Question 1

What is a standing seam panel takeoff?

Accepted Answer

A panel takeoff calculates how many standing seam metal roofing panels are needed for a roof, the length of each individual panel, and the trim materials required. Unlike a shingle takeoff where you work from square footage, a standing seam takeoff measures every panel individually because each one is a specific length cut for a specific spot on the roof. On a complex hip-and-valley roof, this can mean 150+ panels across a dozen facets, each with a different length and cut angle. Panel Takeoff automates this entire process — from roof geometry to panel layout, trim quantities, and material order — so you get accurate numbers in minutes instead of hours.

Question 2

Who is Panel Takeoff built for?

Accepted Answer

Standing seam metal roofing contractors — specifically production managers and estimators who need accurate panel counts, individual panel lengths, trim quantities, and complete material orders. The app is designed around the workflow of contractors who install standing seam panels. It supports importing roof measurement files from Hover (ESX and XML) and EagleView (XML and JSON), or you can draw the roof manually. If you do standing seam work and you're currently doing takeoffs on paper, in a spreadsheet, or in general-purpose estimating software that wasn't built for metal panels, Panel Takeoff is built for you.

Question 3

Is Panel Takeoff a general roofing estimating tool?

Accepted Answer

No. Panel Takeoff does one thing: standing seam panel takeoffs. It does not estimate shingles, TPO, EPDM, or any other roofing type. It does not do labor costing, CRM, or project management. What it does is calculate panel layouts with individual panel lengths per facet, trim quantities for nine trim types (eave, rake, ridge, hip, valley, apron, J-strip, Z-closure, and pitch transition), coil stock linear footage, and complete material orders. It also generates professional PDF reports. It is purpose-built for standing seam metal roofing contractors and does that one job well.

Question 4

What file formats does Panel Takeoff support?

Accepted Answer

Panel Takeoff supports four file formats: Hover ESX, Hover XML, EagleView XML, and EagleView JSON. Upload any of these file types and the app builds a full 2D roof plan automatically with all facets, pitches, edge types, and measurements. Once imported, the roof is fully editable — you can move points, adjust edges, add or remove facets, and relabel edge types. From there, the app calculates panel layouts, trim quantities, and a complete material order. Pro subscribers get access to all import formats, and new formats are added as they become available.

Question 5

Do I need a 3D roof model to use Panel Takeoff?

Accepted Answer

No. You can draw your roof manually on the canvas using the built-in measurement tools. Place points, define facets, label edge types, and set pitches. You can also upload an image as the canvas background, whether that's a roof sketch, a blueprint, or a satellite photo from Google Maps, and trace over it. The import feature is there for contractors who already have a roof measurement file and want to skip the drawing step.

Question 6

Will you support other file formats?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are actively working on additional file format support beyond the current four formats (Hover ESX, Hover XML, EagleView XML, and EagleView JSON). Pro subscribers automatically get access to all new import formats as they are released at no additional cost. If you have a specific file format you need supported, email support@paneltakeoff.com and let us know. In the meantime, you can always draw your roof manually on the canvas or trace over a background image to get your takeoff done.

Question 7

Can I edit the roof after importing a file?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An imported roof plan is fully editable. You can move points, adjust edges, add or remove facets, change pitches, and relabel edge types (eave, ridge, hip, valley, rake, headwall) directly on the canvas. This is useful when the measurement file has errors, when you need to add a section that the aerial model missed, or when the roof has changed since the measurement was taken. Every edit updates the panel layout and trim calculations in real time, so you always see current numbers as you work.

Question 8

How accurate are the calculations?

Accepted Answer

Panel Takeoff uses the exact geometry from your roof measurements or imported file. Every panel is measured individually against the drawn roof shape, including pitch-adjusted lengths using the rafter factor. Panel counts, individual panel lengths, and trim linear footages match what you would get from a careful manual takeoff, in a fraction of the time. Cut angles at hips and valleys are calculated from the actual geometry, not estimated. The accuracy of the output depends on the accuracy of your source measurements — if your Hover or EagleView file or manual drawing is accurate, the takeoff numbers will be accurate.

Question 9

What panel widths are supported?

Accepted Answer

Any width. The default coverage width is 21-1/8 inches, but you can adjust it to match whatever standing seam profile you are running — 12 inch, 16 inch, 18 inch, or any custom width. Change the panel width and every calculation on every facet updates instantly: panel counts, individual panel lengths, linear footage, and total material quantities. This means you can quickly compare different panel profiles on the same roof without redoing the takeoff. The width setting applies project-wide to keep your numbers consistent.

