Leveraging the latest technology simplifies your estimates

MCS Influencer Jon Olson says having confidence in your quote starts with having confidence in your process.

Accurate estimating is one of the biggest factors in protecting profitability — especially when working with specialty materials and evolving installation methods. When it comes to mechanical lock standing seam roofing, having confidence in your quote starts with having confidence in your process. 

That's where the latest technology can make a significant difference. The right tools not only improve productivity on the jobsite, but also give contractors a clearer understanding of labor requirements, installation timelines and project costs. The more predictable the work, the more accurate the estimate. 

In conversations with contractors, we consistently hear that having purpose-built tools helps eliminate guesswork and increases confidence when bidding jobs. Let's look at a few examples of how technology is helping contractors estimate more accurately and work more efficiently. 

In the roofing space, the time required to demo a roof can vary greatly when working with mechanically seamed panels. Many contractors get creative when cutting this type of roofing off the roof deck. We have heard from many contractors that they use cut off wheels on a grinder or a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade. These may be effective, but they cost contractors in time, and the raw edges they leave on the roof panels can be dangerous for your crew. Tools such as Malco’s standing seam cutters (FSXC or FSXC2) cut roofing material and clips below the mechanical seams leaving a clean-cut edge. At a max speed of 56-feet/min (17 m/min), these tools bring efficiency and safety to the jobsite that also allow contractors to quote more confidently based on how long it will take them to remove damaged roofing materials.  

Once the damaged material has been removed, the focus shifts to installing and seaming the new panels. This is where productivity can vary dramatically depending on the tools being used. While hand seamers remain common throughout the industry, they can significantly slow down installation, especially on larger projects. The longer it takes to complete a roof, the more labor costs increase and the more difficult it becomes to accurately predict project timelines and profitability. Malco’s power assisted seamers are some of the fastest seaming tools in the industry at 98-feet/min (30 m/min), which helps crews complete jobs faster and estimate projects with greater confidence.   

Equally important, these tools weigh less than 15 pounds, minimizing operator fatigue and reducing the risk of repetitive-use injuries. The result is a safer, more productive crew that can maintain performance throughout the day — helping improve throughput, meet schedules and protect margins. 

So, the next time you have a specialty roofing job, consider the tools you will be using to prep and install the roof, because they may have a large impact on how long it takes your team to complete the job.