A Northamptonshire roofing firm that is gaining a reputation for innovation and excellence throughout its sector has invested in new state-of-the-art drone technology to enhance its services and open up new opportunities for customers.
Kingsley Roofing & Solar specialises in roof installations, repairs and maintenance, as well as solar panel installations for commercial clients. For some time, the company has used drone technology to carry out inspections quickly and safely, providing customers with a full report on what is needed before any work at height becomes necessary.
Recently, the company has introduced a new, larger drone that offers additional features such as thermal imaging and water leak and moisture detection, as well as increased battery power, so that thorough inspections of larger premises can be undertaken in one flight.
Paul Bone, Managing Director of Kingsley Roofing and Solar said: “Drones make the process of inspecting roofs so much easier, quicker and safer – removing the need for engineers to have to access roofs to check for issues.
“We’ve been using them for some time, but have now invested in a larger model – into the 900g category – which has longer battery life and increased functions. It means that we can use thermal imaging to see where heat loss is occurring, or where a solar panel isn’t performing, and it also detects leaks and moisture intrusion.
“It’s going to increase our capabilities, certainly, but where it opens new opportunities for us is in offering inspection reports that can then be used to put a job out to tender. So, if a customer simply wants the report, whether they’re going to come back to us to do the work for them or not, they can get a comprehensive report on the state of their roof, what needs doing and an idea of how much that’s going to cost. They can use that to get three quotes and go ahead and choose the best one for them.”
The investment in drone technology is a continuation of the innovative approach of Kingsley Roofing & Solar. The majority of its projects are roofs for commercial new builds and complete roof repairs, lead work, flat roofs and pitched. The team also offers fascia and guttering services.
Five years ago it added solar panel installation, a natural fit with its roofing skills, to the company’s portfolio, and last year the firm completed its first green roof, using a sedum-based system that looks good and helps insulate the building and regulate internal temperatures, as well as providing a whole ecosystem that is good for the environment, improving air quality and attracting wildlife.
Kingsley Roofing & Solar is fully MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited, so all work, on roofs and the solar installation, comes with a warranty.
Paul said: “Working on a roof is always going to involve a lot of preparation and planning, due to accessibility and safety factors. We take the view that if we can combine different elements, such as checking a roof’s structure before adding solar panels, or introducing panels while we’re carrying out a repair, that’s a key benefit for our customers. And using the technology we do means that we don’t have to send guys up onto roofs unnecessarily, and the customer avoids the time and cost of having an inspection carried out in person.
“We’re always looking at where we can improve the service for our clients and this new drone technology will be a game changer. Larger drones can be up for about 45 minutes, compared to 12 minutes with the smaller ones, so a thorough inspection can be carried out. It is estimated that using drone technology delivers a saving of around 80% on cost and 50% on time compared with actually having to access the roof.”
The drone technology also allows land mapping and surveys, which offers developers the option of carrying out regular monitoring of sites. The drone’s cameras take thousands of images during a flight which can then be built into a 3D render so that construction companies and developers can view the progress of a site, satisfying themselves that everything is progressing as it should be, or identifying areas where issues are threatening to arise.
“We can now open up the possibility of construction monitoring reporting that allows 2D and 3D images of a site from the air, no matter how big or complex the project, so that those working on it, and their clients, can receive weekly or monthly reports on how things are progressing,” said Paul. “We’re looking forward to exploring the possibilities this new investment brings.”
Find out more about Kingsley Roofing & Solar on 01604 242794.
