Apply to join
Methodology

How we measure & price every bid

Every bidRAIL bid starts from a measured, human-reviewed picture of the actual roof, not a guess. Here’s the exact process, and the standards we hold each step to.

By the bidRAIL team, Roofing & insurance-claim operationsUpdated June 2026Reviewed for accuracy
A real bidRAIL measurement packet: aerial imagery plus per-facet area, length, and pitch diagrams.
Aerial imagery of a measured roofRoof area diagram with per-facet square footageRoof edge, ridge, hip, and valley length diagramRoof pitch diagram by facet
  1. Step 1

    We measure the property, and a human checks it

    Every roof starts from current aerial imagery, measured facet by facet for area, pitch, and edge/ridge/hip/valley lengths. A reviewer then verifies the geometry against the imagery before it’s used. Measurement is the foundation of an accurate bid, so it doesn’t ship on automation alone.

  2. Step 2

    We lock the scope to the measurement

    Squares, waste, accessories, and pitch-driven labor are derived from the measured geometry, not padded estimates. The scope is fixed before anyone bids, so every contractor prices the same, defined job.

  3. Step 3

    We price from the contractor’s own rates

    Contractors set their pricing once. bidRAIL computes the bid from those rates against the locked scope using transparent, auditable line-item logic, so every bid is priced the same way against the same scope.

  4. Step 4

    We place a competitive bid in the contractor’s name

    When a job matches a contractor’s rates and service area, bidRAIL prepares a bid from their saved pricing, never outside what they set. The contractor approves every win before anything is binding.

  5. Step 5

    We produce a contract-ready comparison

    The result is a side-by-side comparison in a clean, reviewable format: measurement, scope, and price in one document, with the contractor’s license, insurance, and manufacturer certifications surfaced.

  6. Step 6

    We coordinate the job, and handle payment

    bidRAIL coordinates the work to completion and handles billing, capturing payment on most jobs. Contractors are paid for completed work, less a fulfillment fee. You see an average market price up front, before any bid comes in.

The standards behind every bid

  • Active state license verified
  • $1M/$2M general liability
  • Active workers’ comp
  • bidRAIL named additional insured
  • Manufacturer-certified contractors
  • Human-reviewed measurements

See the funnel end to end on how it works, or the contractor offering on For Contractors.

Bids built on a measured roof

This is how every bid you’d compare gets built. See one.

See a sample comparison