Welcome


Roofing Manager is an application designed to let you easily calculate and estimate panelized roofing projects for new construction and
re-roofing. Roofing Manager seamlessly blends elements from drawing programs and component manipulation applications to create a
hybrid that is as powerful as it is simple.

In a hurry? Basic instruction is found at Fast Start.



Setting up a Calculation

Roofing Manager's basic layout is a tabbed draw surface, with each tab focused on a specific feature:

The idea is that you construct your project by drawing it as seen from above based on measurements you have taken.
Roofing Manager is based on the concept of Layers, which are much like the medical illustration books where you overlay
successive clear plastic sheets to see the various body systems clearly. Each layer lets you work on objects specific to
the tab while letting you view object outlines made in previous layers for reference points. In Roofing Manager Layers go
higher from left to right as per the tab layout.

By using Layers you draw basic roofshapes as simple polygons, then you overlay on top of these. The following
illustration demonstrates the use of the VOID layer. This is the layer where you want material to NOT go. In other words
this allows you to make an exception to the roofline on Layer 1, telling it that there are parts you won't lay material in.

Note that in this illustration you can clearly see the outlines of the underlying roof system as well as the roofline for the
hip attachment. The void area is colored in, making it easier to manipulate as a separate item.

There are a couple of advantages here. First, you can draw the basic roofline shape as a simpler object. Second, using
voids keeps everything simpler conceptually. A triangular notch (as shown) for a hip Tee and a dormer "hole" or a 6x6
skylight are all treated the same way -- exceptions to the main roof area that don't get paneled.

As you go to sucessive tabs you will be able to see more and more. Layer 1 refers to the basic elevation of the project;
Layer 2 is used for rooflines that are above and overlaying the base elevation, e.g. dormers.

By using Layers it becomes easier to visualize the entire project, and you can more easily calculate dormers and other
complex cutouts.



Estimating

Once you have (set up) drawn a roof, estimating is pretty simple. You click the "Run" button on the toolstrip:

...which then creates the entire set of drawings and does the calculating. From there you can view drawings
or go right to pricing. Click the Sum ("Pricing", button #4) button and you will see the system spreadsheet
which allows you to estimate a price based on any number of strategies.



The following topics will help you get a handle on the basics of drawing, layer manipulation, and how the
estimating engine works.



How To Draw

Using Layers -- Basics

Using Layers -- Advanced

Roof Properties & Panels

Trim and Pricing

Limitations and Misc Topics

Using the Locator in TURBO Mode

Panel Overlap Handling

Points of Interest



Visit BizPortz online


Copyright © 2010-2011 by BizPortz, Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED