Items Insurance Companies Commonly Miss on Roofing Claims
Insurance adjusters miss line items on roofing claims more often than they get them right. Based on IA Solutions' experience handling over 10,000 supplements, 90% or more of initial insurance estimates leave out items that are required to complete the job properly and to code.
These missed items are not minor. They add up to $7,000-$8,000 per claim on average, and on complex jobs, the gap can exceed $15,000. Every dollar left off the estimate comes directly out of your profit margin.
This guide covers the most commonly missed items on residential roofing insurance claims. For each item, you will learn what it is, why carriers miss it, and how to document it for supplement approval.
Code Upgrades
What Are Code Upgrades?
Code upgrades are modifications required to bring a roof into compliance with current building codes. When a roof is replaced, the new installation must meet the building code in effect at the time of the replacement, not the code that was in place when the roof was originally installed.
The International Residential Code (IRC) is updated on a three-year cycle, and most states adopt some version of it. The 2024 IRC includes specific requirements for underlayment, ventilation, fastening patterns, and ice protection that were not required under older code versions.
Why Carriers Miss Code Upgrades
Carriers miss code upgrades because their initial estimates often reflect a "like for like"/"similar" replacement. The adjuster prices the estimate based on replacing what was there before, without accounting for changes in building code requirements since the original installation.
For example, a roof installed in 2005 may not have had ice and water shield in the valleys or along the eaves. The 2024 IRC requires ice and water shield in these areas(location dependent). The carrier's estimate may only include standard underlayment, leaving the code-required upgrade unpaid.
How to Document Code Upgrades
Reference the specific code version adopted in your jurisdiction. Include the code section number, the requirement, and how the existing roof does not meet it. For example:
"Per the 2024 IRC Section R905.1.1, ice barrier underlayment is required from the eave edge to a point at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. The existing roof does not have ice barrier in this area. This code upgrade is required for the new installation."
Ice and Water Shield
Ice and water shield is a self-adhering membrane installed under the roofing material to protect against water infiltration caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain. The 2024 IRC requires ice and water shield in several locations, including eaves, valleys, and around penetrations.
Insurance adjusters frequently omit ice and water shield or only include it along the eaves. In many jurisdictions, code requires it in valleys, around skylights, at wall-to-roof transitions, and along rake edges in high-wind zones.
The cost of ice and water shield adds up quickly. At approximately $1.50-$2.50 per square foot installed, a standard residential roof may require $800-$2,000 in ice and water shield that the carrier did not include.
To document this item, photograph the existing underlayment during tear-off to show that ice and water shield was not present. Reference the applicable IRC section for your jurisdiction and include the linear footage or square footage required.
Starter Strip
Starter strip is the first course of shingles installed along the eaves and rakes of a roof. It provides the adhesive seal line for the first row of shingles and prevents wind uplift. Every shingle manufacturer requires starter strip for warranty compliance.
Carriers miss starter strip because they assume it is included in the per-square shingle cost. It is not. Starter strip is a separate material with a separate Xactimate line item. Omitting it from the estimate effectively removes $200-$500 from the claim, depending on the roof's perimeter measurement.
Document starter strip by measuring the total linear footage of eaves and rakes. Include the manufacturer's installation instructions showing that starter strip is required for warranty coverage.
Drip Edge
Drip edge is a metal flashing installed along the eaves and rakes of a roof to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutters. The 2024 IRC Section R905.2.8.5 requires drip edge on all asphalt shingle roofs.
Insurance estimates frequently exclude drip edge entirely or include it only along the eaves, not the rakes. Drip edge is a separate Xactimate line item priced per linear foot. On a typical residential roof, missing drip edge can cost $300-$600.
Photograph the existing drip edge (or its absence) during inspection. Measure the total linear footage needed along both eaves and rakes. Reference the IRC code requirement in your supplement.
Ventilation Upgrades
Proper attic ventilation is required by the IRC and by every major shingle manufacturer. The standard formula requires 1 square foot of net free ventilation area for every 150 square feet of attic floor space, reduced to 1:300 if specific balance conditions are met.
Insurance adjusters often include only the existing ventilation in their estimates, even when the existing ventilation does not meet current code. If the roof currently has 4 box vents but code requires the equivalent of 8 box vents or a ridge vent system, the additional ventilation is a code-required upgrade.
Inadequate ventilation also voids shingle manufacturer warranties. If you install new shingles on a roof with insufficient ventilation, the manufacturer can deny a warranty claim. This makes proper ventilation both a code requirement and a practical necessity.
Document current ventilation by photographing existing vents and measuring the attic floor area. Calculate the required ventilation using the 1:150 or 1:300 formula and show the shortfall. Include the manufacturer's ventilation requirements from their installation guide.
Overhead and Profit (O&P)
Overhead and profit is a 10% overhead plus 10% profit charge that applies when three or more trades are involved in a roofing project. O&P adds approximately 20% to the base estimate and is one of the single largest items carriers deny.
Most residential roof replacements involve three or more trades when you account for roofing, carpentry (decking replacement), sheet metal (flashing), gutter work, and painting. Yet carriers routinely deny O&P by arguing the job is "single trade."
