New Measuring Tool For Roofs

Roofman20033

I have been measuring roofs for about 6 years with a metal 35ft tape. I typically go through about 3 tapes per season, as shingles really eat up the tapes. Also as i start to measure more and more dimensional shingles, i notice that retracting the tape is much tougher as the end tap catches on all the tabs on the way back up. Also most ridges measure well over 35 ft.
I have come up with a great idea and have been using it for well over a year. Believe me when i tell you this saves so much time, effort and makes being on the roof much safer!! Anytime i am on the roof measuring with this new device and a homeowner is on the ground, they always comment on how efficient the device is.
Do you guys think anyone would be interested in purchasing such a device. It could be competitively priced with normal Metal tapes. The beauty is that it lasts longer, makes measuring faster, and most importantly keeps you much safer on the roof, as you never have to get near roof edges.
Let me know what you guys think!

parkerfairfield

Ok, I'll bite. What is it - or what is your goal? Am I supposed to send you money via PayPal or something prior to knowing it's a fishing rod and colored line?

JonM

I know what it is....pick me, pick me.......We guess the size of the roof...

Red Adobe

its the good ol 3' pace off isnt it........you dont even have to get on the roof

Dustball

This thing?

http://www.tapedolly.com/tapedollyabout.htm

iceman61

I have one of those & while it's good, it's not 100%. It will really tick you off on a steep pitch or on anything 20 feet or more, & this is using a Fatmax tape. If you try measuring ridge down & you let it drop over the drip edge, you might as well get down off the roof because it's hung.

Don't get me wrong though. I like mine.

parkerfairfield

I liked the reel nylon 100' or 300' tapes. On the steep / wet /slippery roofs where it wasn't safe (enough) to go I'd take my keys - which have a mountain climber caribener, clip it to the tip, and fly fish the end out there.

How do I patent that?

dougger222

On long runs I like to use the 100ft Fat Max wind up tape.

It works best to bring a worker with to measure roofs. In my field of work a highly detailed diagram goes a long way so it can take more time drawing the roof out than putting the numbers on it.

Tommorrow going to try to get 8 roofs diagramed.

2ndGen

I eyeball it. I usually fall within 10% of the actual size. The quick way is to pace it off.

For eave to ridge measurements, I walk the gable side of the house on the ground from the gutter line to the center of the house (ridge point) and add 50% for average 6:12 pitch roofs and I get it pretty accurately. Steeper pitch? Raise the percentage. Lesser? Deduct. Eventually, one gets used to it by eye taking into account waste, valleys, dormers, etc...

I've impressed customers with just being able to look at a roof and to match pretty closely what other contractors got after they spent 15 or 20 minutes measuring it. This tool free efficiency represents "how" I work.

It's all relative really. On the one hand, getting up and taking the time to measure the roof looks very professional and thorough.

On the other hand, for someone to just walk up, look at the roof & to guesstimate it within a reasonanably good # really speaks for the experience of the Roofer in a different way. Not better, not worse, just "different".

One Roofer is a professional in that he is thorough.
The other Roofer is professional in that he is intuitive.

I was right along with the Tape Dolly & the pace off options mentioned earlier. The only other thing I could think of is a Bosch Laser Distancer Measurer, though I don't know if it's possible with it.



Normally however, I just use one of these "thingamajiggies":

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"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
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www.SolutionsRoofing.com

RidgeWalker

I've used for almost 20 years a 100 foot tape that you reel out and in. However, on the end I have an industrial strenth swivle, picture wire, and a dog ball.

This is why I'm called RidgeWalker. I can measure the whole roof by only walking along the ridges. I fish the tape down until the ball lands in the gutter, then to measure the opposite run I just pop the tape and the ball goes flying over my head and down into the other gutter! For dormers I measure the ridge back to the main field and then let the ball fall down the slope until it hits the end of the valley and poof I have my valley measurements. = )

parkerfairfield

Much nicer than my key carabiner... and I bet you've never had the fun of trying to find the key that fell off the carabiner! I ultimately said screw it.

Ed the Roofer

That sounds like it would make a neat photo to add to this thread RW.

Ed

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RidgeWalker

Ok here you go. If you like save it so you can zoom in to see my fine skills at wiring! :P

http://www.contractortalk.com/album....&pictureid=283

Dustball

That looks like one of those rope floats.

curapa

You need to clean your carpet!

RidgeWalker

I knew some one was going to comment about the carpet! That's in my basement workshop/junk room! hehe

dougger222

You gotta have a back pack to carry that thing.

RidgeWalker

www.customtoolbelt.com has the perfect belt that fit that tape measure perfectly. = )

roofman77573

I swear by the Roof Ranger. It's simple to use & totally eliminates shingles tearing up the end of your tape (or damaging the shingles). This takes the fear out of measuring steep sloped roofs. Get one! Google search "roofranger direct".

RidgelineRoof

We just use a wheel. That's typically just to back up our measurements from Pictometry.

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