Xactimate Starter Course (RFG STARTER): Why Every Eave and Rake Needs It

Open almost any adjuster estimate on a full roof replacement and you will find the same pattern. Tear-off line item, underlayment, drip edge, field shingles, ridge cap, ventilation. Scroll to the bottom looking for starter shingles and you either find a quantity that only covers the eaves, or worse, the adjuster has written a note that says "reuse existing starter" and skipped the line item entirely.

This is one of the most common and most expensive scope gaps in residential roofing claims. Starter shingles are not optional. They are a manufacturer-required component at both the eaves and the rakes on virtually every modern asphalt shingle installation, and leaving them off the estimate creates a real dollar problem for the contractor and a real warranty problem for the homeowner.

This guide walks through the RFG STARTER line item in Xactimate, explains why every manufacturer requires starter at both eaves and rakes, shows you how to calculate the correct linear footage, and gives you the code and warranty arguments you need to supplement the item when the adjuster leaves it off.

What RFG STARTER Actually Covers

In Xactimate, RFG STARTER is the line item for starter course shingles. It prices the labor and material to install a purpose-made starter strip along a roof edge. The line item is measured in linear feet (LF), and the unit price typically includes the starter material itself, the fasteners, the labor to cut and place the strip, and the overhead associated with that specific task within the trade.

Starter shingles are not the same as field shingles with the tabs cut off. Modern starter products are engineered specifically for edge installation. They have a factory-applied sealant strip positioned along the leading edge to bond with the first course of shingles and resist wind uplift. When a manufacturer publishes a wind warranty at 110 mph or 130 mph, that rating assumes a factory starter product is installed according to the printed instructions.

Where Starter Belongs

Starter belongs in two distinct locations on a sloped asphalt shingle roof:

• Eaves (horizontal lower edges): Starter runs along the bottom edge of every roof plane, providing a sealant bond for the first course and closing the joint gaps between field shingles above.
• Rakes (gable edges, the angled side edges): Starter runs up the rake to resist wind uplift at the gable, which is the most common failure point in high-wind events.

Skipping either location voids the wind warranty on the shingles and violates the printed installation instructions. This is not a gray area. Every major asphalt shingle manufacturer has codified this requirement in their published application specs.

Manufacturer Specs: GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning

If the adjuster pushes back on starter at the rakes, the fastest way to close the argument is to cite the manufacturer's own installation instructions. The big three asphalt shingle manufacturers all publish the same requirement, and their documents are public.

GAF

GAF's application instructions for Timberline HDZ, Timberline UHDZ, and their other laminated architectural lines call for starter strip shingles (branded as Pro-Start, WeatherBlocker, or StarterMatch) installed at both eaves and rakes. The rake starter is specifically required to qualify for GAF's Golden Pledge and System Plus wind warranties, and the enhanced wind coverage cannot be extended on a roof that was installed without rake starter.

CertainTeed

CertainTeed's Landmark, Landmark Pro, and Presidential lines all require starter shingles at the eaves and rakes per the published application specs. Their SureStart and SureStart Plus warranty programs list starter at both locations as a condition of extended wind coverage. CertainTeed's technical bulletins explicitly state that field shingles with tabs cut off do not satisfy the starter requirement for warranty purposes.

Owens Corning

Owens Corning's Duration, Duration Storm, and TruDefinition lines require starter at eaves and rakes. Their Preferred and Platinum Protection warranty programs require documented installation of approved starter products at both locations. The WeatherLock starter strip is specifically called out in the installation instructions as a rake requirement for wind resistance.

The common thread: Every major manufacturer requires starter at both eaves AND rakes for the shingles to perform as rated. An estimate that only includes eave starter, or that writes off starter entirely, is specifying an installation that voids the manufacturer warranty on a brand new roof.

Calculating Linear Footage for Starter

The RFG STARTER line item is priced per linear foot. You need to measure the total LF of eaves plus the total LF of rakes across the roof. On most EagleView or roof measurement reports, both numbers are printed right on the summary page.

The Simple Formula

Total starter LF = Eave LF + Rake LF

That is the entire calculation. There is no waste factor on starter because it ships in full rolls or bundles and cuts cleanly at the edges. Some contractors add a 5% waste allowance for cuts around valleys and hips that terminate at the rakes, which is reasonable but not strictly required.