O&P on a $25,000 estimate adds approximately $5,000 to the claim. For a detailed breakdown of O&P, including when you qualify and how to document it, read our complete guide to overhead and profit.
Waste Factors
Waste factor is the additional material needed to account for cuts, overlaps, and unusable material during installation. Xactimate includes default waste factors, but these defaults are often too low for complex roof designs.
A simple gable roof may have a waste factor of 10-12%. A cut-up roof with multiple hips, valleys, dormers, and penetrations can require a waste factor of 15-20% or more. Insurance adjusters often leave the waste factor at the default setting regardless of roof complexity.
The difference between a 10% and 18% waste factor on a 30-square roof at $300 per square is $720. That adds up across multiple claims.
Document waste factors by providing your roof measurement report showing the complexity of the roof. Pitch, number of facets, valleys, hips, and penetrations all increase waste. Include manufacturer recommendations for waste allowance on complex roofs.
Pipe Boot Replacements
Pipe boots (also called pipe jacks or plumbing vent flashings) seal around plumbing pipes that penetrate the roof. When shingles are replaced, pipe boots should be replaced as well. Reusing old pipe boots risks leaks because the rubber seal deteriorates over time and the boot may not seal properly after being moved.
Insurance adjusters frequently omit pipe boot replacements from their estimates. Each pipe boot costs $15-$40 for the material and $50-$100 for installation. A typical residential roof has 3-8 pipe penetrations.
Photograph every pipe penetration on the roof during inspection. Note the condition of each existing boot, including any cracking, drying, or deterioration of the rubber seal. Include individual line items for each pipe boot replacement in your supplement.
Step Flashing and Counter Flashing
Step flashing is the L-shaped metal installed where the roof meets a vertical wall, such as a dormer, chimney, or second-story wall. Counter flashing is installed over step flashing to seal the top edge. Both are critical for preventing water infiltration at wall-to-roof transitions.
Insurance estimates frequently leave out step flashing replacement or only include it partially. When shingles are removed, existing step flashing is often damaged and cannot be reused. New step flashing must be woven into each course of shingles during installation.
Counter flashing at chimney locations is another commonly missed item. Existing counter flashing that is cut into mortar joints often needs to be removed and replaced, especially if the existing flashing has pulled away from the mortar or shows signs of corrosion.
Photograph all wall-to-roof transitions and chimney locations. Measure the linear footage of step flashing needed. Note the condition of existing counter flashing and document any separation from mortar joints.
Detach and Reset Items
Detach and reset (D&R) refers to removing items from the roof before installation and reinstalling them after the new roof is in place. Common D&R items include:
Satellite Dishes
Satellite dishes must be removed before tear-off and reinstalled after the new roof is complete. This is a separate Xactimate line item that carriers frequently omit. Each dish typically costs $75-$150 to detach and reset.
Solar Panels
Solar panel detach and reset is significantly more expensive, often $1,500-$5,000 depending on the system size. This work typically requires a licensed electrician, adding another trade to the claim (which may also support an O&P claim).
Attic Fans and Turbines
Powered attic fans and turbine vents must be removed and reinstalled during roof replacement. Each unit is a separate line item.
Antenna Mounts and Weather Equipment
Antenna mounts, weather stations, and other rooftop equipment require D&R. These items are almost always omitted from initial estimates.
Photograph every item on the roof that requires detach and reset during your initial inspection. Count each item individually and include it as a separate line item in your Xactimate estimate.
Ridge Cap Shingles
Ridge cap shingles cover the ridge and hips of a roof. They are a separate product from field shingles, and they require a separate Xactimate line item. Insurance adjusters sometimes include ridge cap along the main ridge but omit it from hip ridges.
Measure the total linear footage of all ridges and hips. Compare this against the carrier's estimate to ensure every ridge and hip is accounted for. Ridge cap is priced per linear foot and can represent $200-$800 on a typical residential roof.
How to Recover These Missed Items
Recovering missed items requires a systematic approach:
- Inspect thoroughly. Walk every roof with a checklist of commonly missed items. Do not assume the carrier found everything.
- Photograph everything. Take clear, labeled photos of every condition that supports an additional line item.
- Know your codes. Reference the specific building code version adopted in your jurisdiction. Generic references to "code requirements" carry less weight than citing IRC Section R905.2.8.5.
- Write accurate Xactimate estimates. Each missed item needs the correct Xactimate code, selector, and quantity. Incorrect coding delays approval.
- Submit and follow up. Consistent follow-up is the difference between supplements that get approved and supplements that sit in a queue.
IA Solutions handles this entire process for you. Our licensed Independent Adjusters review every claim for all commonly missed items, write the supplement in Xactimate, submit it to the carrier, and follow up until approval.
Stop Leaving Money on the Table
Every missed item on an insurance estimate is money that comes out of your pocket. You are doing the work and buying the materials. The insurance company should be paying for all of it.
If you want to see how much money you are leaving on the table, send us your next insurance estimate. We will review it at no cost and show you exactly which items were missed and how much additional recovery is available.
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