Remote roof measurement sounds technical, but it’s simply the safe, fast way to size up your roof using high‑resolution aerial imagery, street‑level photos, and homeowner input. It’s how RoofHero can price your project quickly and fairly—without a ladder on day one.
RoofHero is a neutral marketplace for Sydney homeowners. We scope your roof from aerial imagery and your brief, then invite multiple vetted local roofers to submit blind offers. You compare price, inclusions, timelines, and warranties. Contracts and payments stay between you and your chosen contractor.
If you’re ready to see pricing now: Get My Price — remote roof pricing from vetted local roofers.
What “remote measurement” actually means
Remote measurement combines several data sources to calculate roof area, pitch (slope), lineal metres of edges (eaves, hips, valleys), and fixture positions (skylights, chimneys, solar).
- Aerial ortho imagery: Top‑down, scale‑correct photos.
- Oblique imagery: Angled views that help confirm pitch and complex junctions.
- Street and satellite context: For materials, access and extensions.
- Homeowner brief: Age, leaks, planned changes (e.g. tile‑to‑metal), skylights.
- Optional drone/photos: Used where trees or parapets hide roof lines.
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How we size a roof from the sky (step‑by‑step)
- Address + brief
You tell us the address and what you want done—repair, full roof replacement, or a switch to metal roofing. - Select best imagery
We use the most recent, highest‑quality aerial set available for your suburb (e.g. Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Northern Beaches). - Trace roof planes
Each roof plane is traced; edges are labelled as eaves, ridges, hips, valleys, and barges. Obstructions like solar and skylights are marked. - Confirm pitch
Pitch is estimated from oblique views and local height references. Pitch matters for safety, material coverage and waste allowances. - Calculate areas & lengths
Software computes square metres for planes and lineal metres for flashings, cappings, and gutters/downpipes where relevant. - Apply allowances
Waste and accessory allowances are applied based on roof shape, pitch, and chosen system (tile vs metal). Allowances are explained in your scope. - Assign a confidence level
- Green (High): Clear imagery, simple gable/hip, minimal tree cover.
- Amber (Moderate): Some tree shadowing, split levels, or parapets.
- Red (Needs Site Check): Dense canopy, complex multi‑level, hidden falls.
- On‑site readiness check
Before works, your contractor confirms measurements, access and details. If the confirmed scope shifts by >5%, RoofHero’s tender is re‑opened—our Re‑quote Safety Net—so you still get competitive, fair pricing.
How accurate is it?
For most detached Sydney homes with a clear view of the roof, remote measurements deliver pricing‑grade accuracy suitable for a firm price once the on‑site readiness check validates the details. Accuracy depends on:
- Imagery quality & date: Newer, sharper imagery reduces uncertainty.
- Roof complexity: Many small planes, dormers and box gutters increase variance.
- Pitch & parapets: Steeper pitches and concealed flat roofs need extra care.
- Tree cover & shadows: Common in the Inner West and leafy North Shore.
- Recent changes: New solar arrays, extensions, or awnings added after imagery capture.
Where uncertainty is higher (dense jacaranda and plane‑tree canopies are a classic Sydney issue), we flag it early and recommend a quick drone look or rely on the readiness check to finalise.
Turning measurements into a fair price
Contractors convert measurements into a scope and final price:
- Materials & system: Tile repair vs full replacement; tile‑to‑metal (e.g. Colorbond® steel) changes battens, sarking and flashings.
- Accessories: Sarking, insulation, skylight re‑flash, ventilators, safety rail.
- Edges & details: Lineal metres of valleys, ridges, barges, parapet cappings.
- Access: Scaffold, driveway protection, and waste removal.
On RoofHero, multiple vetted roofers price the same measured scope and submit blind offers. You compare inclusions (not just the number) and choose the best value. See our pages for roof repair and metal roofing to understand system differences, or check we cover your area: Sydney service area.
Sydney‑specific factors to keep in mind
- Coastal homes (Maroubra, Cronulla, Manly): Salt air favours metal systems with the right coating; parapets can hide falls—we verify on site.
- Leafy suburbs (Leichhardt, Haberfield, Wahroonga): Canopy and shadows obscure valleys; drone or readiness check confirms.
- Summer storms: Intense downpours mean careful valley and box‑gutter sizing—measured lineal metres matter.
- Heritage federation roofs: Steeper pitches and decorative gables add planes; remote tools still map them, with on‑site confirmation for details.
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Remote vs drone vs site visit—what’s best when?
- Remote only (most common): Simple gable/hip, clear sightlines, no recent alterations.
- Remote + drone photos: Heavy canopy, parapets, multi‑level townhouses, or solar arrays blocking lines.
- On‑site readiness check (always before works): Confirms measurements, access, safety, and any late changes—keeps surprises out of the contract.
Risk controls that protect you
- Vetted, licensed and insured roofers (local to your postcode).
- Neutral marketplace: We don’t mark up materials or take a cut of your contract.
- Re‑quote Safety Net (>5% scope change): If readiness check finds more than a 5% shift, the tender re‑opens so you still get competitive prices.
- Clear scope pack: Measurement summary, roof map, and inclusions so you can compare like‑for‑like.
What you’ll receive from RoofHero
- A clear roof map with planes, ridges, hips and valleys marked.
- Areas and lineal metres used for pricing and materials planning.
- A written scope of works and any assumptions.
- Multiple prices from vetted local roofers, with inclusions and timelines.
- A fast path to a firm contract after the readiness check.
Ready to see your options?
Get My Price — remote roof pricing from vetted local roofers.
Learn more about us on our About page.
FAQs
Q1: How accurate are remote roof measurements?
For most Sydney homes with clear imagery, remote measurements provide pricing‑grade accuracy. We validate on site before work begins; if the confirmed scope shifts by more than 5%, our Re‑quote Safety Net re‑opens the tender so you still get competitive prices.
Q2: Do I still need someone to visit the property?
Yes—there’s a short on‑site readiness check before works. Remote measurement speeds up pricing, but the readiness check locks in details like access, safety, and any hidden roof features.
Q3: Can you measure strata or townhouses?
Usually yes. We measure the specific lot’s roof area and shared sections where relevant. Heavy tree cover or parapets may trigger a quick drone look or a focused site check.
Q4: Can you price a tile‑to‑metal switch (e.g. Colorbond® steel)?
Yes. The scope will account for battens, sarking, flashings and cappings. (Colorbond® is a registered trademark of BlueScope Steel Limited. RoofHero is not affiliated with or endorsed by BlueScope.)
Q5: What happens if the measurements are off?
If the readiness check finds a >5% variance in scope, we activate the Re‑quote Safety Net and re‑open pricing so you still compare fair, like‑for‑like offers.
