Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every Hover ATX flight is conducted by an FAA Part 107-certified remote pilot — that's the federal commercial drone license required by the FAA. We follow all federal airspace regulations, check for temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), and comply with local Austin and Travis County rules before every flight. We also carry commercial drone liability insurance.

This is a professional, licensed operation — not a neighbor with a hobby drone. Part 107 certification requires passing an FAA knowledge test on airspace, weather, regulations, and safety procedures. Our pilot maintains current certification and follows all applicable rules on every flight.

Our drones never make contact with your roof or any structure on your property. They operate at a safe altitude above the roofline — close enough for high-resolution imaging, far enough to eliminate any risk of contact.

No one climbs your roof. No ladders against your gutters. No foot traffic on damaged shingles. No risk of someone falling off a wet or unstable surface. The drone goes up. People stay on the ground. That's the point.

Every flight follows a pre-flight safety checklist: battery check, GPS lock, obstacle scan, wind assessment, and airspace clearance — all before the drone leaves the ground.

Drone imagery is widely accepted by insurance companies for hail and wind damage claims in Texas. Our high-resolution aerial photos provide the same overhead perspective that adjusters look at — often with better resolution, more angles, and more complete coverage than a manual inspection from a ladder. Many adjusters prefer drone photos because they show the full roof in context, including areas that are difficult or dangerous to access on foot.

Your insurer may still send their own adjuster. Having Hover ATX images gives you documentation you can share immediately — before the adjuster visit — so your claim starts moving faster rather than sitting in a queue with no supporting evidence.

Important: Hover ATX does not diagnose damage, write estimates, or make repair recommendations. We provide visual documentation. Your insurance company, adjuster, and chosen contractor handle the rest.

Standard service ($79): Your address is added to the next available route day in your area. After a major storm, we typically begin flying affected neighborhoods within 48 hours of the first signups.

Expedited service ($149): You pick a scheduled time slot — same-day or next-day availability, depending on demand. Expedited appointments get priority in our route.

For comparison, traditional roof inspectors are typically booked 2 to 4 weeks after a major hail event. Insurance adjusters can take even longer. Our batch routing system lets us cover 8 to 12 properties per route day, so we move through neighborhoods fast. Signing up early gets you into the queue sooner.

Safety is non-negotiable. We do not fly in rain, high winds (sustained above 25 mph), lightning, or any conditions that compromise flight safety or image quality. If weather prevents a safe flight on your scheduled day, we reschedule for the next available window at no extra charge. Expedited customers get priority rescheduling.

Austin's spring storm season can be unpredictable, but the weather that causes roof damage — hail — typically passes within hours. Flight conditions usually clear up within a day or two of the storm itself. We monitor conditions continuously and notify you in advance if a reschedule is needed.

You receive a link to a private hosted gallery on hoveratx.com. Inside:

• High-resolution photos of every section of your roof — ridgeline, valleys, all faces, gutters, flashing, penetrations, skylights, chimney surrounds, and any visible damage
• Aerial video of the full flyover for context that still photos alone cannot capture
• A shareable link — no login required. Text or email the link directly to your insurance agent, roofer, or contractor
• Full-resolution downloads — download the original files anytime during the 90-day gallery window

Your gallery stays live for 90 days with an option to extend. It opens on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. No app to download. No zip files. No PDF attachments.

Three things: coverage, speed, and bias.

Coverage. A drone captures every square foot of your roof in a single flight — including sections that are too steep, too high, or too damaged for safe foot access. A person on a ladder photographs what they can reach. Steep pitches, second-story sections, and areas near damaged decking often go undocumented.

Speed. We can image your roof within days of a storm. Most roofers are booked for weeks after a major hail event. By the time they climb up, secondary water damage may have already started.

Bias. We do not sell repairs. We do not recommend contractors. We have no financial interest in what the photos show. A roofing company documenting your roof is also quoting your repair — those incentives are not aligned. Our documentation is independent.

No. We fly from the public right-of-way or a safe launch point near your property. You do not need to let us into your yard, open any gates, or be present during the flight.

You will receive your gallery link by email once images are processed — typically within 24 hours of the flight. If you prefer to be home and watch, that is fine too. We just need clear airspace above your roof.

No. Hover ATX provides exterior aerial imaging only. We document what's visible from above — shingle damage, missing material, dents, cracks, debris, damaged flashing, and anything else the drone camera can capture from overhead.

For interior inspection — attic leaks, structural damage, moisture detection — we recommend a licensed home inspector or roofing contractor. Our aerial images complement an interior inspection. Together, they give you the complete picture of your roof's condition.

Hover ATX serves the Austin metropolitan area including Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County, and surrounding communities — Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Kyle, Buda, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Manor, and more.

If you are within 30 miles of downtown Austin, we can fly your property. For properties outside our standard service area, contact us for availability and pricing.

Our drone cameras are pointed at your roof — not into windows, backyards, or neighboring properties. We capture what is necessary to document your roof's condition and nothing more. All imagery is delivered to you through a private, link-based gallery. We do not publish, share, or use your images for any purpose other than delivering them to you.

FAA regulations govern where and how commercial drones operate. We fly in full compliance with those regulations, including altitude limits and flight boundaries. If a neighbor has questions, they are welcome to contact us directly.

Here's what each service tier costs:

The price is the price. It does not change because a storm just hit. It does not change because demand is high. No surge pricing, no hidden fees.

For context, a traditional professional roof inspection in Austin costs $150 to $300. Our Standard service at $79 is significantly less — and faster, safer, and easier to share with your insurance company.

Roofing companies: we offer volume pricing and storm response retainers. See partner pricing or contact [email protected].

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) creates a large controlled airspace zone over much of southeast and central Austin. Under FAA Part 107 regulations, commercial drone flights in controlled airspace require authorization through the FAA's LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) system.

Before every flight, we check the airspace classification for your address. If your property falls within controlled airspace — Class B near ABIA or Class D near Austin Executive Airport (EDC) or San Marcos Regional (HYI) — we obtain LAANC authorization before the drone leaves the ground. This is a real-time digital authorization, not a weeks-long waiver process.

In the rare case that a temporary flight restriction (TFR) or other airspace closure prevents us from flying your property on a given day, we reschedule at no charge. We will never fly without proper authorization, period.

We use professional-grade DJI drones equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of capturing detailed imagery at safe operating altitudes. The specific model depends on the mission requirements — residential properties, large commercial buildings, and multi-unit complexes may call for different equipment configurations.

What matters for your documentation is the output: sharp, high-resolution photos that clearly show shingle condition, flashing, ridgeline, valleys, penetrations, and any visible damage. Every image is geotagged with GPS coordinates and timestamped, which adds credibility when you share the gallery with your insurance company or contractor.

We also capture aerial video of the full flyover. Video provides context that individual photos cannot — the overall roof layout, how damage patterns connect across different sections, and a clear sense of scale.

You paid for the images. They are yours to use. Share them with your insurance company, your adjuster, your roofer, your contractor, your HOA, your real estate agent, your attorney — anyone you need to. The shareable gallery link works without a login, so the person you send it to can view and download immediately.

You can also download the full-resolution originals from your gallery at any time during the 90-day window. Save them to your own computer, upload them to your insurance portal, attach them to emails — however you need to use them.

We retain a copy of the imagery for our records and quality assurance. We will never publish, sell, or share your images publicly without your explicit written permission.