Monthly Archives - July 2016

Drone Infrared Imaging

FLAT ROOFS LEAK. TRUE?

What's the real reason flat roofs leak? If you talk to almost any facility manager they would tell you all flat roofs leak.  In this article we are going to look at the reasons why a commercial roof would leak.  Before we get started, please note that this is not about one particular roof or owner.  This is about flat roofs in general.  Doing an infrared scan of any roof is a good starting point towards taking care of any roofing system.  With the latest technology, an infrared scan can be performed through drone technology.  Most roofs can be scanned with several infrared photographs. Roofing mistake #1 Owners, property managers, leasing companies, and retailers often make one mistake which is waiting until their roofs leak to take care of the problem.  Commercial roofs are a major investment and they need to be taken care of similar to your car.  Would anyone wait for their car to stop before they maintain the vehicle?  Never changing the oil in the car will cause the car to fail way before its time.  It is the same with any roofing system.  If you don't maintain the roof it will fail way before it's time.  Manufacturers of roofing material all want their roofs to be maintained.  Why because they want to know how their roofing material is performing.  There is also some things that are not covered in the warranty that need continued attention.  All sealants such as pourable sealant and caulking are not covered under the warranty agreement.  So if the pitch pocket (where wires and lines come through) dries out and or shrinks and the roof leaks, this makes one think that the roof system is failing.  Not true.  Please maintain your roof at least once a year if not twice a year, it will save you money in the long run. Roofing mistake #2 Realizing that the above is the most important for any type of roofing system whether it is new or old, the next thing that needs to be done is know who is going onto your roof.  I can't tell you the number of times I have been on a roof that has a leak that was caused by other contractors.  This is usually the scenario.  A contractor goes onto the roof, works on a piece of equipment, finds out he needs to replace something and drops the part or tool on the roof causing a puncture.  Sometimes these can be very small and take a good while to show up as a roof leak and sometimes they can leak immediately.  Oil from condenser unit can cause havoc on a lot of roof system especially EPDM (rubber roof).  They will begin deteriorating shortly after the oil is spilled.  The bottom line is make sure you trust the people who are going onto your roof.
Contractor pokes hole in the roof
HVAC Contractor pokes a hole in the roof
Roofing mistake #3 Putting additional pieces of equipment through your roof needs to have a professional roofing contractor install the flashing.  What you don't want is for a subcontractor to install the equipment and install roofing cement to the bottom flange.  This is about a one year fix and sometimes it is less depending on the movement of the equipment as it is operating.  A professional install of the flashing takes time and will cost some money, but it is well worth it in the end.  The most vulnerable area of your roof is the penetrations through the roof, if they are done right, there is a better chance to extend the life of your roof.

THE USE OF DRONES IN AGRICULTURE

Agriculture and the use of Drones

On a large farm, the inspection of crops can be an overwhelming task.  How can a farmer other than walking the fields or renting a helicopter ever be able to tell how his crops are doing.  The land especially in Illinois is very flat with no rolling hills to climb onto to have a look to see how the crops are preforming.  Crops are a farmers livelihood, so if they are not producing there is money that is thrown away.  Early detection is the key.  If there are large acres that are not growing or growing slower than others, the areas can be pinpointed and inspected to figure out what the best course of action should be.  Agriculture is using technology more and more every day.

Should I take an infrared, video or take a topography map with a drone?

A determination needs to be decided ahead of time.  What is needed to help your crop (your bottom line).  I was a farmer for the first 18 years of my life.  My first thought when I heard of using drones for crop inspection was, "Why would you ever need that?".  After hearing all the technology that could help produce more crops, my tune soon changed.  Taking pictures or video can tell bare areas or crops that are not growing at the same rate of speed as the rest of the crop.  Taking infrared can tell the moisture content of the ground to see if that is effecting the growth.  Taking a topographic map of the land can also pinpoint areas of concern.