Said to “take the bother out of quoting for new roof, external wall insultation and doors & windows jobs” by creating accurate, interactive 3D models, the HOVER app has launched in the UK in partnership with NMBS.
Already widely used in the USA, HOVER is now being made available through NMBS builders’ and roofing merchants free of charge. It means roofing, cladding and external wall insulation contractors, door and window companies, and general builders can develop detailed, accurate estimates for jobs using smartphone photographs from site surveys.
Furthermore, the app calculates detailed measurements for any property exterior without the need to leave the ground.
The technology can also be used show homeowners what different materials and colours will look like on their house, using photos of any home to build a scaled, interactive 3D model with precise exterior measurements. The aim is to support professional tradespeople in selling home repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) services.
When visiting a property to quote a job, contractors can use HOVER to get accurate, itemised estimates for materials for customers, based on reliable data. Its 3D model also helps visualise various material types and colours on their home.
Adrian Shelley of NMBS member merchant Henshaws Roofing and Building Supplies has been piloting HOVER. He said: “I used to be a roofing contracts manager, so when I heard there was a solution available that helps with estimating and take-offs for roofing materials, I was intrigued. I tested it on my own house and was very impressed by the accuracy and professionalism of the data that came back. It’s now being offered to all our customers.
“At Henshaws, we have been supplying roofing and heavyside building materials to contractors in Greater Manchester for almost 40 years. We are constantly asked by smaller contractors to help them with take-off, help with drawings and going onto site to help with site measurements. An estimating job that would normally take three hours on site is now done in about 20 minutes, and the HOVER app provides us with incredibly accurate measurements.
“There has been very little new technology in our sector over recent years, but HOVER is a game changer. It’s a time saving product and it also helps with health and safety, as there’s no need to climb all over a roof with ladders to get the information you need.
“Offering HOVER to our customers helps to set us apart from our competitors and helps our contractors quoting for re-roofing projects to digitise what was previously a time consuming, risky and laborious process. This is a very helpful added value service, made possible by NMBS, that we can offer our customers.”
Contractors wishing to access HOVER in the UK should request it from their local NMBS independent builders’ merchant. Dean Hayward, Head of Sales & Marketing at NMBS, explained: “When we first saw HOVER in action, we instantly saw the benefits it could bring to our merchant members and their customers. It is just one of the digital innovations we are keen to introduce to the market. Throughout the rest of this year and into 2023 we will be expanding the services we offer digitally, in a bid to improve member and supplier experience even further, while reducing our carbon footprint.”
