Drone roof and facade cleaning: how does it work?

There's no need for scaffolding or workers at height to clean roofs. With the development of drone spraying, the constraints associated with cleaning and removing moss from roofs and facades are now a thing of the past.

Cleaning and removing moss from roofs and facades can be complicated. Homeowners often call in roofers or rope access technicians, who have to erect scaffolding or install ropes to hold the work in place. This can be risky for professionals, and can potentially damage or even break tiles or slates.

The drone, a solution in the face of danger
To avoid these problems, a new, simpler and less dangerous method has been developed: drone spraying. Drones are equipped with spray booms, with 4 jets or a single jet (especially for facades) that is controlled remotely via a smart controller.

Equipped with a rechargeable battery, the device also features a camera which, via the joystick, allows you to see the areas to be cleaned or defoamed. This makes it possible to be more precise and more economical with the quantity of biocides to be used. The drone is connected to a hose that delivers the products, and can go very high for large buildings.

But it's not without risk. This follows a regulation that forbids drone overhead flight and establishes a safety perimeter that must be the size of the link between the drone and the ground, plus 5 meters.
The drone: a new and expanding market

And not just anyone can operate a certified aircraft. To order one, you need to have theoretical and practical training in drone piloting, and be registered with the DGAC. The market is booming for defoaming and cleaning. Specialized company Aeotic manufactures 15 machines a year, and plans to increase this to around 30 by the end of the year.

Pricing remains similar to that of a roofer. It costs from €5 to €25 per square metre, with prices decreasing according to the surface area to be sprayed. As a result, it's cheaper for larger surfaces. For cleaning photovoltaic panels, the price rises to €80 with the corresponding product.

But the intervention time is less important. You can spend half a day or a whole day if you take it easy, whereas a workman would do it in 3-4 days because of the installation of the equipment in particular.

What are the advantages of drone cleaning?

Drone cleaning offers many advantages over traditional cleaning methods, such as high-pressure cleaning, chemical cleaning or manual cleaning.

Here are just a few of the advantages:

Drone cleaning is environmentally friendly: it uses biodegradable, environmentally-friendly products that contain no substances harmful to health or nature.
It also consumes less water and energy than other cleaning methods.

Drone cleaning is economical: it reduces labor, material and maintenance costs. It also avoids the risk of accidents or damage associated with the use of scaffolding, gondolas or other heavy equipment.
It also increases the lifespan and value of cleaned surfaces, preserving their appearance and functionality.

Drone cleaning is safe: it guarantees the safety of operators and building occupants, avoiding falls, injuries or poisoning. It also complies with current safety and quality standards, by following the protocols and regulations applicable to drone cleaning.