How to Read Your Satellite Roof Report PDF: A Step-by-Step Guide

You ordered your aerial roof measurement report and it's sitting in your inbox. Now what? If you're new to using satellite-based measurement reports — or if you've been ordering them for years but aren't fully utilizing every data point — this guide will walk you through each section of the PDF from top to bottom.

Understanding what each number means, and more importantly how to use it, is the difference between a contractor who guesses at material quantities and one who wins every bid with confidence.

Understanding the Cover Page

The cover page is your confirmation that the report is for the right property. Verify these details before going any further:

• Property address — confirm the street number, name, city, state, and ZIP match your job
• Order date — confirms when the report was generated; important for insurance claims with date-of-loss requirements
• Order ID — your unique reference number for this report; use this when contacting support
• Report type — Residential, Commercial, Multi-Family, etc.
• Property overview map — an aerial image of the property with the roof outline highlighted, so you can visually confirm the correct structure was measured

If the address or property image doesn't match your job, contact support immediately using your Order ID before using any of the measurements.

Total Roof Area Explained

The total roof area is the most important single number in the report. It represents the complete surface area of all roof planes combined — expressed in both square feet and roofing squares.

One roofing square equals 100 square feet of surface area. If your report shows a total area of 2,200 square feet, that equals 22 squares of roofing material (before waste factor is applied).

Use this number as your starting point for all material calculations. Multiply squares by your material cost per square to get your shingle estimate baseline.

Pitch & Slope Data

Pitch is expressed as a ratio of rise over run — how many inches the roof rises for every 12 horizontal inches. A 6/12 pitch rises 6 inches for every foot of horizontal distance.

Your report shows both a predominant pitch (the most common pitch across the whole roof) and individual pitch readings for each facet. This matters for two reasons:

• Material selection — some products (like low-slope membranes vs. standard shingles) are pitch-dependent
• Labor pricing — steeper pitches require additional safety equipment and slower installation, which most contractors price as a pitch surcharge

A common labor pricing ladder: 4/12 and under = standard rate; 5/12–8/12 = +10–15%; 9/12–12/12 = +20–30%; over 12/12 = quote separately.

Facet-by-Facet Breakdown

A facet is a single flat plane of the roof. A simple gable roof has two facets. A complex hip roof with dormers might have 12 or more. Your report lists every facet individually with its own area and pitch.

The facet breakdown is most useful when:

• You're doing a partial replacement — replace only the damaged section, not the whole roof
• You need to price by section — for phased projects or multi-building complexes
• You're calculating material waste by section — irregular shapes cut more waste than simple rectangles
• You want to cross-check the 3D diagram — label matching lets you verify each facet against the visual

Each facet is labeled (F1, F2, F3, etc.) and corresponds to the same label on the 3D diagram in the report, so you can visually locate any facet on the roof.

Linear Measurements: Ridges, Hips, Valleys, and Eaves

The linear measurement section is where many contractors unlock a significant amount of additional value from their reports. These measurements directly inform your accessory material quantities.

• Ridge length — the total length of all horizontal peak lines at the top of the roof. Use this to calculate ridge cap shingles. Most ridge cap products cover 35 linear feet per bundle — divide total ridge length by 35 to get bundles needed.
• Hip length — the total length of all angled peak lines where two sloped surfaces meet going downward. Ridge cap material is also used for hips, so add hip length to ridge length for your total ridge cap order.
• Valley length — the total length of all inward-meeting roof lines. Use this to calculate valley flashing material. Most valley flashing rolls are 10 feet wide and sold by the roll.
• Eave length — the total length of the lower horizontal edge of the roof. Use this to calculate starter course material, drip edge, and gutters.
• Rake length — the total length of sloped edge lines along gable ends. Also used for drip edge calculation.

Waste Factor — Why It Matters

The waste factor is the recommended percentage of additional materials you should order beyond the exact calculated area. It accounts for the material lost to cuts, overlaps, and unusable offcuts — which varies significantly based on roof complexity.

Satellite Reports calculates waste factor based on the actual geometry of your specific roof:

• Simple gable roof: typically 10–12% waste
• Moderate hip roof: typically 12–15% waste
• Complex roof with multiple dormers and valleys: 15–20%+ waste

To apply the waste factor: multiply your total area in squares by (1 + waste factor). For example, a 22-square roof with a 15% waste factor = 22 × 1.15 = 25.3 squares to order. Round up to the nearest bundle.

Never skip the waste factor. Under-ordering materials means a second delivery charge, project delays, and a potential mismatch in shingle dye lots — all of which cost you more than ordering right the first time.

Using Your Report for Bids

With a complete Satellite Reports PDF in hand, your bidding workflow becomes straightforward:

• Take the total area (with waste) as your shingle quantity
• Add ridge + hip lengths for ridge cap bundles
• Use valley length for flashing order
• Use eave + rake length for drip edge and starter strip
• Apply pitch surcharge to labor if pitch exceeds your standard threshold
• Add underlayment, nails, and accessory items based on your standard formulas

Many contractors feed these numbers directly into their estimating software (AccuLynx, JobNimbus, Xactimate, etc.) using the report as the data source rather than manually entered field measurements. The result is faster bids, fewer errors, and more consistent pricing across your team.

Order Your Report — From $25

Need help interpreting a specific section of your report? Contact our team at +1 833 334 3934 or contact@satellitereports.com. We're happy to walk through any report with you.