9 must have features your roof estimating software needs to have

TL;DR

Roof estimating is far more complex than homeowners realize. With countless materials, configurations, measurements, labor factors, flashing details, and price fluctuations, roofing estimates can become a nightmare without the right tools. Great roof estimating software should be customizable, accurate, easy to update, and able to produce beautiful proposals while handling labor, materials, pick lists, pricing, and project management. Bolster does all that—and more—so you can quote faster, close more deals, and eliminate costly mistakes.

The Hidden Complexity of Roof Estimating

Anyone outside the roofing industry thinks a roof is just a roof. But once you’re the person responsible for estimating, you know the truth. Roofs are a maze of hips, valleys, gables, flashing details, cover widths, overlaps, waterproofing layers, underlays, and dozens of material choices—from standing seam to shingles and everything in between. Estimating all those combinations accurately requires serious precision. That’s why choosing the right roof estimating software is essential. With so many options claiming to "do it all," you need to know exactly which features truly matter.

Choose Roof Material Options That Match Your Business

Many roof estimating platforms come preloaded with materials you don’t use and leave out the ones you actually install. Worse, they charge extra to customize the material list. The best estimating software lets you load your exact materials—your metals, your shingles, your accessories—right from the start, with full support during setup. No paying for custom coding. No waiting weeks for changes. No forcing your workflow to fit someone else’s system.

Create Specifications That Match Your Installation Style

Roofing methods vary by region, climate, and company. Using software built for a different market often means fighting with someone else’s specifications. You end up trying to force complicated workarounds just to quote the way you actually build. Great roof estimating software adapts to your methods—not the other way around—allowing your crews, materials, and installation standards to stay consistent.

Flexible, Accurate Labor Estimating

Labor is one of the hardest parts of any estimate. Material quantities can be calculated; labor performance cannot. Productivity changes from roof to roof. That’s why you need software that lets you easily adjust labor rates, crew speeds, and job-specific factors. Once estimating software becomes rigid, mistakes multiply. The best tools give you total control over labor calculations for every single quote—without complicated programming or hidden settings.

Detailed Pick Lists Without the Headache

There’s nothing worse than winning a job and then staring at a confusing spreadsheet trying to figure out what to order. Good roof estimating software should convert estimates into accurate pick lists instantly. Every shingle, sealant, fastener, flashing, and underlay should be calculated automatically—no calculators, no manual input, no missed items, no mistakes. This not only saves time but also keeps jobs profitable.

Always-Up-to-Date Pricing

Old-school estimating software forces you to enter prices manually deep in the backend—where one misplaced decimal can cost thousands. Modern software automatically updates material prices by syncing with supplier websites, meaning you’re always quoting the latest numbers. No more “fat-finger” errors. No more outdated spreadsheets. No more guessing.

Adjust Markups and Details on the Fly

Some roof estimating tools lock you into a single markup and require full reconfiguration to change it. Even worse, changing it affects every quote in your system. Contractors need flexibility. The best software lets you adjust markup per job instantly—without affecting past quotes and without rebuilding your entire template—so you can tailor every proposal to the customer, the budget, and the complexity of the project.

Built-In Project Management and Invoicing

Once you quote a job, you shouldn’t need separate software for scheduling, progress tracking, invoicing, and change orders. Great estimating software includes all those tools in one place. With a single click, your quote becomes a full project plan, complete with billing tools and integrations into your accounting software. That means less double-entry, fewer mistakes, and a smoother workflow from estimate to final invoice.

Effortless Option Creation for Customers

Most homeowners aren’t sure what color, material, or finish they want. Many will ask for different combinations before deciding. Modern roof estimating software creates these options automatically—allowing customers to scroll through alternatives and see pricing changes instantly. No more rebuilding quotes. No more juggling spreadsheets. You save hours, and customers feel empowered.

Professional, Modern Proposals That Sell for You

The days of handing over plain, outdated quotes are long gone. Today’s homeowners expect beautiful, branded, visually rich proposals. Great software generates polished proposals with images, specs, materials, and clear pricing—all automatically. Presentation matters. Your quote should sell your professionalism before you even speak.

Bolster Does All This—and More

Bolster was built after years of experiencing the headaches caused by outdated, inflexible estimating tools. It’s designed to be the last roof estimating software you’ll ever need. Easy to use, fast to learn, fully customizable, and equipped with the best technical support around, Bolster simplifies estimating, scheduling, project management, and invoicing all under one roof. If you’re ready to leave spreadsheets, outdated software, and dot-matrix-era proposals behind, our team would love to show you how Bolster can transform your estimating process.