Stay On Top Of Innovative Roofing Technology and Materials 

While asphalt or wood shingles will always be a great option for homeowners looking for a tried-and-true, classic look for their home with great durability at a good price, there are tons of other types of roofing materials available now to take any roofing job to the next level.  

 Homeowners nowadays expect their roofs to not only protect their homes and have nice curb appeal, but they often require other additional benefits from their roofing job. Be it to withstand high winds, or storm damage caused by hurricanes or climate change, or to help keep the heat out (or in) their homes, you should have options available for any request that comes through the pipeline. 

 Roofers should always have an eye on new roofing technology and materials created for homeowners who like to be early adopters in tech or are environmentally conscious. This includes paying attention to solar roof tile technology and availability, knowing how to best install a green roof, or being aware of what kinds of shingles and materials are preferred to install traditional solar panels on.  

 Being aware of the trends and new options available in roofing will help to future-proof your roofing business and help you to attract the highest paying, and most interesting clients your company can deal with.  

Drones and HD Imagery 

Consumer drones have made a huge impact on the film industry since they hit the market, but they can also be used for many different applications in the roofing and construction industries as well. With technology improving and prices decreasing, many high-tech roofing companies have taken to using drones for roof inspections.  

In an industry where a certain level of danger is expected every time you or a team member needs to pull out a ladder and climb a roof, adding a drone to your toolbox to fly over the home in question and gather HD imagery and video of your client’s roof not only saves tons of time, but also helps to keep you safe on the ground as much as possible. 

With cameras that capture video at 4k and up, drones allow you to see even the smallest issues and imperfections on the roof at a distance and without much effort. Many drones nowadays even come with their own roof inspection software pre-installed to better guide you on the job, and allow you to save your images to add to your proposals or even measure from in your roofing software.  

Roofing Software Provides You With More Data

Built to “give you the whole world at your hands”, Google Earth is an educational tool created to give people a 3D view of the planet and its sights. In creating their detailed maps and imagery, Google is also able to provide you with a measurement tool that allows you to measure anything between any two points you draw, as well as give you the total number of squares.

While this might be all you need in a quick pinch, if you’re using only this tool for your roofing business, you’re missing out on a lot of other data that you could be gathering in the same amount of clicks. Not only will Roofgraf get you the same information as Google but it can also automatically identify pitch and line types at the same time. This means you’ll be getting a full roof report in the same amount of time, allowing you to create more accurate roof estimates for your clients in one shot.

Google Lacks Roofing CRM/Project Management Capabilities

In a previous blog, we discussed the importance/benefits of having a dedicated roofing tool for your business to make sure that everything that matters to your company, from measurement reports to leads and quotes are all centralized in one place to help keep you and your team organized and save you some time and money in the process.

Since Google Earth is intended for quick one-off measurements, it doesn’t allow you to add any additional information to your roofing jobs besides a name, and everything you do is tied to your own account, leaving no visibility for the rest of your team. An app like Roofgraf, on the other hand, will help you track all your leads/jobs and their project status in a list and on a map so everyone has a bird’s eye view on all the work in progress. You can also use this map to build credibility with your clients. Show off how many jobs you’ve completed to gain trust and help them choose your company to handle the job.

Google Earth Isn’t An All-In-One Solution

The biggest advantage of using software like Roofgraf lies in the fact that it’s the only tool you need to get the job done, from basic measurements to detailed roof reports, and beautiful quotes that your clients can e-sign straight out of their email inbox.

Finally, using a roofing tool like Roofgraf means that you’re not tied into using one source for your imagery. On Google Earth, if the roof you’re trying to measure doesn’t have up-to-date imagery or is covered by clouds or trees, you’re out of luck. Thankfully, Roofgraf has you covered in that respect as well with historical imagery, and three major providers: Google Maps, Bing Maps, and HD aerial imagery from Nearmap.

Q: How do I grow my roofing business?

A: Whether you’ve just gotten your professional roofing contractor certification and you’re looking to start generating business or you’re a seasoned roofer interested in increasing your sales and expanding, it’s always a good idea to keep growing your company in the back of your mind.

The best way to grow is to increase the number of proposals you’re sending without having to put in any extra work. Using a software solution like Roofgraf that allows you to quote roofing projects from your desk, tablet or phone – will save you tons of time and allow you to quickly put together compelling proposals and roof measurement reports in a fraction of the time you would have spent visiting the property.

Setting up proposal templates that include all your costs for materials, labor, and additional services will allow you to generate an accurate and detailed quote in seconds, and as we all know, more quotes get you more business.

Q: Why do I need a roof measurement software?

A: While roofers have been climbing ladders to take measurements for hundreds of years, it’s no longer the easiest way to do the job. Using measurement tools like Roofgraf will not only keep you safe from falling but will speed up your quoting time significantly. This is something that is becoming more and more important in this fast-moving age where everyone expects everything, including their roof projects to be instant.

If you’re not sending out proposals quickly, other more technologically savvy roofers who are using a roof proposal software will beat you to the punch before you even get on site. To be clear though, we aren’t advocating that you ditch the ladder completely.

You’ll still want to go up the ladder to finalize your measurements and look at the condition of the existing roof before any paperwork is signed. Using an estimating software will get your foot in the door with the preliminary costs and materials needed before you even unload the truck.

Q: How do I choose a roof quote software? 

A: Now that you’ve seen the importance of using a measurement tool for your roofing company, it’s time to go over how to pick the right one for your business. Firstly, you’ll want something that can be a one-stop-shop for you and all your employees where you can manage all your projects and have visibility on everything going on in your company.

Find something that allows you to add your leads and measure roof lines with multiple HD imagery options so you can guarantee the best image of the home. Roofgraf lets you toggle between Nearmaps aerial imagery and Google Maps satellite and Street View so you can be sure you have the best possible view of the home for your drawings. Home isn’t built yet? We have that covered too! You can also upload your blueprints or drone images as well.

Another important feature to have in any software is the ability to add templates. You should be able to tell the program exactly what kind of materials you use, where they’re used on the roof, and how much they cost. This way you can easily generate quotes and change them at short notice to give your leads good-better-best options and become your own competition. 

Have you made it to the bottom of this article without signing up yet? Give Roofgraf a try risk-free now and let our industry-leading software and customer support show you why we’re the best in the game at helping roofers like you close more sales, grow their businesses and save valuable time.