RGA Estimator help

Common Questions, Tips & Tricks

Estimating Non-Standard Brackets

For Roof Straps, Wedges, or other non-standard installs, draw the associated gutter line, select it (using the "select" tool), and then select the "$" icon from the select menu. This enables you to modify the pricing for that one run of gutter to account for a non-standard install.

Use the text option from the bottom control bar to further highlight how this run of gutter will be installed.  Without a note, installers will have no indication that the gutter run requires a speciality install. 

Zooming in and Out


"Zoom" level is determined by the scale of the canvas. You can see this measurement in the "scale across" button at the top left of the screen.

The number in between the - and + signs displays the visible length of the top ruler above the canvas.

A larger measurement means you have a larger canvas (zoomed out), while a smaller measurement indicates you are zoomed in and drawing in a smaller area.

Modifying Descriptive Text


Any areas highlighted in green from the estimate preview page (accessed by selecting "complete" from the canvas) can be changed as required. 

Use this to indicate colors, special instructions, or non-standard work to prospects.

Use this same functionality to add one-off charges from the line item report.


Moving Around the Canvas


The "select" icon has several purposes in the estimator - you can select objects to bring up their associated control bar to modify their length, duplicate them, rotate their dimensions, or other controls specific to various objects.

The select tool also allows you to "grip" the canvas to pan or scroll to different areas.

You can also hold the select tool down to re-center the canvas to your gutter map. This is helpful in case you get lost in the canvas.

Freehand Drawing Mode

Tap the straight line icon in the bottom control bar to cycle between straight line and freehand mode.

This is ideal for drawing bushes, quick shapes, and more. Freehand drawing mode also has a unique brush to further differentiate these lines from other, scaled lines on the drawing.

A future will update will allow you to change the color of these lines by holding the line icon down. I am considering adding other brush types, but this is not a priority.

Selecting Objects


Select the cursor icon and tap on objects to select them.

You can move objects by selecting and then dragging them into new positions.

Selected objects (gutters, lines, etc) will bring up various controls - the best way to learn these is to experiment.

For example, you can change the distance of lines and gutters by grabbing the blue boxes on either end and dragging them in different directions.

Developer Journal

Want to learn more about the estimator? Read the dev journal by RGA Director Noah Lantz.

RGA Estimator Design Philosophy

The front end design of the RGA Estimator has two principles guiding it.

1. Pool UI - the user interface of the RGA Estimator is shallow, but deep once you step into it - like the inviting shallow end of a swimming pool. 

This design tenant makes the UI approachable and intuitive, while rewarding continued exploration and self discovery.

2. Momentum - from both a design and user perspective, I am looking for ways to reduce the number of screens and menus a user needs to navigate to take full advantage of the tool. 

V1 of the estimator required users to navigate 3 menus to complete the estimate workflow. I am currently at 2 screens. I would like the experience to flow from 1. 

This is both to reduce cognitive load on the user and further create a distinct, animated experience.

Future updates will build on this with dynamic shapes, takeoffs, and animated visuals.

Momentum, for me, means that the app itself drives you through to the end state.

Takeoffs and Cut Sheets

I'd like to incorporate a basic takeoff into the system, including brackets, endcaps, miters, elbows, and extensions.

There does need to be a careful balance between ease-of-use and useful information - an exact takeoff requires user input and extra steps when drawing the gutter map. I'm hesitant to work these into the system until I am completely satisfied with the current drawing and proposal experience.

"Cut Sheets" - a list of gutter runs that need to be cut for the job - are much simpler. Ideally, I'd like to create a cut sheet that has both lengths from the drawing and an empty space installers can input the actual cut length - the idea being they would print this document off and bring it with them to the job.

This will probably involve a reimagining of the "save gutter map" feature, which was intended as a document to hand off to installers. From what I can gather, this feature is currently not being used as intended - I either need to remove it, make it more useful, or potentially bundle it in with the estimate workflow.

I'm leaning towards the latter. This will further clean up the canvas UI.

Estimate Preview - intended purpose 

The estimate preview allows users to customize their estimate - they can create a document with signatures, customize how pricing is shown, and add notes.

In the future, I'd like the user to be able to quickly scroll through different formats for the estimate.

This will be more intuitive for users, and will quickly convey how powerful this feature set can be.

Additional Drawing Functionality

There is an opportunity to further differentiate the estimator from competition by adding drawing styles, AI assisted estimate creation, and photos/images. 

Some of this work was completed in a previous project I abandoned in December 2025. 

Paid Version

I've had several companies reach out regarding a paid version of the RGA Estimator.

This will require building out a backend, seat management, admin controls, and an entire list of other features for the estimator to have the desired functionality a paid product should have.

And although we don't associate the gutter industry with creatives, the act of designing one is inherently creative. This in mind, I would like a paid system to lean into this idea and become a uniquely social experience within companies - where users showcase their work, progress, and more.

Creating all this is an expensive endeavor - the RGA Estimator is vibe coded, which means I need to pay for AI software to built these features out. 

Sensitive areas (ie the backend) will require the RGA to subscribe to a third-party service to ensure that confidential information remains secured - both in storage and in-transit. 

My estimated timeline to complete a project like this is roughly two months - as such, I'm waiting for several companies to sign on to the project before commencing that work.

If you are interested in discussing this or teaming up with other gutter companies to fund development by pre-paying for subscriptions, please reach out to me at noah@raingutterassocation.org
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