Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

I have no clue about Android because I do all my estimates on the desktop.

Download Google Earth Pro and you can measure all the segments of the roof or anything else you can easily see.

The first picture are the two tools I use the most.

Second picture, after selecting the measuring tool select polygon, now you can select the are to measure.

Third showing the measurement of the dormer.

Fourth and fifth showing other things it helps with. Concrete and gutters.

In picture five I choose path to measure those two as one length to measure the gutter.

 

 

Brian C Jackson wrote:

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Bryan P wrote:

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findlotsize.com

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I've seen this one before.

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I used it years ago before Google Maps Pro was free. A few things I don't like are, zooming stops at a fixed value and you can't go back to find pictures without leaves on the trees. Few options for what we need.

John Aloisio wrote:

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We use Eagleview/Pictometry. Been using it for years. 

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 I will be looking at these today.. thanks John

Zach Maynard wrote:

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Brett I have got to say thank you!!! I did not know that Google Earth Pro had a feature that let you see the historical pictures. This is going to surely prove valuable. Thank you!!!

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Once you start using it and get use to it Zach it will make life much easier for you. For something free, it does a great job and it pretty accurate. There is so much in Google Earth pro I haven't taken the time to look at. Maybe one day.

I used to use google earth just like you Brett. the tool bar is not existent on android or my desktop. My desktop is pretty old might have to update it but they should be able to fix it for android.

DirtyRoofcom wrote:

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I used to use google earth just like you Brett. the tool bar is not existent on android or my desktop. My desktop is pretty old might have to update it but they should be able to fix it for android.

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 It is not Google Earth but Google Earth Pro.

Eric Schnaible wrote:

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I do the same as Brett, have for a few years now. Yes, the ability to go back and get photos from the past is great for finding the best image for clarity, find a winter photo and you can see through tree coverage. I also use it at times to find out how old a roof is or when an addition was done or if they have gutters. Measuring the house and taking a screenshot is the first thing I do for jobs. With street view, you can see the pitch so I just multiply accordingly. Attached are some examples. I name the job after the street its on and put the actual square footage after the street name. I always send the screenshot along with my proposal.

I use another cool trick for measuring building exteriors (mainly for large commercial projects). Click on the '3d Buildings' feature (bottom left) and at the bottom right of the screen, it shows the elevation at the point of your cursor. You can get the height of the structure with this feature. Multiply the lineal feet of the building by its height and you have the square footage of the exterior. It's not perfect but it is very close. It also impresses customers. An example of this is the Lombard image. I actually have a lot of fun with it.

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One thing we do differently Eric is I measure each segment of the roof and add them together. The square footage is close enough without guessing on pitch.

We have been talking about changes this year and one is to either send the satellite view or the street view. I need to play with the #D part of this. Thanks!

We pay monthly. I think it is the Silver Package. I use it for all the apartment and commercial work we do and it makes for a great proposal presentation and we also use it on residential jobs too. Adds value to us more than our competitors who just sell on price. I use it for scheduling apartment work as well. My guys and the client can get a clear picture of what we are cleaning and when.

Brett,

We have a few other things going on that make it worth it right now. I almost got rid of it this year but then we added some other services and it made it worth it. I think it definitely helps on the commercial bids, especially all the unsolicited multi-family bids we do. Last year we put out 2.6 million in unsolicited bids and would not have been able to do it without that service. Those bids are paying dividends right now and we are seeing PO's from some of them. 

Eric Schnaible wrote:

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Wow John, that is a lot of unsolicited bids. Yeah, I think I would pay for that measuring service as well.

Brett, just wondering why you measure each facet individually?

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 If I measure each section, the measuring tool sees it as one flat surface. No need to be concerned with pitch. I add them all together and get a pretty close total of the roof surface.

Eric

I am a firm believer in the saying. ...." Throw as much sh*t against the wall as you can and see how much sticks". All kidding aside, it gets us in the door of a lot of new clients. My inside sales gal spend a a lot of time doing them.

I don't use it on a tablet, is there a setting to turn on the toolbar?

DirtyRoofcom wrote:

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Not sure why I am having a hard time getting Google Earth pro to download or operate correctly. I ve done this on a smart phone, a newer IPAD and a Android smart phone.

I can search and find properties but I have no tool bar. The pic below is what my screen looks like.

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 I only use it on a desktop where I can clearly see everything so I can't help with all the stuff you are trying. I never have any issue with the desktop.

So my desktop is a lil ancient and won't support the new version . I was going to up grade to a tablet or laptop instead so i can do this on the go or from the truck.

Has anyone been able to use Google Earth pro on a mobile device ?