Instant Roof NUI (often referred to as Instant Roof Pro) is a powerful, paid SketchUp extension developed by Vali Architects designed to automate the creation of complex, detailed roof structures. It is a highly regarded tool for architects, designers, and builders who need to generate realistic roofs quickly. Key Features & Capabilities
Wide Variety of Styles: Creates hips, gables, sheds, dormers, mansard, Dutch gables, and split-pitch roofs.
Detailed Modeling: Generates 3D roof framing members, rafters, beams, and decorative end profiles.
Eave & Ridge Details: Supports boxed-in, exposed, and soffited eaves, as well as 3D ridge tiles and shingles.
Material Application: Applies realistic textures for tiles, standing seams, and shingles, with the ability to adjust alignment on eaves and beams.
Customization: Includes 14 preset profiles and allows users to create their own custom style libraries.
Compatibility: Works on both Mac and Windows, and supports current SketchUp versions (up to 2026).
How It WorksThe plugin works by selecting a face (the roof outline) and choosing the desired roof style.
Select a face: Produces a default hipped roof sloping in all directions.
Select edges: Users can select specific edges to create gables, sheds, or to customize eaves. Instant Roof Pro Sketchup Plugin
Run Plugin: The tool runs from the plugins menu, applying the chosen parameters. Pricing & Licensing
Subscription: Instant Roof NUI operates on a yearly subscription basis.
Cost: Approximately $39 per year, or available as part of the "Instant Architecture" bundle, which includes other tools like Instant Wall and Instant Fence. Key Takeaways
Efficiency: It significantly reduces modeling time, turning complex roofs into a few-second operation.
Internet Dependency: Note that an internet connection is required to use this script.
Learning Curve: While easy to use, the tool offers comprehensive instructional PDFs and videos on the Vali Architects website to help with advanced features. INSTANT ROOFS IN SKETCHUP with Instant Roof NUI
Instant Roof Pro (often updated as Instant Roof NUI) is a specialized SketchUp extension by Chuck Vali of Vali Architects designed to automate the complex process of modeling roofs. It allows professionals like architects and urban designers to generate detailed, realistic roof structures in seconds rather than hours. Key Features & Capabilities
Rapid Generation: Create complex roofs—including hip, gable, shed, Dutch-gable, mansard, and gambrel styles—by simply selecting a face or specific edges.
Structural Detailing: Automatically generates framing elements such as rafters, hips, beams, and decorative trusses. Instant Roof NUI (often referred to as Instant
Customization: Adjust every parameter, including slope (pitch), overhang, fascia, and eave types (boxed-in, exposed, or soffited).
3D Materials: Add realistic 3D details like mission tiles, shingles, and standing seam metal instead of flat textures.
Advanced Tools: Includes a "CAD Fixer" to repair messy imported geometry and a "Takeoff Log" to track material quantities. Practical Comparison Manual Modeling Instant Roof Pro Speed Time-consuming Automated and fast Accuracy User-dependent Parametric precision Adjustments Manual edits required Editable parameters How to Use Instant Roof Pro
Prepare Model: Ensure wall top edges are clean and continuous.
Select Edges/Faces: Highlight the top face for a hip roof, or specific edges to define where gables or sheds should appear.
Run Extension: Access via the Extensions menu, choose a preset style, and click "Make Roof".
Refine: Use the Parameters button to tweak slopes or materials after generation. Pricing and Availability INSTANT ROOFS IN SKETCHUP with Instant Roof NUI
| Feature | Instant Roof Pro | SketchUp Native | Other Plugins (e.g., Medeek) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Ease of use | One-click generation | Manual plane-by-plane | Wizard-driven (more steps) | | Dormers | Included, drag-and-drop | Not possible natively | Often separate plugin | | Parametric edits | Yes, post-generation | No | Varies; some require redoing | | Structural framing | No (focuses on finish roof) | No | Yes (Medeek adds rafters) | | Learning curve | 5 minutes | Days of practice | 1-2 hours |
Note: For users needing full rafter/truss engineering, Medeek Roof is more advanced. Instant Roof Pro excels at speed and architectural visualization. How It Compares to Other Roof Plugins |
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.
Surprisingly, many woodworkers use SketchUp for shed plans. A shed with a skillion (lean-to) roof is easy, but a shed with a gambrel roof (barn style) is harder. Instant Roof Pro handles gambrel profiles via the "Roof Profile Editor."
Instant Roof Pro automates generation of complex roof geometry from building footprints and walls inside SketchUp. It quickly creates hip, gable, shed, mansard, gambrel, and other roof forms, including dormers, fascia, soffits, eaves, ridges, valleys, and roof overhangs, while producing tidy, editable geometry compatible with SketchUp’s native modeling tools.
Let’s simulate a real-world application. You have drawn a two-story house with a complex garage bump-out.
Phase 1: Preparation
Ensure your walls are a single group or component. Clean up extraneous lines. The plugin reads topology; stray lines will confuse the edge-detection algorithm. Use the CleanUp plugin first if necessary.
Phase 2: Selecting the Pitch Open the Instant Roof Pro dialog. Set pitch to 8:12 (moderate steepness). Set overhang to 18 inches. Choose "Asphalt Shingles" from the texture library.
Phase 3: Generation Select the top edges of your wall group. Click the "Create Roof" button. Watch the magic happen: The plugin calculates the primary roof over the main rectangle, then automatically calculates the second roof over the garage, intersecting them into a clean valley.
Phase 4: Gable Conversion Select the side edge of the garage. In the tool panel, hit "Toggle Gable." The plugin automatically removes the hip and raises the wall to form a vertical gable triangle.
Phase 5: Final Detailing Use the "Add Fascia" tool. The plugin generates a 2x6 board running along the entire perimeter of the roof edge, perfectly mitered at the corners.
Cutting a hole in a roof for a dormer is painful. This plugin includes a "Dormer Cutter" tool. You draw a box where the dormer goes, and the plugin trims the main roof, adds the dormer roof, and welds the textures seamlessly.