjusters need fast, documented evidence of what's happening on the roof. Drone inspection delivers that documentation faster, more safely, and more completely than ladder-based assessment.
Many Central SC homes have steep or complex roofs that aren't safely walkable — particularly historic homes, custom builds, and homes with metal or slate roofing. For these properties, drone inspection isn't just a convenience, it's the only way to get a real look at every surface.
Insurance documentation is another major use case. After hail or wind events, the difference between an approved and denied claim often comes down to the quality of the supporting documentation. High-resolution drone imagery provides clear, timestamped, geotagged evidence that's hard to dispute — and that adjusters appreciate having on file.
Rusty's FAA Part 107 license, his InterNACHI® certification, and his familiarity with how Central South Carolina homes are built and how they fail in this climate make his drone inspections more useful than the simple aerial overview a less-experienced operator would produce.
Pre-purchase home inspection add-on is the most common use case — particularly for older homes, steep-pitched homes, or homes where the standard inspection has flagged potential roof concerns that need closer examination. Drone inspection turns a vague "the roof should be evaluated further" finding into a documented, photo-rich understanding of the actual condition.
After storm events, homeowners frequently request drone inspections to document the condition of the roof for insurance claims, even before any damage is visible from the ground. Hail damage in particular is often invisible from below but unmistakable from above — and timely documentation matters when filing claims.
Real estate agents handling steep-roofed or multi-story listings sometimes pre-order drone inspections as part of pre-listing preparation, particularly when the home has been sitting on the market and the agent wants documentation to address buyer concerns. Sellers also use these inspections proactively for the same reason.
Existing homeowners use drone inspections for periodic preventive maintenance documentation, especially on properties where the roof is genuinely difficult to access by ladder.
Professional, FAA-licensed drone roof inspection — from your first phone call to the high-resolution documentation you can rely on.
Call Rusty at 803-609-1003. We'll discuss the property, weather conditions, and book a time when conditions allow for safe drone operation.
Rusty performs FAA-required pre-flight checks, verifies airspace authorization where needed, and prepares equipment for the inspection.
High-resolution photo and video documentation of every roof surface, gutter run, chimney, and flashing detail — captured systematically with proper coverage.
You receive the complete photo and video documentation along with a written summary of findings — ready for your real estate agent, insurance adjuster, or contractor.
Drone roof inspection requires both FAA licensure and inspection expertise — not just someone with a drone. Rusty's credentials are documented and current.
Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certificate — the legally required license for commercial drone operations.
The aerial imagery is only as useful as the inspector reviewing it. Rusty's InterNACHI® training means he knows what he's looking at.
Battalion Chief experience means Rusty understands roof systems, hidden damage patterns, and how Central SC roofs fail under storm conditions.
High-resolution imagery suitable for insurance claims, contractor estimates, real estate disclosures, and your own future reference.
"After a hailstorm in Columbia, our roof looked fine from the ground but our agent recommended a drone inspection. Rusty's high-resolution photos clearly showed hail bruising across nearly every shingle. The insurance company approved our claim immediately based on his documentation. We never would have known."
"Two-story custom home in Lexington with a steep roof line. No way to walk it safely. Rusty's drone inspection caught lifted flashing around the chimney and a damaged area near the rear valley — completely invisible from the ground. Got it fixed before it became a leak."
"Bought a 1980s home in Blythewood and the inspection report flagged the roof as needing further evaluation. Rusty did a follow-up drone inspection and gave us complete documentation of every surface. We negotiated a roof replacement credit at closing based on his findings. Highly professional."
No — drone inspection is a specialty service that focuses on the roof, gutters, chimney, and exterior areas viewable from above. It's an excellent complement to a standard home inspection, particularly when the standard inspection identifies the roof as needing closer evaluation. For a complete property assessment, you still want a full general home inspection.
Pricing depends on the property size, complexity, and whether the drone inspection is a stand-alone service or an add-on to a general home inspection. Carolina Property Inspections provides clear, transparent quotes — call Rusty directly at 803-609-1003 for a complete quote.
Yes — when performed by a properly licensed pilot. Commercial drone operations require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which Rusty holds. Some areas have airspace restrictions that require additional authorization, which we handle as part of the service. Operations conducted by unlicensed individuals can create liability and insurance issues.
Drone operations require certain weather conditions for both safety and image quality. If conditions on the scheduled day aren't suitable, we'll reschedule for the next clear window — usually within a day or two. Severe weather days are not appropriate for safe drone operation.
Yes — and this is one of the most valuable uses of drone inspection. High-resolution, timestamped, geotagged imagery from a licensed pilot is excellent supporting documentation for insurance claims involving hail, wind, or storm damage. Insurance adjusters appreciate the detail and clarity that drone imagery provides.
Call or text Rusty directly at 803-609-1003, or use our contact form. Rusty personally handles all scheduling and will work around weather conditions to ensure a successful inspection.
Call Rusty directly • InterNACHI® Certified • SC License RBI 49243 • Serving Columbia & Central South Carolina