Question 10

Does Panel Takeoff calculate trim?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Panel Takeoff calculates trim quantities for every edge type on the roof: eave/drip edge, rake, ridge cap, hip cap, valley, apron/headwall, valley J-strip, Z-closure, and pitch transition — nine trim types in total. Each trim type has configurable width settings so you can match your shop specifications. You can set a separate trim waste percentage to account for laps, miters, and short pieces at transitions. The app also calculates a coil width divisor for trim, showing how many trim pieces you get per coil width if you bend your own trim from coil stock.

Question 11

Does it calculate materials beyond panels and trim?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The order template feature builds a complete material list from your takeoff data. Beyond panels and trim, the material order includes underlayment, ice and water shield, screws, cleats, caulk, butyl tape, pipe boots, foam closures, touch-up paint, and any custom line items you add. Material quantities are calculated from the takeoff numbers — screw count from panel count and spacing, cleat count from panel count and attachment interval, underlayment from roof area with overlap. Save your standard material configuration as a named template and reuse it on every job so you never miss an item.

Question 12

What about coil stock calculations?

Accepted Answer

Panel Takeoff calculates total coil linear footage for contractors who buy coil stock and fabricate their own standing seam panels on site or in the shop. The coil calculation totals the linear footage of all panels across every facet so you know exactly how much coil to order. It also includes a coil width divisor for trim, showing how many trim pieces you can cut from a single coil width. This is useful for contractors who bend their own trim and need to order the right amount of flat stock rather than pre-formed trim pieces.

Question 13

What's included in the PDF report?

Accepted Answer

The PDF report includes a cover page with your company name, a scaled roof sketch with every panel length annotated, a tiling summary with panel and trim totals, a per-facet panel cut list with individual lengths, a line measurements diagram, and a facet map. Every panel on the roof is numbered and listed with its exact length. The report is designed so your production crew can cut and install directly from it. You can also use it to show clients and insurance adjusters that your material quantities are based on actual measurements, not estimates.

Question 14

Can I use the report for insurance claims?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The PDF report shows every panel individually with its exact length, and every trim type totaled by linear footage. This is useful when working with insurance adjusters because it demonstrates that the material quantities are based on actual roof measurements and geometry, not percentage-based estimates or square footage rules of thumb. The per-facet cut list makes it clear exactly how much material is required and why. Adjusters can see the numbered panels on the roof sketch and match them to the cut list. This level of detail helps support supplement requests and reduces disputes over material quantities.

Question 15

What are Instant Reports?

Accepted Answer

Instant Reports let you upload a Hover ESX, Hover XML, EagleView XML, or EagleView JSON file and get a complete PDF takeoff report delivered to your email. The report includes panel counts, individual panel lengths, trim quantities, and a roof sketch. Each report costs one credit ($45). Purchase credits at any time from the Buy Credits page — no subscription required.

Question 16

How much does Panel Takeoff cost?

Accepted Answer

Each Instant Report costs one credit ($45). Credits are purchased in advance — buy as many as you need from the Buy Credits page. Each credit generates one full takeoff report including panel counts, individual panel lengths, trim quantities for all nine trim types, and a professional PDF. You can recalculate with different settings at no extra cost. No subscription required.

Question 17

Do credits expire?

Accepted Answer

No. Credits never expire. Once purchased, they stay in your account until you use them. Each credit generates one Instant Report.

Question 18

Is there a contract or commitment?

Accepted Answer

No. Panel Takeoff uses a simple credit system — buy credits when you need them, use them to generate reports. There is no subscription, no recurring charge, and no commitment. You only pay for the reports you generate.

Question 19

What if I need help?

Accepted Answer

Email us at support@paneltakeoff.com. Panel Takeoff was built by a working metal roofing contractor, so the support team understands standing seam work, panel layouts, trim details, and the material ordering process. Whether you need help importing a Hover or EagleView file, setting up your panel width, configuring trim waste percentages, building an order template, or generating a PDF report, we can walk you through it. We speak your language because we come from the same trade.

Question 20

Is there training or documentation?

Accepted Answer

We are building out a help center with step-by-step guides for every feature, including file imports, manual roof drawing, panel calculations, trim configuration, order templates, and PDF report generation. In the meantime, email support@paneltakeoff.com and we will walk you through anything you need. The app is designed to be straightforward for anyone who already understands standing seam work — most contractors are running takeoffs within minutes of signing up, without any formal training.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Panel Takeoff

File Imports

Calculations

Reports

Pricing and Account

Support