Home/ Services/ Facade Inspection
FIG.04 SERVICE / FACADE INSPECTION

Facade inspection,
closer than rope.

High-rise cladding, industrial siding, masonry, and curtain wall. A full envelope survey in a fraction of the time and cost of scaffolding or rope access — with imagery sharper than what a technician can capture by hand at six storeys up.

Estimate this job → Request quote
Typical range $500–$4,500
On-site time 60–180 min
Coverage Hamilton + GTA
Authorization We handle it
// 01 — USE CASES

When to fly the facade.

01

Condition survey

Periodic envelope assessment for property managers and owners. Baseline imagery to compare against future surveys.

02

Pre-renovation

Document existing conditions before cladding replacement, repainting, or sealant restoration. Useful for scoping and bidding.

03

Moisture intrusion

Where water is finding its way in. Thermal scan paired with visual imagery isolates the entry path so the repair scope is targeted.

04

Insurance / legal

Independent third-party documentation of cladding or masonry condition for disputes, claims, or due diligence.

05

Post-incident

After a fire, vehicle impact, or severe weather event, an aerial sweep documents condition before remediation work starts.

06

Heritage masonry

Historic buildings where physical contact must be minimized. Detailed close-ups without scaffolding load on the structure.

// 02 — DELIVERABLE

What you get back.

CORE

Cladding integrity imagery

Full-resolution capture of every elevation. Fastener heads, panel joints, sealant lines, and transition flashings.

CORE

Caulking + sealant audit

Condition of weather seals at windows, joints, and penetrations. Flagged by severity in the annotated PDF.

CORE

Defect map per elevation

Issues pinned to an elevation diagram so the repair crew knows exactly where to deploy.

ADD-ON

Thermal envelope scan

Identify insulation gaps, air leakage paths, and moisture intrusion behind the cladding. Best flown at dawn or after a temperature shift.

ADD-ON

3D model + orthos

Photogrammetric model of the facade with orthorectified elevations suitable for take-offs and scope drawings.

ADD-ON

Detailed engineering report

Extended narrative with severity grading, repair priority, and reference photos suitable for engineering or legal review.

// 03 — FAQ

Facade inspection FAQ.

When is a drone better than rope access or scaffolding?

For a condition survey or due-diligence inspection, a drone is faster, cheaper, and less disruptive. Rope and scaffolding still win when the goal is to physically touch and probe the facade — for example to perform pull tests or sounding hammer surveys.

The two complement each other: aerial first to identify issues, hands-on second to validate and repair.

Can a drone get close enough to a high-rise to see real detail?

Yes. Sheltered operations let us fly within several feet of the facade across the full height of most buildings. Cladding fastener heads, caulking joints, and masonry cracks under a millimeter are clearly resolvable at standard inspection altitudes.

Do you need building management approval to fly?

Yes for most occupied or downtown buildings. We require written permission from the owner or property manager, and we coordinate with security and tenants when residents could be affected.

Our flight plan and certificate of insurance are provided in advance for the building's records.

Can you fly downtown Toronto?

Yes. Downtown Toronto is in controlled airspace, which requires Transport Canada Advanced certification and a NAV CANADA RPAS Flight Authorization for each flight. Both are part of standard operations — authorization typically takes 24 to 72 hours to secure.

// 04 — RELATED

Other services.

Got a building to scope?
Estimate in 30 seconds. Firm quote back within one business day.