Introducing Rufus, the Automated Roofing Robot from Renovate Robotics

Robot capable of automated asphalt shingle installation with additional tasks planned for future versions

Andy Stulc, founder and CEO of Renovate Robotics, works on the prototype of the Rufus roofing robot. Photos courtesy of Renovate Robotics.

Renovate Robotics, a leader in roofing automation, has introduced Rufus, the world’s first automated roofing robot. The announcement showcases a never-before-seen video of Renovate’s first Rufus prototype.

Rufus is an automated roofing robot designed to double productivity for asphalt shingle installation and improve safety for roofing contractors. Roofing had the second highest fatality rate of all occupations in the United States in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and roofing contractors consistently struggle to recruit skilled labor. By doubling productivity, Renovate is empowering contractors to increase their revenue without scaling beyond their existing roofing crews.

Renovate believes automation is the future of the roofing industry, and is focused on building the biggest roofing technology organization in the world.

“We're already making improvements to Rufus, and will bring a lighter, faster, and more reliable version to market in the spring of 2024. This next version will be used on real job sites, helping roofing crews work safer and more productively,” said Andy Stulc, founder and CEO of Renovate Robotics.

Renovate will first pilot the technology as a subcontractor, working with select roofing contractors to complete residential reroof projects in the spring of 2024. The company is also exploring opportunities to bring the technology to the new construction and manufactured home industries.

Rufus is designed to be modular — while Renovate is starting with automated asphalt shingle installation, Rufus is capable of performing additional tasks. Renovate’s roadmap includes capability for shingle tear off and shingle cutting. Additionally, Renovate will bring functionality to automate bracket installation for rack and panel solar systems, as well as automated solar shingle installation.

“Today’s announcement reflects the huge amount of progress our team has made over the past year. Rufus can already navigate around roof planes and automatically install shingles using AI — but this is just the beginning," said Stulc. “We have an exciting roadmap ahead of us, and are excited to continue launching products that bring value to all parts of the roofing industry.”

Renovate Robotics is open to collaborating with customers and industry partners to define the roofing industry's future. Today’s announcement comes in advance of February’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) and International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas. IRE attendees can find us at booth #9113, and IBS attendees can find us in the Startup Zone on the show floor.

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Roofing Contractor magazine editor-compiled stories, staff reports and industry news releases.

To submit news or for corrections, contact Bryan Gottlieb, managing editor, at gottliebb@bnpmedia.com.

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