New roofing technology is changing the industry, creating new possibilities for roofing contractors willing to embrace new tools.
The US roofing industry was worth almost $27.5 billion in 2023, yet 80% of contractors fail within the first few years. Leveraging tech advancements can give your roofing company the upper hand and outcompete the companies stuck using older tools.
A few cutting-edge advancements in roofing technology include:
Smart roofs that alert homeowners to small issues before they become big problems.
3D printing technology that lets roofers make custom parts and prototypes.
Solar roofs that support sustainability initiatives and cut down on electricity bills.
Roofing software like ServiceTitan combines features for accurate estimates, efficient workflows, and better customer service. Below, we’ll cover some important tech trends to watch out for, from new types of roofing to new roofing products for your next project.
1. AI-Powered Roofing Estimates
Artificial intelligence can analyze aerial reports from drones, satellites, and data from roofing measurement apps to generate precise estimates. Rather than relying on technicians to do the math, AI can extrapolate the cost of labor and materials on a job based on the roof size and service type.
The result? Faster estimates that technicians can generate in minutes rather than making customers wait hours for a quote. AI-enabled estimates are also more accurate, reducing the risk of wasted materials or quotes that are too low.
For example, ServiceTitan’s Pricebook Pro has AI-powered features that update labor and material costs in real time.
Techs can show customers images of roofing materials from their tablet on the job site, with data-backed Smart Recommendations for upsells.
From there, they can automatically generate estimates and proposals so customers can decide. The app also has regional insights on similar jobs to see how your pricing compares to the market standard.
2. Drones for Roofing Inspections and Measurements
Drones can use photogrammetry and LiDAR to obtain aerial views of roofs. They also use high-definition cameras to obtain accurate measurements and thermal cameras to assess roof damage in detail.
They can improve safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring at each project stage.
Pre-inspection: Generate comprehensive reports before roof inspections.
Post-storm damage: Quickly assess visible damage to roofs after a storm to recommend the best roofing solutions.
Site monitoring: Survey and monitor jobs to track progress during the construction phase of large-scale installations.
Construction: Drones equipped with robotics can install shingles and spray on roof coatings.
Marketing: For more impactful marketing, take “after” photos of completed work and video footage of techs on the job.
Drones are particularly useful for complex residential roofs and commercial roofing, as they allow workers to complete jobs more safely and efficiently than human techs can.
3. Solar Roof Integration and Management Software
Solar panels have been steadily growing in popularity for commercial customers and homeowners alike. In 2023, almost 7 gigawatts of residential solar panels were installed, and solar panels represented 55% of all new electric capacity on the grid.
Since its launch in 2005, solar roofing has dropped in price – and residential customers can now opt for solar shingles that preserve the traditional look of residential roofs.
Although solar panels are a popular option for saving electricity, solar projects can be challenging. You’ll need to assess whether the customer’s home is suitable for solar, how to place the panels properly, and how many panels they need.
You’ll also need a permit and government inspection to connect solar panels to the grid, which will cost extra. Therefore, your estimate for solar panels must account for extra permit fees.
After installation, solar panels need regular monitoring to track energy use over time. Use solar monitoring apps and CRM software to inform customers about their solar panels’ performance.
4. Self-Healing and Self-Cleaning Roofs
Self-healing roofs are made from new thermoplastic polymer shingles that soften when exposed to heat and form new bonds as they cool. This automatically seals over scratches that lead to moisture damage and protects them from UV degradation.
Self-healing roofs can:
Extend the longevity of roofs
Reduce maintenance over time
Save costs on repairs due to moisture and sun damage
Self-cleaning roofs use hydrophobic coatings that repel water, dirt, and mildew. They can also incorporate photocatalytic materials that remove smog gasses from the air.
Self-cleaning roofs can:
Improve aesthetics by reducing dirt build-up
Reduce cleaning costs
Reduce a home’s carbon footprint
Giving customers these options can help you stand out as a forward-thinking roofer. They’re more expensive up front, but they can give you a competitive edge with customers who want a new roof that’s a cut above standard asphalt shingles.
