In recent years, even the most traditional of crafts have been transformed by the introduction of digital tools. Roofing, for example, still requires muscle-taxing labor and hard-won expertise, but the introduction of digital roof measurement tools has helped increase safety, improve contractor/customer communications, and streamline materials ordering.
Before roof measurement applications were widely available, a contractor had little choice but to climb onto the roof with a tape measure just to get the estimate started. Every trip onto a roof has inherent hazards from climbing the ladder, power lines, and other unexpected issues. Of course, measuring by hand also means carving time out of an employee’s day — time that could be spent installing a roof, creating an estimate, or even getting home in time for dinner.
Today, as soon as a contractor has a lead on a property needing their services, they can order a digital roof measurement, and use it to prepare an estimate from the convenience of the office or the road. No unnecessary ladder-climbing. No need to schedule a property visit.
This can help save time, money, and effort for the roofer, and explains why satellite- and drone-based measurement services have exploded throughout the industry. What does this look like from the perspective of your customer, the property owner? Let’s focus on a typical homeowner and see how their roofing experience changes with the introduction of a tool like GAF QuickMeasure reports.
Linda’s house has been hit by a bad hail and wind storm. She needs a roofer — and a new roof — stat. The problem is, she works full time, and can’t take time off to meet roofers at her house. When she calls Bob for an estimate, he simply orders a QuickMeasure report (for a lot less than his own hourly rate — win-win) and has all the dimensions he needs to create an estimate in an hour. No visit. No ladders. No hassle for Linda.
When Bob emails Linda the estimate that afternoon, it includes photos and a 3D rendering of Linda’s house, so she gets a clear picture of what needs to be done. And since Bob got a complete bill of materials with his QuickMeasure report, Linda gets an estimate based on current material costs. That means fewer surprises down the line. And finally, when Bob and Linda do meet to choose roofing materials, Bob can use the 3D rendering interactively to help Linda “try on” different roof styles and colors and see what they would look like on her actual home.
Of course, innovations like GAF QuickMeasure aren’t limited to residential properties. The same high-resolution technology is helping commercial roofing contractors to create estimates on complex structures like office parks, warehouses, factories, and more, with precision. In the competitive roofing industry, time and labor are precious assets. Roof measurement innovations like GAF QuickMeasure are helping roofers optimize both. Order your first report today at gaf.com/quickmeasure.