Measuring roofs by hand with tape measure, ladder, and sketch pad costs time, nerves, and in case of doubt, money as well. This is exactly where the collaboration between WWB Dachbaustoffe and Airteam comes in: drone flights instead of climbing ladders, a 3D roof model instead of hand-drawn sketches - and on that basis, a significantly faster, more accurate estimate and material order.
In the joint webinar "Faster estimating for accurate material orders - with drone flights and 3D roof models", Nico and Dennis Winger from WWB Dachbaustoffe showed how they use drone-based surveying with Airteam in practice - and why the biggest winner in the end is the contractor.
This article summarizes the key insights and quotes.
1. The core problem: roof measuring like 50 years ago
Many companies still handle roof measurement the same way they did decades ago:
- Climb onto the roof via ladder or scaffold
- Count tiles, estimate lengths
- Sketch everything on paper
- Transfer the numbers back at the office
Nico Winger puts it bluntly: in many situations, during the tendering and estimating phase you "can't realistically get onto the roof" without scaffolding. So a lot of guesswork creeps in. The consequences:
- Quotes are based on rough assumptions
- You estimate "by rule of thumb" and add a generous safety margin
- Either your quote is too expensive - or the job becomes too expensive for you because you end up paying the difference
On top of that, there are safety risks (falls, fragile roof coverings, bad weather) and the classic sources of error: missed measurements, lost notes, overlooked roof structures.
This is exactly where drone surveying with Airteam makes the difference.
2. Drone flights instead of ladders - how Airteam is changing roof measurement
Airteam digitizes roof measurement:
A short drone flight around the building, the images are uploaded to the Airteam Fusion platform, and within 24 hours you receive a 3D roof model with all relevant dimensions - accurate to the centimeter and compliant with industry standards.
Jos from Airteam describes a typical flight like this:
A circular flight with around 75 photos takes about two and a half minutes. In that time, you can already be talking to your customer - the drone does the rest.
The key benefits for your business:
- Up to 90% time savings for measurement
- No risk from dangerous roof access
- Standardized data: every detail is documented
- Reliable basis for estimating: no more "rule-of-thumb" quotes
And the data remains available in the long term. If the customer decides today to only install a roof window and comes back three years later for a full roof replacement, you don't need another site visit - the roof model is already there.
3. Why cost concerns about drone surveys are usually a misconception
A frequent objection in the webinar was:
"Now I'm supposed to pay for a drone survey even though I don't know if I'll get the job?"
Nico Winger disagrees:
A lot of people calculate this wrong. They say: if I climb up there myself, it doesn't cost me anything. But that's not true. Your time is money - especially in the estimating phase.
His reasoning:
- The drone survey costs you amount X
- But the manual measurement costs you far more time
- With better quotes, instead of winning 5, you might win 8 out of 10 tenders
At the same time, the quality of your quotes improves dramatically:
- Transparent measurement reports instead of hard-to-read sketches
- A 3D roof model for visualization
- A professional appearance that builds trust
Or, as Nico puts it:
If a roofer comes in with a higher price but with a certified measurement report and 3D model, many customers will choose that company.
4. One survey - value across the entire project lifecycle
Arguably the most important insight:
The drone survey is not just for the quote - it adds value at every stage of the project.
Nico Winger breaks it down into five phases:
- Estimating and proposal phase
- Project preparation
- Construction phase
- Handover & final billing
- Maintenance & inspection
Once you've created a roof model, you benefit in every phase:
4.1 Estimating and proposal phase
- Fast, accurate measurements
- Complete capture of all roof structures
- A solid, professional basis for your estimate
4.2 Project preparation
- Material orders based on clean, structured reports
- Scaffolders get exact measurements without a site visit
- Crane positions can be checked using panoramic images
- Architects receive professional plans
The architect will be over the moon when they receive such professional measurement plans.
4.3 Construction phase
Many companies now use large screens in the warehouse or office:
- Team briefings directly on the 3D model
- Everyone knows what to expect
- Fewer questions and fewer extra trips to the site
4.4 Handover & final billing
One major advantage: the documented before state.
- All roof areas are documented in high resolution
- Clear evidence in case of disputes
- A second drone survey at the end provides clarity for final billing
4.5 Maintenance & inspection
Especially valuable for homeowners' associations, housing companies, or larger portfolios:
- Fly multiple roofs in a single day
- Afterwards, review the 3D models or detailed images conveniently in the office
- Quickly prioritize real issues
If you fly five buildings on Monday and review the models on Tuesday, you can easily save yourself an entire week.
5. Everyone wins: roofers, suppliers, architects - and owners
Digital roof measurement benefits:
- Roofers / carpenters - less risk, better estimates
- WWB Dachbaustoffe - fewer incorrect material orders
- Scaffolders - precise data without a site visit
- Architects / planners - reliable plans
- Property owners / homeowners' associations - transparency on condition and dimensions
And all of this is based on a single drone flight per property.
6. Which drone is right - and why it can stay simple
The webinar presented three classes of drones:
Ultra-light drones (< 250 g)
- No advanced pilot license required
- Ideal for many single-family homes
Enterprise models with RTK (e.g., DJI Matrice)
- Maximum accuracy
- Fully automated mission planning
Mid-range drones such as Mavic 3 Enterprise (C1)
- Under 900 g
- 20 MP camera
- Optional RTK
- Flexible for single-family homes up to larger properties
Airteam offers starter kits, on-site training, and a pilot network.
7. Conclusion: a new standard of work, not just a new measuring method
The collaboration between WWB Dachbaustoffe and Airteam shows:
- Drone flights plus 3D models are professional tools
- One survey adds value to every stage of the process
- Companies become faster, safer, and win more projects
Nico sums it up:
It's not just about measuring more cheaply and safely. It's about running your business in a modern way and actually putting current technologies to work.
If you regularly measure roofs, now is the right time to make drone-based surveying with Airteam part of your daily routine.
