I think he offers a free version of Instant Roofs that has reduced features and fewer roof pitch options. I used to do it the old school way, and my jaw hit the floor when I tried the plugin. It takes a bit of tinkering, but once you understand how it works you can deal with varying beam heights, gables, etc. It even does dutch gables and other less-common roof features. Often you have to do dormers as a separate roof. No big deal... I did my video on a home with to distinct roof sections that came together into one.
Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar On Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Daniel Young <dyo...@dovetailsolar.com> wrote: > Very nice Jason! > > > > I’ll certainly take a look at that plugin. I should mention the 2hr sketch > was including the detailed roof measurements and placement of all the roof > obstructions. I’m not as fast as you still, as the simple best case layout > would still have taken me the better part of 45min to get it where I would > want itJ > > > > Daniel Young, > > NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90 > > NABCEP Certified Solar Heating InstallerTM: Cert #SH031409-13 > > Lead Systems Designer for: > > *www.dovetailsolar.com <http://www.dovetailsolar.com>* > > Ph: 740-274-0139 > > > > We’ve completed over 310 renewable energy projects! Check out a few in > our photo gallery: > *http://www.dovetailsolar.com/Our-Work.aspx?path=commercial+-+solar+electric > <http://www.dovetailsolar.com/Our-Work.aspx?path=commercial+-+solar+electric>* > > This email message and attachments are intended only for the addressee. > It may contain information which is legally privileged, confidential and > exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this > message, you may not disclose, print, copy or disseminate this message > and/or the information contained in the message. If you have received this > message in error, please reply and notify the sender (only) and delete this > message along with any attachments. Unauthorized interception of this > email is a violation of criminal laws and laws covering electronic > communications privacy matters. > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On > Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 18, 2014 7:47 AM > > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Proposal Sketching Tool/Software > > > > That's easy to talk through. We tell the prospect in advance that we make > an initial assessment based on aerial imagery to show the maximum possible > (trees can be cut usually, and plumbing can be moved). When we arrive, if > there are any obstructions, we talk about that with the homeowner. It's > really quite simple. No embarrassment. > > > > The opposite of what you describe is often the case - we assume that there > is a serious shading issue, only to arrive and find out that tall trees > have been cut since the images were taken. Some conversation at initial > lead intake can reduce that possibility. > > > > Fortunately, around here we usually have pretty crisp and recent imagery > so at least we know if there will be an obstruction in advance. Like you > said, the location and height is hard to pinpoint on a drawing in advance. > > > > It's incredibly easy to revise the drawings according to what is > discovered at the site visit. Usually we will will do an electronic > presentation on an iPad, then revise the drawing if necessary before > emailing the PDF to the homeowner. > > > > > > On Wed, Jun 18, 2014 at 4:20 AM, William Miller <will...@millersolar.com> > wrote: > > Jason: > > > > Very impressive. Thanks for sharing. > > > > If you do your design from a satellite image, aren’t you afraid you might > miss a plumbing vent or other obstruction, or the shade from a tree that > you cannot judge the height of accurately? One foot can make the > difference of 3 modules on a 3 row install. Is it embarrassing to sell the > customer x number of modules and arrive to find out you can only fit <x? > > > > William > > > > > > [image: Gradient Cap_mini] > Lic 773985 > millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> > 805-438-5600 > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On > Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski > *Sent:* Tuesday, June 17, 2014 2:17 PM > > > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Proposal Sketching Tool/Software > > > > Rather than sharing individual presentation examples, I did a screen > recording of preparing a model in Sketchup Pro and Layout from start to > finish. This is me preparing a real presentation package that will be used > tomorrow at an in-house presentation by a sales rep. I ignored roof > obstructions in the interest of time, but you can see in the video that I > completed a viable presentation package in 10 minutes showing the maximum > PV possible on a roof. The magic happens at 2:25 when the Instant Roof > script does it's work. Here is a link to the video: > > > > http://youtu.be/vs3ypUOe2_c > > > > This is not sped up. I did take some minor liberties in the interest of > time - I would typically spend about 5 minutes extra making sure dimensions > are as accurate as possible. This particular address didn't have the > sharpest imagery from Google Earth, but it was passable. I'll be well > within 1' on all roof dimensions based on my past experience, and a few > measurements from the ground can confirm accuracy level. I used Bing Maps > to estimate a roof pitch of 5:12, which is pretty typical of the > neighborhood I know this house to be within. Google street view is not > available in this gated community. I assumed an 18" eave, which I generally > use as a generic dimension unless I know homes in a neighborhood to have > different overhangs. This home had a raised entryway and a lower beam > height for the garage, so it was not the easiest home to model, but far > from the hardest. I took a few minutes to set up my rendering scenes and > elevations because I am anticipating this actually being used eventually > for construction and permitting docs in Layout, but that's totally > optional. I skipped some minor steps in Layout, too, like changing the > quantity of modules in the legend. I'll go back and clean things up before > sending to the sales rep. I showed off some of the shading analysis > capabilities, even though it wasn't necessary for this unshaded roof. > > > > You can see the mouse clicks, but what you don't see is my keyboard > presses - I have shortcuts set up for most tools and actions to speed my > workflow. > > > > Preparing models from PDF or DWF plans results in a mode every bit as > accurate as AutoCAD. I use essentially the same techniques. That can really > blow away a homeowner (and sometimes an architect). > > > > Hopefully that answers your questions about the viability of Sketchup for > doing solar energy presentations! > > > > > > Jason Szumlanski > > Fafco Solar > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > ------------------------------ > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3955/7169 - Release Date: 06/13/14 > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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