5. Silicone Roof Coating
Silicone roof coatings or “cool roofs” protect flat and low-slope roofs with a reflective, waterproof layer. They’re becoming increasingly popular for industrial, commercial, and multi-family homes as an eco-friendly way to protect roofs.
These coatings are commonly used over metal roofing and modified bitumen roofs.
Silicone roof coatings can:
Reflect up to 90% of UV rays, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the cost of air conditioning.
Expand and contract in response to the thermal movement of larger roofs thanks to a flexible membrane that can make roofs more durable.
Boost sustainability since they don’t contain solvents and meet environmental safety standards in all 50 states.
Improve roof lifespan by preventing water damage over time.
While they’re great for low-slope and flat roofs, tiny airborne particles tend to stick to them. Over time, they gather dirt and need cleaning a few times a year.
This type of coating won’t work for gravel roofing systems since the application surface needs to be flat. It’s also not as common in residential roofing since homeowners are more concerned with aesthetics.
6. 3D Printing for Custom Roofing Parts
3D printing uses computer-aided design (CAD) to print objects with layers of plastic or other materials. Roofers can 3D print custom vents, flashing, tiles, and other roof parts on demand to replace unique roof elements and repair non-standard roofs.
For example, the Oshkosh Public Museum 3D-printed ridge caps when they replaced the slate roof on a heritage building and painted them to look like the original clay tile.
The ridge caps cost 60% less than it would have to recast them in terracotta, and they’ll be more durable.
Another homeowner used 3D printing to create temporary roof tiles after a storm to protect his home from the elements until roofers could repair his roof permanently.
3D printing is also being developed to print soil for green roofs and to build models and prototypes of roofing projects.
Despite its many use cases, 3D printing isn’t widely used because building codes need to catch up. However, the clear benefits make this a good trend to watch.
7. Smart Roofs
Smart roofs are any kind of roof that integrates technology with monitoring and automation to make buildings safer and more efficient.
Smart roofs often use WiFi sensors and cameras to identify roof issues and control roof elements remotely. They connect to smartphone apps and IoT devices to track roof temperature fluctuations, leaks, dangerous snow loads, blocked drains, and more.
They have many benefits, including:
The ability to remotely control skylights and solar panels.
Spotting weather conditions that might create maintenance issues.
Controlling humidity, temperature, and airflow of buildings.
For example, smart vents can help residential customers control attic airflow to prevent damage. Weather monitoring and AI-enabled predictive maintenance can help commercial customers schedule maintenance early in anticipation of a snowstorm.
Smart roofing is pricey and involves complex installation and setup, but many commercial customers will be open to spending more upfront to prevent problems down the road.
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8. Robotics in Roofing
Drones equipped with robotics can inspect roofs, install shingles remotely, power wash roofs, and apply spray coatings with precision. Autonomous robots are designed for specific jobs like shingle installation and roof inspections.
These tools make roofing projects much safer because they minimize the time techs spend on them. They can also complete jobs much faster than human techs since they’re equipped with sensors that capture every detail.
But robotics' benefits don’t stop at autonomous work. Active exoskeletons are making waves across construction sites to help reduce the physical strain of repetitive manual labor. Unlike passive exoskeletons, they rely on software that enables users to adjust the level of support they want.
Although robotics are still fairly new to roofing businesses, it’s a good idea to monitor this trend as new developments continue to add value and boost safety on job sites.
9. Advanced Roofing Software
Hardware may get the job done, but software is the central nervous system of modern roofing operations. Efficient work depends on how well you control your business information, from calculating estimates to managing customer and revenue data.
Advanced roofing software like ServiceTitan can help you manage projects from start to finish with centralized customer management, scheduling, estimates, marketing, and more.
