How to Enter Measurements Manually
When you’ve measured a property yourself, enter those numbers directly into a measurement template. The template’s inputs and calculations work the same as they would with an imported report, and the measurement feeds your estimate the same way.
When would I use this?
- You or your crew measured the property by hand
- A small repair doesn’t justify ordering a report
- The structure is unusual and an aerial report won’t capture it
- You have numbers from a source you’re entering yourself
What are my other options?
Manual entry is one of three ways to get measurements onto a project:
| Method | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Order Report | Order from your connected EagleView or GAF QuickMeasure account — imports directly and notifies you when ready |
| Upload a PDF | Drag and drop an outside provider’s report and Exterio scrapes the measurements |
| Enter manually | You measured it yourself |
Where do I start a manual measurement?
Two paths:
- Open the project’s Measurements tab and click New Measurement
- Or click Actions on the project and select Create Measurement
Then select Enter Measurements Manually.
What do I set up first?
- Measurement name (optional) — for your own records
- Measurement template — this determines which inputs and calculations you’ll get
Each service type has its own template with different inputs and calculations, configured in your settings, so the fields match the work you’re estimating.
Click Create Measurement.
How do I enter the measurements?
The inputs and calculations set on your measurement template appear by default.
- Enter the values you gathered for the structure.
- Add another section if you need to track a different pitch or a different number of existing layers separately.
- Enter any remaining measurements in the available fields.
- Set your waste factor.
Calculated values appear below, based on how you’ve configured them.
What do I do when I’m finished?
- Save the measurement and come back to it later
- Or Create an Estimate and build directly from what you entered
Can I edit a measurement after saving it?
Yes. Open the saved measurement and update the values. Useful when a field measurement turns out to be wrong, or conditions change before the estimate is built.
Tips and gotchas
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You don’t need a measurement to create an estimate. You can build an estimate without one — you just won’t get automatic calculations, since there are no measurements driving them. That’s fine for a quick quote or a flat-price repair. For anything where material quantities matter, enter the measurement first.
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Use sections for mixed structures. A house with a 4/12 main roof and a 10/12 addition isn’t one measurement — the pitch can change labor and material. Separate sections keep the numbers honest instead of averaging away a steep section your crew will feel on install day.
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Track existing layers accurately. A tear-off of two layers costs more than one in labor and disposal. If part of the roof has more layers than the rest, that’s a section of its own.
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Check your calculated values before moving on. They’re the output of your template’s formulas running on what you just typed. If something looks off, the input is usually wrong — catch it here rather than in the estimate.
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Name the measurement when there will be more than one. A project with a main house and a detached garage gets confusing fast. “Main house — roof” takes three seconds.
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Set the waste factor for this roof, not by habit. A cut-up roof with multiple valleys wastes more than a simple gable. The field is per measurement for a reason.
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Order a report to save time. Manual entry is OK for a simple repair. On a full re-roof, a report is more accurate and usually cheaper than the mistake. See How to Order EagleView Measurement Reports.
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If you’re entering the same custom field every time, fix the template. Measurement template inputs and calculations are configurable in your estimate settings. Repeated manual workarounds are a signal the template is missing something.