Whanganui company Agdrone using drone technology to clean roofs from the air

Warrick Funnell (right) operates Agdrone's agricultural spraying drone alongside secondary pilot Lewis Polglaze. Photo / Bevan Conley

A Whanganui company is changing the way commercial building owners clean their roofs, utilising drone technology to cut out the need for scaffolding and labour-intensive work.

Agdrone was cleaning the roof of the Brick House Restaurant on Thursday morning, with two drones up in the air dropping cleaning chemicals on the roof tiling below.

The business has been operating for around two years, specialising in both agricultural spraying and roof cleaning for large buildings.

Funnell said he had contracts with four forestry companies, as well as four regional councils, and travels as far north as Auckland to fulfil contracts.

Agdrone's main piece of a kit - a $50,000 TT Aviation drone. Photo / Bevan Conley

The company owns three drones, ranging between $30,000-$50,000, the heaviest of which weighs 48 kilograms.

"We're treated the same as any commercial aircraft, and our qualifications are similar. It's serious work."

The agricultural spraying side of the business is also successful, flying in areas too tight for helicopters or even larger drones.

"When we do that, we have to fly through mature trees. So you don't want too big a wingspan for that - [the 48kg drone] is like a 10 tonne truck flying amongst trees."

According to Funnell, there were only eight companies in the country specialising in the using professional drones for aerial roof cleaning.

"We get work in Wellington, Auckland and Whangārei. There's demand for it all over the country.

"When we started, people thought we were a toy. Now they understand that we're a tool."