The most effective methods for measuring your roof depend on the kind of structure you have, the slope of the roof, and the size of the roof. There are options that include satellite measurements, but it is important that you have spoken with a professional roofer about what they would do in your situation. Hire a company that can put itself in your shoes, that can provide you with the highest level of service possible, and that will measure your roof accurately before an estimate is even written.
1. Why Are Measurements Important?
Measurements for your roof are vitally important to the replacement job you do because you need to know the space you need to cover, how much that breaks to by square foot, and how long it will take to do the job. Accurate measurements are important because these measurements tell the roofer exactly how much to charge you. If you have a bad measurement, you could spend too much on excess materials, or you might not get enough. You also need to be sure that you have worked with a local roofer on an insurance quote that will help you approach your insurance company for help. Insurance companies expect that the work will be done properly, and they might even use their own measurements to determine how much the job should cost.
2. Satellite Measurements
The measurements that are taken with a satellite allow the roofer to give you the exact size of the roof based on the measurement taken with a computer program. The computer program can analyze your home, check the slope of the roof, and use that information to measure the roof perfectly. This is the most accurate way of doing things, but it cannot account for certain parts of the roof that might be hard to see from a satellite. Because of this, you need to ask your roof how many different ways they will measure your roof. Someone who is measuring your roof accurately is willing to do so in a few different ways.
3. Physical Measurements
You should ask the roofer if they will climb on the roof and take a physical measurement for their estimate. Because of this, you should ask if the roofer will climb up there and check for all the small things that a satellite cannot see. The physical measurement tells you if you need new flashing, if there are spaces that will be hard to cut, or if there are areas of damage that might need special attention. The roof that you are working with might not be in very good condition, and that is why you need a physical measurement.
4. Flat Or Sloped Roof?
A sloped roof is very common because the roofer knows they need to work around corners, lay out two set of shingles to fit both edges of the roof, and finish the job. A flat roof needs for help because there are many parts of a flat roof that need a lot more care than what you have gotten in the past. You might have walked on your flat roof many times, and you will notice that certain parts of the roof might have damage even on the edges that are not the roof itself. The roofer can tell that the walls of the roof need more care, and that is why it is important to get a physical inspection.
Comparing the satellite measurement to the physical measurement makes it much easier for the roofer to tell you how much it will cost to do the job because they can make slight adjustments while they are planning the job. Everything that is supposed to happen during the roof replacement can be listed on the estimate, and you will notice that you get much better estimates. You can plan for the amount for work that needs to be done, and you also get a better idea of the exact size of the roof. Keeping this information might help you in the future, and you could hold onto the estimate as you compare prices.
5. The Layout
You get a diagram for the roof from the company that uses a satellite image for their estimate. You can use that image to learn more about how your roof is shaped, and you also need to be sure that you have shared that information with other roofers if there are discrepancies. Someone who has their diagram from an old roofing job can compare to a new roofing job. You have become a much more educated consumer, and it is far simpler for you to order the services that you need.
You might also need to submit this diagram to the insurance company because they want to know why they need to pay so much money to give you the help that you need. The adjuster might use their own measurements, but you want to have a measurement from a roofer who is trying to be honest with you. If there are any questions about the size of the roof, you have all the information that you need.
6. Checking Weather Patterns
Someone who takes the time to do satellite measurements is more likely to check local weather patterns. The local weather patterns tell your roofer how strong the roof needs to be, and you learn a lot more about the roof in the process. A proper roofer will tell you if you need better shingles because the weather is so bad during the year. The roofer might suggest some building options that make the roof much stronger, and you might get around things like heavy winds or rain because you have gone through this process of measurement. You are going to change your life, and you will feel much better about the money you are spending. You must dedicate some time to this process so that you are not overspending when it comes time to replace the roof.
7. They Should List The Measurements They Do
The roofer that you use should write on their website all the measurements that they do. They need to tell you how they do these measurements, and they should let you know if they prefer to do a certain type of measurement based on the kind of roof you have. Getting this level of customer care from the roofer makes it much easier for you to get the services that you need. Plus, you will find that you could work out a place that will be best for you considering g how much you are spending on the roofing job itself.
8. Conclusion
The roofer that you work with should prove to you that they will make good measurements, that they can give you the best prices, and that they have the best information on your roof. Someone who has not dedicated their time to measuring your roof in the right way will likely charge the wrong price. You might not have enough materials for your roof if the measurements are bad, and you also need to ask the roof for a diagram of the measurements that they took. Back up this information with a physical measurement just to be sure.
