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
The Instant Roof Pro (now largely succeeded by Instant Roof NUI) by Valley Architects is widely considered an essential tool for architects and designers who need to bypass the tedious manual geometry of complex roofing in SketchUp. It is a high-speed automation script that transforms flat faces into detailed, professional-grade roof systems in seconds. Top Takeaways
Insane Efficiency: What usually takes 30–60 minutes of manual "Follow Me" tool work and intersection cleanup can be done in under a minute.
Comprehensive Presets: Includes a vast library of styles, from simple gables and hips to Dutch gables, mansards, and even complex mission tiles.
Real Detail: Unlike simple textures, it creates actual geometry for rafters, beams, hips, gutters, and even decorative trusses.
Price Point: Currently available for $39/year individually, or as part of the full Instant Architecture suite for $118/year. The Good & The Bad Pros Cons
Instant Geometry: Generates gables, sheds, or hips just by selecting edges and clicking "Make Roof".
Subscription Model: Some users dislike the shift from a one-time purchase to a yearly fee.
Highly Adjustable: Every parameter—slope, eave depth, rafter profile—is customizable.
Performance Heavy: High-detail tile geometry can slow down older machines if overused.
CAD Integration: Includes a "CAD Fixer" tool to clean up messy imported geometry before building the roof.
Learning Curve: The sheer number of options in the NUI interface can be overwhelming for beginners. Key Features for Power Users 10 SketchUp Extensions Every Architect Should Know
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.
Automatic Framing: Generates rafters, hips, beams, and decorative trusses with customizable end profiles. Instant Roof Pro Plugin Sketchup
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
One standout feature of the Instant Roof Pro plugin (by Valley Architects) is its one-click complex roof generation from faces.
Instead of manually drawing slopes and intersections, you simply select a face in SketchUp and the plugin automatically calculates and generates a complete roof structure—including hips, gables, sheds, and gambrels—tailored to the footprint's shape. Top Features of Instant Roof Pro:
Massive Library of Presets: You can choose from dozens of predefined styles like Dutch Gable, Mansard, or Plantation.
Automatic Framing: It doesn't just make the "skin"; it can generate the underlying rafters, beams, and eaves automatically.
Highly Customizable: You can adjust the slope (pitch), overhang distance, fascia height, and rafter spacing for every individual edge of the roof.
Detailed Materials: It can automatically apply realistic roof materials, including 3D roof tiles, shingles, and metal panels. INSTANT ROOFS IN SKETCHUP with Instant Roof NUI
Date: March 23, 2026
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 Instant Roof Pro (now often referred to as
The plugin offers extensive customization options far beyond standard SketchUp tools:
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
Architects and 3D designers often struggle with the tedious process of modeling complex roof structures. The Instant Roof Pro plugin for SketchUp, developed by Chuck Vali of Vali Architects, is a game-changing extension designed to automate this workflow. Whether you are building a simple gable or a multi-faceted Mansard roof, this tool provides a professional-grade solution that saves hours of manual labor. What is Instant Roof Pro?
Instant Roof Pro is a robust SketchUp extension that generates detailed roofs from faces or edges. Unlike the basic "Follow Me" tool, this plugin understands architectural logic. It calculates slopes, creates hips, valleys, gables, and even adds realistic details like shingles, tiles, and rafters. It is part of the broader "Instant Architecture" suite, known for its high efficiency and user-friendly interface. Key Features and Capabilities
Diverse Roof Styles: Instantly create Dutch gables, Mansard, saltbox, gambrel, and butterfly roofs.
Detailed Framing: The plugin doesn't just create the outer shell; it can generate realistic rafters, beams, and purlins for structural visualization.
One-Click Materials: Apply realistic textures including corrugated metal, mission tile, slate, and architectural shingles with correct mapping.
Complex Intersections: It automatically handles the tricky geometry where two different roof slopes or shapes meet.
