Your roof is generated as a dynamic component. This is the killer feature.
Yes. If you design more than two buildings per month in SketchUp, the Instant Roof Pro Plugin for SketchUp pays for itself in time savings alone by the second use.
It bridges the gap between artistic modeling (what SketchUp does naturally) and parametric precision (what Revit does). You get the flexibility to move walls and the intelligence to auto-heal the roof.
For $35, you effectively buy back hours of your life previously wasted manually rotating hip rafters and stitching intersecting gables.
Final Rating: 9.5/10
Call to Action: Ready to stop wasting time on roofs? Download the Instant Roof Pro Plugin for SketchUp today via the SketchUcation store. Your future self—and your deadlines—will thank you.
Instant Roof Pro (now often referred to as Instant Roof NUI ) is a specialized extension for SketchUp developed by Vali Architects
(Chuck Vali). It is designed to automate the modeling of complex roof structures, reducing hours of manual geometry work to a few seconds. SketchUp Africa Key Features Versatile Roof Styles
: Automatically generates hip, gable, shed, Dutch gable, mansard, gambrel, plantation, and trellis roofs. Detailed Customization
: Users can adjust parameters for eaves (boxed, exposed, or soffited), fascia, rafters, bird blocks, and gutters. Materials & 3D Detailing
: The plugin can apply materials and even create 3D roof details like mission tiles, shingles, and standing seam metal. Framing & Quantities
: It can generate full framing (rafters, hips, beams) and includes a "takeoff" tool to log quantities for cost estimation.
: Includes a tool to repair input errors from imported CAD data to ensure smooth roof generation. Pricing and Requirements Instant Roof Tiles
Instant Roof Pro (also known as Instant Roof NUI) is a specialized extension for SketchUp developed by Chuck Vali of Vali Architects. It is designed to automate the complex process of creating detailed architectural roofs, allowing users to generate everything from simple sheds to intricate, multi-level structures in seconds. Key Features & Capabilities
The plugin offers extensive customization options far beyond standard SketchUp tools: Instant Roof Pro Plugin Sketchup
Automatic Generation: Select a face or a set of edges and click a button to generate a roof automatically.
Diverse Roof Styles: Supports various types including Hip, Gable, Shed, Dutch Gable, Mansard, Gambrel, Plantation, and Open-Trellis.
Detailed Components: Automatically adds structural and aesthetic details such as rafters, hips, fascia, soffits, bird blocks, corbels, and gutters.
Advanced Roofing Materials: Includes options for 3D shingles, mission tiles, roman tiles, standing seams, and corrugated metal.
Style Management: Users can choose from many built-in presets or save their own custom "Roof Styles" to reuse across different projects.
Takeoff Functions: A built-in takeoff tool allows users to track quantities and log details for the last 20 roofs created. How to Use Instant Roof Pro
The plugin integrates directly into the Extensions menu in SketchUp.
Select Geometry: Highlight the face or the specific edges of your building model where the roof will be placed.
Tip: Selecting a single edge often defines a Gable, while selecting three edges can create a Shed roof.
Activate Plugin: Navigate to Extensions > Instant Roof > Make Roof.
Configure Parameters: Use the dialogue box to adjust the slope (pitch), overhang, eaves, and material settings. Generate: Click "Create Roof" to produce the geometry. Pricing & Compatibility Instant Roof | SketchUp Extension Warehouse
Once upon a time in the digital drafting rooms of a busy architecture firm, there was an architect named was a master of SketchUp, but he had a recurring nightmare:
complex hip roofs with multiple gables and intricate overhangs
Every time a client wanted a "simple" French Provincial estate, Your roof is generated as a dynamic component
knew he’d spend hours manually calculating pitches, drawing rafters, and cleaning up stray geometry using the standard Move and Autofold tools
. He often joked that he was more of a roofer than an architect.
