The Revolution of Roofing Technology

As roofers, we spend years perfecting our craft, and we know hard work, a strong team and a solid reputation can lead to a steady customer base. It may seem intimidating to integrate new developments into an already well-oiled machine. However, in an era of rapid technological advancement, the roofing industry must keep up with technological changes to stay competitive, effective and efficient in all facets of the business. By staying up to date on technology trends, our industry has the opportunity to be at the forefront of improving lead generation, sales performance, customer communication, production material management and more.

New Developments in the Industry

New software in the market allows us to streamline employee onboarding and improve our communications with customers. Advanced onboarding technologies help new employees get up to speed on the job faster and enable them to perform at a higher level. Production scheduling applications also improve communication with the customer, as the technology informs customers when their roofer is scheduled to arrive.

It’s also important for roofers and roofing websites to consider utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to increase communication efficiency. Chatbot widgets on your company’s website can quickly respond to customer questions and increase lead generation, and using AI to lead optimization for a new roofing project can assist with closing a sales lead. AI will ensure the right sales representative is assigned to the best fit opportunity and ultimately assist with winning the business and generating revenue.

Technology Used to Improve the Craft

We can use technological advancements to improve our overall workflows, learn more about the industry, and stay safe on the job. Roofers utilize specialized software like photo applications, which allow professionals to share photos of a roof they’re working on with support staff. Support staff can then identify any problem areas that may have been overlooked, like nails in the wrong place or loose shingles. There are also several online learning management systems now offered by the National Roofing Contractors Association. These programs provide training for roofers on different facets of the business, including shingle installation, tile installation, foreman management training, basic training on both residential and commercial work, and more.

Additionally, advancing safety through technology has been a large focus for the industry to ensure workers set up their jobsites safely, are safe on the roof during a job, and drive safely to and from a project. There are various tools and technologies that help train roofers to be as safe as possible while working, and there are now camera systems that score roofers’ driving behaviors and limit distracted driving. An increasing number of roofers have been utilizing drones to examine the top of a roof and take more accurate measurements. This tool saves time and mitigates the risks associated with manual inspections.

The Rise of Drones and Smart Roofs

Drones are one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in the roofing industry. Drones have the ability to capture aerial photos of the project, and they use AI to identify damage or any issues on the roof, such as cracks, leaks or damaged shingles. Drones are also used for commercial properties to determine where heat is escaping from a building and accurately track the heat loss.

Utilizing the same infrared camera to track temperature variances, drones can also assist in detecting leaks on low-slope roofs by showing areas where water may have penetrated the membrane. Although it’s still crucial to inspect a commercial property in person to determine the source of a leak, utilizing drones saves time when inspecting a large building and focuses on the areas of concern. The data collected by drones on commercial and residential properties can be analyzed using advanced software, providing new insights into a roof’s condition and ultimately extending the lifespan of a roof.

Smart roofs are another trending technological advancement. They add additional technology into the roof, including sensors that detect leaks and humidity, ventilation shafts to allow humidity to escape the roofing system, and power and exhaust fans on commercial properties to keep the building from overheating. Smart roofs are less widely utilized than drones but will likely be more developed in the future.

Commercial and Residential Technology

Technology trends vary depending on if you’re working on a commercial or residential property. On the commercial side, we see a high rate of customer portal utilization. Property managers responsible for many buildings don’t want to receive communications about each property. Instead, they’d rather have one portal they can log into if they have questions and view the complete history of all property projects.

However, residential customers want to be communicated with often and as soon as possible regarding updates on their homes. We find value in utilizing communication messaging platforms when working on home projects. The platforms include a photo sharing tool to provide photos throughout the day with the customer and a messaging application, so they have a direct line of communication with the team working on their project.

The Future of Roofing Technology

As technology advances, the roofing industry is experiencing a revolution that goes beyond traditional construction methods. Whether it’s the adoption of drones, increased AI usage, messaging platforms, new training methods or smart roofs, it’s crucial for contractors to effectively tie all new technology tools together to provide best-in-class solutions to utilize throughout the customer life cycle. And, as AI applications continue to evolve, even more tools will be available to refine the customer experience. Embracing these innovations enhances the efficiency and safety of roofing projects and aligns the industry with broader trends in sustainability and smart building practices.

About the author: Judd Haag is the Chief Information Officer at Bone Dry Roofing and the Director at Bone Dry Solar, part of the Bone Dry Roofing family of companies, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his role, Haag leads efforts to strategically design a technology architecture and select state-of-the-art tools to support the company and leads the charge to integrate tools for providing end users with seamless access and support. For more information, visit bonedry.com.