Where Are All of the Commercial Roofing Estimators?
Written By: Andrew Henke,
Sr. Managing Partner at BRIX Recruiting Partners
If you’re a roofing company owner or hiring manager and you’ve found yourself saying, “We just can’t find a good commercial estimator,” you’re not alone. I hear this almost weekly from our clients, and it’s not just about finding any estimator. They’re looking for that rare individual who knows the industry, understands platforms like The EDGE, can handle the stress of bid deadlines and complexity, and still has runway left in their career.
In other words, they want someone who’s both sharp and seasoned, but not on the tail end of their career.
So why is this such a tough seat to fill? Let’s unpack it.
The Estimator Void: It’s Bigger Than You Think
There’s a fundamental gap in the commercial roofing industry right now: the role of estimator isn’t well-defined in terms of a career path, and there’s no formal pipeline producing the next generation of talent.
Most estimators don’t go to school to become estimators. They fall into the role after working in the field, managing jobs, or assisting with takeoffs. There’s no certification program widely recognized across the industry, and no trade school path that feeds directly into it. That means every estimator out there is the result of on-the-job training and company-specific mentorship, and that mentorship is disappearing as experienced pros retire.
We’re not facing a shortage just because of a hot job market. We’re facing a shortage because we never built a scalable system to create roofing estimators.
What Makes Commercial Roofing Estimating So Unique?
It’s a niche inside a niche.
A commercial roofing estimator has to:
Understand different roofing systems (TPO, EPDM, built-up, metal, coatings) Accurately interpret blueprints, spec books, and architectural drawings
Know the local building codes and permitting processes
Be proficient in takeoff and bidding software (like The EDGE, STACK, On-Screen Takeoff)
Understand real-world labor production rates and material logistics
Manage high-pressure deadlines and pricing volatility
It’s not just technical skill. It’s also judgment, experience, and precision. A great estimator can be the difference between a profitable year and a painful one.
Yet we expect these professionals to appear fully formed.
The Natural Pathway to Estimating and Why It’s Broken
Traditionally, estimators were grown from within. Someone starts as a laborer, moves to foreman, then project manager or superintendent, and eventually gets pulled into estimating. Others come from the office side, maybe they started as an assistant PM or takeoff tech.
But here’s where the system breaks down:
There’s no clear roadmap
The technology is evolving
And the skills don’t always transfer automatically
Just because someone can run a jobsite doesn’t mean they’re wired to sit at a desk crunching numbers. And just because someone is great with software doesn’t mean they understand the field-level nuance that drives an accurate bid.
To make it worse, many younger professionals entering the industry today want clarity, development, and direction.
Without a structured plan that shows how someone can become an estimator, and what success looks like, they’ll opt for roles that feel more straightforward.
Why Software Knowledge Like The EDGE Is Rare
The EDGE is a powerful estimating tool, especially in commercial roofing, but it’s not something most people learn unless their company trains them. And training takes time, money, and mentorship. That creates a chicken and egg problem:
Companies want people already trained in The EDGE
But no one trains on The EDGE unless they’re already in the job
So the pool of candidates with experience using The EDGE is mostly limited to people who’ve already worked in estimating roles at companies that invested in the platform. That’s a very small group.
And when those people get comfortable? They don’t move easily.
Burnout and Retention: The Hidden Risk
Even when companies do find a great estimator, they often overload them. One person might be managing all takeoffs, bids, RFIs, and preconstruction scopes for multiple divisions or territories. With shrinking bid windows and rising pressure to “win work,” that’s a recipe for burnout.
We’ve seen too many talented estimators leave companies, or the industry entirely, not because they weren’t paid well, but because they were constantly in a pressure cooker with no support.
So not only do we have a shrinking pool of talent, we’re burning out the people already in it.
What Can Be Done?
If you’re a commercial roofing company looking to solve this problem long-term, here’s what we recommend:
Build a Bench
Identify your sharpest field employees or assistant PMs and give them exposure to estimating
Pair them with your senior estimator before that person retires
Invest in Software Training
Whether it’s The EDGE, STACK, or another platform, allocate time and budget to train rising employees
Don’t wait for someone with 10 years of EDGE experience to knock on your door, grow one instead
Create a Career Path
Document what a progression from field to estimating looks like in your company Make it part of your onboarding and development conversations with every new hire
Be Realistic About Requirements
A great estimator with the right mindset and field knowledge can learn your software
Be flexible where you can, and focus on coachability and critical thinking
Partner With a Recruiting Firm That Gets It
At BRIX, we don’t just post job ads and hope. We actively recruit experienced estimators and emerging talent who are open to a new opportunity
We speak roofing fluently and know how to identify candidates who won’t just fill the seat, but who have long-term potential
In many cases, we’re identifying strong project managers who not only understand roofing systems and client expectations, but also show the analytical and process-driven mindset needed to succeed in an estimating role If you’re open to developing the right person instead of waiting on the perfect resume, we can help you target and bring in PMs who are ready for that next step in their career
Final Thought
We need to stop treating estimators like unicorns and start treating them like the critical, buildable assets they are. There’s incredible potential to take someone with the right mix of experience, curiosity, and detail orientation and help them grow into an elite estimator, but it takes time, structure, and intentionality.
If you’re struggling to find that person today, don’t wait for the perfect resume to show up. Let’s talk about what’s possible and how BRIX can help you build or hire the talent your business needs for the long haul.
