Scanning Roof with Infrared Saves Time, Money:

In the past, inspecting a roof to find the source of water intrusion was destructive and time consuming. But now, because water’s unique thermal properties make it visible on the surface of building materials and within the materials themselves, non-destructive thermal scans are replacing ceiling removal and probing moisture meters. Infrared thermography allows the inspector to scan the roof for the water intrusion point without removing the ceiling and contents of the room. This non-destructive approach saves time, energy and money.

A particularly persistent leak in a home’s ceiling-wall joint was finally eliminated with the help of IR imaging. Scanning during a water test helped the team to pinpoint the exact location of water intrusion, and they were able to remove a small portion of the roofing system to repair small punctures in the underlayment. The thermal scan had an unexpected benefit as well: it revealed faulty insulation installation, allowing the homeowner’s to call their contractor and increase the energy efficiency of their home.

Courtesy of Scott Wood, Four Star Cleaning and Restoration Inc., in Inframation 2004 proceedings.