Expert guides on roofing insurance supplements, Xactimate codes, and claim recovery strategies. Written by contractors, for contractors.
Insurance adjusters use a second language designed to shrink your claim. Here's what "within tolerance," "cosmetic only," "wear and tear," and 20 other phrases actually mean — plus the exact counter-response for each.
NewA real claim that started at $9,847 and ended at $24,056 after one round of supplementing. Here's every line item that got added, the exact language I used, and how the carrier responded.
NewState Farm writes 1 in 5 homeowner policies in the US — and has a distinct pattern of scope items they routinely skip. Here's what roofers need to know to get every dollar out of a State Farm roof claim.
NewColorado's C.R.S. 10-4-110.8 is one of the most contractor-friendly matching laws in the country. Here's how it works, when it applies, and the exact supplement language that uses it to get full slope replacements.
ResourceThe definitive list of commonly missed Xactimate line items for roofing contractors. Organized by category with codes, descriptions, and typical recovery amounts.
GuideEverything you need to know about insurance supplements — what they are, how they work, how much they recover, and how to get started.
StrategyThe nine items consistently omitted from adjuster estimates — with Xactimate codes, dollar amounts, and exactly how to supplement each one.
GuideThe complete step-by-step process from documentation to submission to follow-up. Includes real supplement letter language and escalation tactics.
StrategyWhen carriers owe O&P, the three-trade rule, how to calculate it, and exactly how to fight back when it's withheld from your claim.
GuideA line-by-line breakdown of every section in a typical Xactimate roofing estimate — from header fields and category codes to depreciation columns and the summary page.
ResourceThree copy-paste supplement letter templates — standard line item supplement, O&P escalation, and carrier rebuttal — with the psychology behind the language.
ResourceA printable 25-point checklist covering measurements, line items, pricing, code compliance, and financial summary — organized by category for fast auditing.
StrategyThe real math on three paths — hiring a supplement company, doing it yourself, or using AI. Cost per claim, speed, and who keeps the money.
GuideCategory codes, price lists, waste factors, line item sequencing, and stale pricing — the five concepts that separate profitable roofers from underpaid ones.
ResourceHonest comparison of supplement companies, AI tools, and DIY Xactimate — with real cost math at 10, 25, 50, and 100 claims per year.
GuideThe difference between ACV and RCV payouts, how depreciation recovery works, and how supplements connect to getting the full amount released.
Strategy40 jobs × $3,500 missed = $140,000/year. The math on what chronic under-supplementing actually costs your business.
GuideWhich denial reasons are actually disputable, how to document for an appeal, and when a public adjuster is worth it.
StrategyMost roofers have 15-30% of revenue tied up in uncollected supplements. Here's the math and how to fix it.
ResourceIce & water shield, drip edge, ridge vent, synthetic underlayment — the IRC-required items adjusters leave out and how to get them approved.
GuideStorm-specific documentation guide — shadow angle photography, impact measurements, scattered vs. concentrated damage, and the Xactimate line items adjusters miss on hail claims.
GuideWind speed thresholds, edge damage, flashing failures, wind-driven rain penetration — why wind claims are the most disputed and how to win them.
StrategyXactimate admits its prices are historical baselines. Regional variations hit 50-100%. Here's why your estimates are low and how to fight back with real-world pricing.
GuideMost contractors don't know the appraisal clause exists. It can recover $10K-$50K+. Step-by-step process, appraiser selection, and how to build a winning evidence package.
StrategyThe 7 most common rejection reasons with real examples — documentation gaps, scope disputes, pricing issues — plus appeal frameworks that get reversals.
StrategyAdjusters spend 20-30 minutes on your roof. You spend 2 hours. That time gap is where money gets left on the table. Here's how to find it and get it back.
GuideHurricane claims are the most complex and the most rushed. High deductibles, catastrophe adjusters, FEMA involvement, and massive supplement opportunities.
StrategyPAs charge 10-15% of your settlement. Is it worth it? The real math, state-by-state UPPA laws, and when contractor-led supplementing wins.
GuideInsurance checks held in escrow kill your cash flow. How escrow works, release triggers, holdback percentages, and how to get your money faster.
ResourceFlorida's the biggest insurance restoration market with the most complex rules. SB 4-D, hurricane deductibles, carrier practices, and supplement strategies.
ResourceTexas deductible waiver prohibition, UPPA boundaries, city-specific requirements, and what you can and can't do on insurance claims.
GuideWhy the check is split, the two-check system, proof of completion requirements, and how to challenge inflated depreciation calculations.
StrategyYou pay subs and buy materials upfront. Insurance pays 30-90 days later. Here's the cash flow math and how to survive (and thrive) during storm season.
StrategyDoor knocking, insurance partnerships, and digital lead gen compared. Conversion rates, costs per lead, legal considerations, and team structure for peak season.
ResourceCode upgrades are covered by insurance but rarely claimed — sometimes $5K-$25K+ per job. Which upgrades qualify, how to document them, and how to get them approved.
More posts coming every week. Want to see what you're missing on your claims?
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