Draw a flat face representing the outer perimeter of your building walls. Ensure the face is grouped or kept separate from your main wall geometry to maintain a clean model organization. 2. Launch the Plugin
No tool is perfect. A known limitation is that the standard roof generator ignores holes in faces. If you are designing a building with a courtyard or an internal atrium, the plugin will struggle to generate a hole in the roof automatically. : Users typically either break the roof loop into separate sections (treating the courtyard as a separate building element) or manually edit the generated geometry to cut out the opening.
The Ultimate Guide to the Instant Roof Pro SketchUp Plugin Modeling roofs in SketchUp is notoriously time-consuming and often requires complex manual calculations to get pitches and overhangs right. The plugin (now frequently referred to as Instant Roof Nui in its latest iterations) is widely considered an essential tool for AEC professionals to automate this process. Developed by Chuck Vali of Vali Architects , this extension transforms hours of manual labor into seconds of automated generation. What is Instant Roof Pro?
Instant Roof Pro is available exclusively through the or Vali Architects’ website (not on the official Extension Warehouse as of 2025). Pricing is typically $39–$49 USD for a perpetual license. A free trial (limited to 15 days or with watermarks) is available.
The plugin is packed with automated tools that handle both standard residential roofing and highly customized architectural designs. Instant Roof Pro Sketchup Plugin
Click "Make Roof." The plugin creates the roof as a organized group, keeping your base model separated and clean.
: By streamlining the design process and reducing the time required for project completion, Instant Roof Pro indirectly contributes to cost savings, making it a valuable investment for professionals and businesses.
Group the walls separately so the roof geometry remains isolated. Step 2: Define Gable and Hip Edges (Optional)
is a high-performance SketchUp extension by Vali Architects designed to automate the creation of complex roof structures. It allows users to generate professional-grade roofs—complete with rafters, fascia, and materials—in seconds rather than hours. 🛠️ Key Capabilities Draw a flat face representing the outer perimeter
Always assign your generated roofs and framing to dedicated SketchUp Tags. This makes it easy to toggle the roof visibility on and off when working on interior floor plans.
needing accurate surface areas for material takeoffs. Key Features and Capabilities 1. Universal Roof Style Support
You can adjust the roof pitch, overhang distance, fascia thickness, and eaves with precision.
requiring highly detailed, realistic tiles and shingles for visualization. Launch the Plugin No tool is perfect
To justify the investment, users need to understand the specific toolset. Here is a breakdown of the core features that make this plugin an industry standard.
From flat outline to detailed roof structure in ? 🤯🙌
It requires a commercial license subscription from Vali Architects. Who is this Plugin For?