Roofing Measurements Using Google Earth

How To Measure The Roof Using Google Earth

There are many great benefits to using Google Earth to measure your roof but nothing is as good as using DIY’s satellite roof measurement. The first of which is that you don’t even have to go up on the roof. This can make it even safer to do your measuring and it also removes a level of guessing to your calculation.

To begin with, you’re going to go to the app on your mobile device, or you will need to go to Google Earth on your laptop or desktop computer. There are many options here and you’ll want to select the one that allows you to enter the address. You can also zoom the map and click on the starting point of the roof you wish to select. After you’ve done this, you can click along the outer edge of the roof that you wish to calculate the area for.

Roofing Measurements Using Google Earth

Each time you add points, the area will update and there is a box below that will convert this into acres, meters, kilometers, miles, and finally, square feet. It will also give you the perimeter of the shape of the roof.

Using this tool will be very helpful for you in finding out the acreage or the tract of land of your property. It will also give you the square footage of your roof and any other areas that you’re wanting to estimate. You can even embed this tool on a website that you own.

While these tools are very helpful, there are a few variables that you’ll want to know. If you’re in a rural area, you may have to go with the cross streets as the address may not bring up what you’re looking for. In such areas, you may wind up using the GPS coordinates or a landmark to get to where you’re going.

If you’re using the GPS, you’ll want to enter the latitude and then use a comma and enter the longitude. This will put you at a reference point that you can use to locate the facility or building that you wish to calculate the roofing on.

Always remember that Google Maps are frequently tilted or tipped at a slight angle. For this reason, you’ll want to factor this in and make sure that you’re putting your cursor on the key changes of the roof angle. Outline the roof at the points that are on the same level or elevation to ensure that you’re getting an accurate calculation of your roofing measurements.

Thus, in a simple style house, you’ll only have to click on the corners. If you were to click on the peaks it wouldn’t give you an accurate reading of your measurement. Once you have this measurement, you can then measure the footprint of the home and estimate the actual roof calculation based on the particular angle of the roof. If you’re going to use an area calculator, you can do this separately for each level of the home to ensure a more accurate calculation.

Keep in mind that using Google Earth isn’t going to give you a 100 percent accurate reading but it will give you a basic idea of the size of the roof for your calculations for the roofing materials. Don’t use this as your only method of measuring. Just use it as a starting point and you’ll have a fairly basic idea of what you’re dealing with.

Google Earth also offers a perimeter for the shape of the area that you can use to measure out the edges or area of a lawn, fencing, yard, the roof and more. As long as you keep in mind that these are only the most basic of guidelines, you’re going to be okay in your calculations. Since you’re using Google you’ll have to factor in any changes that may have been made since the satellite pictures have been taken and remember that the slightest changes may not be yet showing on your pictures.

Once you have a basic starting point you can go from there and make the necessary adjustments to have an accurate reading of the roof shape and size and factor in any other necessary adjustments that need to be made on your calculation.

Read next about how to measure the metal roof.