Roofing Industry Uses Technology to Improve Productivity, Minimize Health Risks

Companies and industries across the US are looking for ways to maintain productivity without sacrificing workers’ health, and the roofing industry is no different. Indeed, the roofing industry is at the forefront of ways of practicing the perfect social distancing – by not involving any people at all! These methods can include:

• drones
• aerial imaging systems
• three-dimensional modeling systems

Drones Provide In-Flight Solutions for Roof Repairs

Even without a global pandemic, it can be difficult and dangerous for roofing professionals to climb on damaged roofs to assess the depth and nature of repairs. Such dangers as broken roofing materials, damaged or rotted roof decks, downed electrical wires, unsafe weather conditions –– to say nothing of the ever-present danger of slips and falls – can make roof inspections perilous.

However, there is a solution – drones. Roofers have quickly learned that mounting a camera on a drone allows them to safely view damaged roof surfaces in order to estimate the scope of damages and determine the exact course (and cost) of repairs. Drones allow roofers to get close-up looks at roof surfaces, inspect chimneys and vents, and decide on the right materials needed to repair roofs, all without leaving the ground!

Aerial Imaging Systems Offer Enhanced Viewing Options

In addition to facilitating roof repairs, roofing contractors can use aerial imaging systems to safely estimate roof replacement jobs from their offices or even vehicles. Such systems as EagleView use software to take existing aerial images of roofs and greatly enhance them, allowing contractors to:

• make highly accurate measurements of roof sizes (such as accounting for roof pitches)
• account for such features as gables and eaves when calculating total roof area
• quickly provide measurements for roofs over a wide area – such as when hurricanes or tornadoes strike

Like drones, aerial imaging systems allow roofers to view roofs and make estimates for the cost of the materials needed and the amount of labor required for the job, all while remaining at a safe distance –often many miles from the roof in question.

Three-Dimensional Modeling Systems Offer Integrated Viewing Experiences

One of the more recent innovations adopted by the roofing industry that can promote safety is TAMKO Buildings Products’ Shingles Styles Visualizer. This system uses EagleView technology and TAMKO’s proprietary modeling programs to allow everyone – contractors, dealers, and individual purchasers – to become remotely involved in a roofing project, such as by:

• measuring the total area of a roof that needs to be covered
• specifying and ordering the materials needed for a roofing job
• letting a homeowner see what shingles of a particular color or type would look like on their roof before making a final decision on a shingle style

For more information about the US roofing industry, check out The Freedonia Group’s comprehensive list of studies. For more information about the market for drones in construction applications, including, roofing, see The Freedonia Group’s study.

About the Author:

Matt Zielenski is a Senior Analyst at The Freedonia Group, where he covers trends in the use of building materials and related construction products in the US market.