Having a printout of the satellite image reduced the time I had to spend on the roof by around 70%. Defects and other issues could be noted right on the printout. But the next time I had to do an initial roof survey, all I had to do was check the condition of the roof, take a few baseline measurements, and take pictures. I still ended up walking those particular roofs for the next two weeks.

Satellite images! Satellite pictures of every roof in Texas! One result led to another and I ended up on the Google Earth home page. I started doing Google searches for “draw a roof plan”, “measure a roof”, and other promising phrases. I remember thinking “there has to be a better way”. I was getting ready for two mildly unpleasant weeks walking roofs in the Texas sun. I needed to perform initial roof surveys to identify the existing roofing, rooftop equipment, etc., so I could draw the accurate roof plans that were the first step in creating a file on every roof in our portfolio. I was sitting in my office in 2005, scheduling visits to several large commercial roofs we had just added to our roof management program. I remember when I first found Google Earth. For very large roofs, it could take a couple of days. Gathering this data used to be done on foot, on the roof, with graph paper, a measuring wheel, and a camera. These measurements and drawings have to be produced before roof estimates, budgets, work schedules, and maintenance plans can be generated. Roofing professionals need accurate roof measurements and roof plans that show the precise location of every rooftop item (skylights, rooftop equipment, vents and other roof penetrations). It saves an incredible amount of time for roof estimators, specifiers, and roof maintenance managers, among others.Įven roof leak repair crews can use a printout of a satellite image of the roof they’re working on to mark the exact location of a leak for the leak report and future reference. When it comes to the roofing industry, Google Earth is one of the most useful computer programs ever created.

Satellite view of house