Size and shape
Measured roof diagrams and aerial reports
A drawing of the roof from above with areas, pitches and edge lengths. It may come from measurements taken on site, from aircraft or satellite imagery, or from a drone flight.
Roof documents
The roof documents homeowners are likely to receive
When a roof needs work, paperwork arrives from several directions. A roofer may send a diagram or a list of quantities. A measurement service may produce an aerial report. An inspector or an insurance adjuster may write up the condition of the roof. These pages explain what each document contains, who usually produces it, and what it can and cannot tell you.
Size and shape
Quantities
Contractor measurement takeoffs
The list of quantities a roofer prices a job from: squares, waste, edge lengths, flashing and penetrations. Usually an internal working document, though you can ask to see it.
Condition
Insurance and pre-purchase inspection reports
Written observations about the condition of a roof after a storm or before a sale, from home inspectors, roofers, insurance adjusters or public adjusters.
Telling them apart
Which document answers which question
- How big is the roof? A measured diagram or aerial report. It gives area, pitch and edge lengths, and says nothing about condition.
- What is this quote based on? The contractor's takeoff. Ask to see it, or at least ask for the square count, the waste percentage and the measurement method behind the quote.
- What condition is the roof in? An inspection or condition report. It records observations on a given date. It does not measure the roof precisely, and it is not a guarantee.
- Will insurance pay for the damage? None of these documents decides that. The insurer decides a claim under the terms of the policy.
Common to all three
Each one has a date
Measurements and observations describe the roof at one point in time. Imagery can be older than the report it appears in.
Each one has an author
Know who produced the document, who paid for it, and whether the author also hopes to win the repair work.
Each one has limits
A careful document says what was not seen or not measured. Read that part first.
None needs you on the roof
Professionals and imagery produce all of them. Stay on the ground, especially after a storm.
Know the terms before you read the report
Roof documents use a vocabulary of their own. The glossary defines the common terms, and the measurement guide explains where the numbers come from.