As Lori Swanson of Guardian Roofing points out, this efficiency lets her company live up to its “customer for life” motto: “Now, if a client called, we could actually answer the question with the correct answer… We were able to deliver even better service because we could resolve any questions.”
ServiceTitan’s field service app lets contractors access and update pricebooks, estimates, and customer information for faster, more efficient roofing services.
They can also use the app for two-way SMS chat with customers to ensure open communication lines. Once customers are ready to book, they can use ServiceTitan’s payments feature to accept credit cards and checks on the job.
All payment information is fed into your billing and reporting tools for real-time revenue updates without extra data entry.
The Scheduling Pro feature lets customers book jobs directly from your website, social media, and Google 24/7. You can set up custom questions to collect all the information your techs need before they arrive on-site.
Scheduling is fully integrated into your ServiceTitan dashboard, so there’s no need for additional admin work to make sure techs are available.
ServiceTitan’s marketing features can help your admin team boost their SEO efforts, ad campaigns, and email marketing with real-time analytics.
Since your marketing information is linked to customer information and job revenue, you can see what messages perform best.
When you have all your business data at your fingertips, you can make the data-driven decisions that grow your roofing business.
What Are the Benefits of Implementing New Roofing Technologies?
As Lance Bachmann, owner of LB Capital Group, says, “Technology is your friend. If you want to scale a great business, bring technology into it, and you see your business scale – and when someone’s coming in to buy your company, that technology validates everything you’re saying."
New technology can also help you:
Navigate tough markets: Adopting new tech is what helped Guardian Roofing hit almost $30 million in 2023, despite a difficult year.
Achieve high-quality results: Technology helps you finish roofing projects with greater accuracy and precision, resulting in a more polished final result.
Increase profits: When you use technology for roofing estimates, you'll reduce waste and adhere to your target profit margins.
Stay safe: Robotics can help roofers reduce the time they spend on the roof and stay safe on the job.
Attend roofing trade shows in your area to stay current with the latest roofing technology. Talking to other roofing professionals is one of the best ways to gauge what new technology really performs in the field.
What Are the Common Challenges in Implementing New Roofing Technologies?
Despite the benefits, some roofers insist on using manual roofing tools. Adopting new technology comes with challenges, making contractors hesitate to invest in it.
Here’s a bit more about how you can weigh the benefits with the challenges new tech poses:
Upfront costs: Technology often pays for itself over time, but you’ll still need to be willing to invest upfront. If you have a limited budget, invest carefully in tech that will give you the biggest benefits first, then get experimental later.
Training requirements: Some technology needs a lot of new skills, but other tech is pretty user-friendly. When weighing your options, factor user-friendliness and training costs into the equation.
Integration issues: Technology can create inefficiencies if it doesn’t integrate with the other tools you depend on. Make sure to choose technology that works well with your existing tools.
Resistance to change: Many people cling to the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But the truth is, everything changes all the time. It’s better to stay ahead of the curve than suddenly find you’re falling behind.
The most important rule for adopting new technology is to take it one step at a time. Rent new tools, test out software to see what works, and decide where to invest.
The Bottom Line
Sticking with change can be challenging, but it’s a small price to pay to stay current. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on the efficiency gains already driving value for your competitors.
It was initially scary when Matt and Lori Swanson of Guardian Roofing went live with ServiceTitan. But Matt says, “I think you don't realize how much it's going to help you if you just fight through a solid month or two.”
Start with user-friendly roofing software like ServiceTitan to boost your entire business. From there, you’ll be able to save time, land new roofing projects, and try out even more technology that makes each project turn out better and faster than the last.
ServiceTitan is an all-in-one roofing business software solution that empowers roofing contractors with a suite of tools to manage roofing projects, consolidate business operations, and drive growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
ServiceTitan Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and substantially elevate the trajectory of their business. Our comprehensive, cloud-based platform is used by thousands of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, garage door, and chimney sweep shops across the country—and has increased their revenue by an average of 25% in just their first year with us.