One rainy Tuesday, with a deadline looming for a sprawling ranch-style project,
decided it was time for a change. He had heard whispers of a legendary tool from Valley Architects Instant Roof Pro The Transformation Elias downloaded the Instant Roof Pro extension and loaded the file through the Extension Manager
. He opened his model—a complex, L-shaped footprint that would usually take him half a day to roof. With a deep breath, he: Selected the top faces of his walls. Opened the Instant Roof UI
, which looked like a treasure chest of architectural styles. Chose the "Craftsman" style and clicked the magic button:
In a blink—faster than he could take a sip of his coffee—the plugin did the impossible. It didn't just draw a flat plane; it generated a fully detailed roof with eaves, hips, valleys, and even realistic shingles The Aftermath
Elias sat back in awe. What used to be a grueling process of drawing construction lines measuring 6:12 slopes was now a three-click victory. He spent the rest of his afternoon actually
instead of fighting geometry. When the client asked for a steeper pitch at the last minute, Elias didn't panic. He just adjusted a setting in the plugin and watched the roof remodel itself instantly.
From that day on, Elias was known as the "Roofing Wizard" of the office. While others were still struggling with the Sandbox tools protractor calculations
, Elias was already on his second cup of coffee, his models topped with perfect, professional roofs every single time. or see a list of the different roof styles it can create? INSTANT ROOFS IN SKETCHUP with Instant Roof NUI
Instant Roof Pro (now often updated as Instant Roof Nui) is a powerful SketchUp extension developed by Chuck Vali of Vali Architects . It automates the complex process of creating detailed, professional-grade roofs, saving hours of manual modeling. Key Features & Capabilities
The plugin provides a comprehensive suite for architectural roofing, allowing users to generate both the exterior "skin" and the underlying structural framing.
Diverse Roof Types: Quickly create Gables, Hips, Sheds, Mansards, Dutch Gables, and Split-Pitch roofs. Call to Action: Ready to stop wasting time on roofs
Automatic Framing: Generates rafters, hips, beams, and decorative trusses with customizable end profiles.
Detailed Elements: Includes presets for gutters, cornice moldings, bird blocks, and Greek or Queen returns at gables.
High Customization: Adjust parameters such as slope, overhang, fascia style, and materials (e.g., mission tile, shingles, or standing seam).
CAD Fixer: Features a specialized tool to fix problematic geometry imported from other CAD programs, making it usable for roof generation. How to Use Instant Roof Pro The extension follows a simple, selection-based workflow:
Select Geometry: Use the Select tool to highlight the face or edges where the roof should be applied.
Tip: Selecting just a face typically produces a hip roof; selecting specific edges allows you to define where gables or sheds are placed.
Open Extension: Go to Extensions > Instant Roof > Make Roof.
Choose Style: Select from a library of preset styles or load your own custom user library.
Adjust Parameters: Refine the slope, materials, and framing details in the input menu.
Generate: Click to create the roof instantly. You can then use standard SketchUp tools for final refinements. Pricing & Subscriptions
Instant Roof Pro is a premium tool and generally requires a paid license for full professional functionality.
Annual Subscription: Approximately $39 USD per year for the standalone plugin.
Instant Architecture Bundle: Available for roughly $118 USD per year, which includes other Vali Architects scripts like Instant Wall and Instant Fence.
Free Version: A limited free version may be available, though it lacks the advanced professional slope selections and framing options of the Pro/Nui versions. Manual vs. Automated Modeling Manual Modeling Instant Roof Pro Speed Time-consuming Automated and fast (seconds) Accuracy User-dependent Parametric precision Framing Requires manual extrusion One-click generation Changes Hard to modify once built Easily adjustable parameters Extension Inspection - Instant Roof - SketchUp Blog
Need to model an addition? You can generate the main roof, then generate an addition roof. The plugin includes "Join Roofs" tools that automatically cut the valley intersection between two separate roof components without boolean artifacts.
Use these criteria to analyze the plugin objectively.