Custom Profiles: Users can choose from a library of predefined trim, fascia, and soffit profiles or create their own. How to Use Instant Roof Pro
Using the plugin follows a straightforward, logical progression that fits naturally into a standard SketchUp workflow.
Select Your Base: Draw the footprint of your building. Select the top face or the bounding edges where the roof should sit. One Project ROI: If you do one custom
Choose a Style: Open the Instant Roof Pro menu and browse the extensive library of presets. Each preset comes with specific parameters for pitch and overhang.
Adjust Parameters: Customize the eave heights, slope angles (pitch), and rafter tails to match your specific project requirements.
Execute: Click "Make Roof." The plugin generates the geometry as a separate group, keeping your model organized and easy to edit. Why Professionals Choose It
The primary advantage of Instant Roof Pro is speed. Manually drawing a complex roof with intersecting valleys and correct fascia depths can take an experienced modeler thirty minutes to an hour. With this plugin, the same task is completed in seconds.
Furthermore, the level of accuracy is significantly higher. The plugin uses mathematical algorithms to ensure slopes remain consistent, which is vital for construction documents and client presentations. It also allows for rapid iteration; if a client wants to see a 6:12 pitch instead of an 8:12, you can swap it out instantly without rebuilding the entire model. Compatibility and Requirements
Instant Roof Pro is compatible with most modern versions of SketchUp, including both Pro and Subscription versions on Windows and Mac. It is lightweight and does not require high-end hardware beyond what is already needed to run SketchUp smoothly. Conclusion
For any professional using SketchUp for residential or commercial architecture, the Instant Roof Pro plugin is a high-value investment. It bridges the gap between conceptual sketching and detailed architectural modeling, allowing designers to focus on creativity rather than geometric troubleshooting. By automating one of the most difficult parts of a building's envelope, it remains an essential tool in the modern designer's toolkit.
The Instant Roof Nui (Pro) plugin by Vali Architects is a powerful extension for SketchUp designed to automate the creation of complex roof structures. It transforms standard faces or follow-me paths into detailed, professional-grade roofs in seconds. Key Features of Instant Roof Pro
Automated Geometry: Quickly generates hips, gables, sheds, mansards, and Dutch gables from simple flat faces.
Extensive Style Library: Includes a wide variety of preset styles (e.g., California Ranch, Craftsman, French Tile, Slate) which can be customized and saved.
Detailed Framing: The "Pro" version creates not just the surface, but also the structural components like rafters, trusses, purlins, and fascia boards.
Support for Complex Shapes: It handles non-orthogonal shapes and varying pitches across different sections of the same roof.
Real-time Interaction: Features a "Nui" (New User Interface) that allows for dynamic previews and parameter adjustments without leaving the SketchUp workspace. Why It’s Popular Among Architects
Time Efficiency: Modeling a complex roof with proper eaves and shingles manually can take hours; this plugin reduces it to a few clicks.
Accuracy: It ensures that roof pitches and intersection lines are mathematically correct, which is vital for construction documents.
Customization: Users can define specific materials for shingles, metal standing seams, or clay tiles, which helps in creating high-quality architectural renders. Availability
The plugin is part of the Instant Scripts suite. While a free "Lite" version exists with basic functionality, the Pro version requires a subscription but offers the full range of framing and style tools.
To understand the value, let's look at the typical manual workflow vs. the Instant Roof Pro workflow.
Your roof is generated as a dynamic component. This is the killer feature.
In the digital atelier of SketchUp, where vertices are ghosts and edges are the whispers of imagined walls, there comes a moment of profound reckoning. You have drawn the box. You have extruded the volume. You have created a vessel. But a vessel without a lid is just a well. A house without a roof is a ruin waiting to happen.
This is where the architect abandons poetry and descends into trigonometry. This is where the hobbyist stares at the screen and feels the weight of the ridge line. This is where Instant Roof Pro ceases to be a plugin and becomes a kind of digital priesthood.
For structural engineers, use Instant Roof Pro for the envelope, then export the roof plane boundaries to Medeek Truss for actual lumber engineering.
