It’s summer. That means scorching heat on the roof—and a mountain of bids in your inbox. If you’re a roofing estimator, you’re deep in crunch time: change orders are flying in, fall and winter RFPs are piling up, and GCs want numbers yesterday.
So how do you move faster, stay accurate, and avoid burning out? Here are five hacks to help you crush your summer workload with STACK Takeoff & Estimating—without sacrificing your sanity (or your margins):
1. Create a Reusable Bid Library
Stop starting from scratch. Build a library of STACK Items and Assemblies for your most common roofing systems:
- Single-ply (TPO, PVC, EPDM)
- Built-up roofing (BUR)
- Modified bitumen
- Coatings, insulation, and edge metal
STACK Pro Tip: Use STACK’s custom roofing Assemblies to drop in complete scope packages in seconds—labor, materials, accessories, and even crane or safety equipment.
2. Skip the Site Visit with Aerial Imagery
Jobsite visits slow you down—especially when you’re juggling dozens of bids.
STACK’s Aerial Imagery Takeoff lets you measure accurate roof dimensions straight from your desk using high-resolution imagery.
STACK Pro Tip: Just enter the project address and STACK loads the imagery automatically—no more ladders, driving, or waiting on site access.
3. Cut Takeoff Time with Roof AI
Manually outlining ridges, hips, valleys, and penetrations? That’s hours you don’t have.
STACK’s Roof AI detects roof edges and elements instantly, so you can generate precise takeoffs in a few clicks.
STACK Pro Tip: Use Roof AI to auto-detect complex layouts and save 60–80% on takeoff time.
4. Track Volatile Material Costs with Precision
From ISO and TPO to metal flashing, roofing materials don’t come cheap—and prices change weekly.
Keep your estimates accurate by using STACK to:
- Update supplier pricing in real time or leverage STACK’s real-time cost database integration with 1build
- Apply cost escalation formulas
- Build in waste and labor productivity factors
STACK Pro Tip: STACK lets you apply formulas and variables directly in your estimate—no need for an external spreadsheet.
5. Stay Synced with Your Estimating Team
Scope creep, late addenda, and GC clarifications can throw a wrench in your workflow—especially if your team isn’t on the same page.
STACK’s cloud-based platform lets multiple estimators work on the same bid, at the same time, from anywhere.
STACK Pro Tip: With a centralized hub for all of your project data, speed up plan reviews, markup changes, and keep version control under wraps—no more chasing down the “final-final” file.
Ready to Clear the Pileup?
STACK’s Takeoff & Estimating platform was built for fast-paced roofing teams like yours. Whether you’re buried in summer storm damage bids or racing to win fall projects, STACK gives you the speed and accuracy to rise above the chaos. Check out a demo today.