Example: A Typical 28-Square Roof

Now compare that to what most adjuster estimates show: 142 LF. That is eave-only starter. The rake starter, representing 168 LF, is simply missing. At a typical unit price, that's a couple hundred dollars in missed scope on a single residential roof.

For a broader walkthrough of line items that get underscoped on adjuster estimates, see our guide to line items adjusters miss.

Unit Pricing and What's Included in the Line Item

Xactimate pricing changes quarterly and varies by ZIP code, but the RFG STARTER line item is consistently one of the smaller dollar items per LF on a roofing estimate. That's part of the reason adjusters sometimes dismiss it or forget it entirely. The per-unit cost is small enough to feel like a rounding error, but multiplied across the full perimeter of a house, it adds up fast.

What the Unit Price Includes

The Xactimate RFG STARTER line item bundles several costs into its per-LF figure:

• The starter strip material (enough LF to cover the measured length with standard waste)
• Roofing nails or fasteners required to attach the strip
• Labor to unroll, cut, and place the starter along the edge
• The labor burden (payroll taxes, workers' comp, general liability) that Xactimate layers into all labor-based line items
• A contribution to equipment and crew overhead on the roof

Unit pricing at the time of this writing generally falls in a per-LF range that, for a typical 300 LF roof perimeter, produces a total starter allocation somewhere in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars. Check your current Xactimate price list in the specific market to get the exact number.

Why the Line Item Is Non-Negotiable

Even at a small per-LF price, the RFG STARTER line item is a specified component of a code-compliant, warranty-eligible roof. You cannot build the roof to spec without it. An adjuster who excludes it is, in effect, writing an estimate for a non-compliant installation.

If you want a deeper look at how to read through an Xactimate estimate line by line, our how to read an Xactimate estimate guide breaks down every section.

Why "Reuse Starter" Is Almost Always Wrong

Some adjuster estimates go one step beyond simply forgetting the rake starter. They explicitly write "reuse existing starter" or "existing starter to remain" as a note in the scope. This language is essentially a way of declining to pay for starter shingles on the premise that the old ones will stay in place during the tear-off.

In almost every real-world roof replacement, this does not happen and cannot happen. Here's why.

Starter Is Bonded to the First Course

The whole point of a starter shingle is that its factory sealant strip bonds aggressively to the underside of the first field course. When you tear off the field shingles, the bond pulls the starter up with them. The starter strip was never designed to release cleanly. It was designed to stay bonded for the life of the roof.

Starter Is Nailed Through the Deck

Starter is nailed into the decking with roofing nails just like the field. Tear-off removes the nails along with the material. You cannot cleanly remove the field above the starter without disturbing the starter itself. The underlayment below also gets replaced on a full re-roof, which means the starter cannot be left in place on the old underlayment while new underlayment is installed above it.

Reused Starter Voids the Warranty

Even if a contractor somehow managed to preserve the old starter, installing new shingles on top of used, weather-aged starter voids the manufacturer warranty. The warranty language requires that all components in the roof system be new and installed to specification. Old starter does not qualify.

"Reuse existing starter" on a full roof replacement is physically impossible in 99% of cases, and in the 1% where it could be done, it voids the warranty on the new shingles. The phrase should be treated as a scope error to supplement, not an instruction to follow.

Code and Warranty Arguments for Supplement

When you supplement for starter that the adjuster omitted, you have three strong arguments. Lead with whichever one fits the claim. The manufacturer warranty argument is usually the most effective because it is specific, documented, and tied to a product that the homeowner paid for.

Argument 1: Manufacturer Installation Instructions

The shingle brand specified on the estimate has published installation instructions. Those instructions require starter at eaves and rakes. Include a PDF excerpt from the manufacturer's document with your supplement. Adjusters rarely argue with a printed spec from GAF, CertainTeed, or Owens Corning.

Argument 2: Building Code

The 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) Section R905.2.6 addresses asphalt shingle installation and references the manufacturer's installation instructions as the governing standard. Local amendments in most jurisdictions echo this. Installing shingles per manufacturer instructions is a code requirement, and manufacturer instructions require starter at eaves and rakes. Therefore, starter is a code-required component.

Argument 3: Wind Warranty

If the shingles on the estimate carry a 110 mph or 130 mph wind warranty rating, that rating is conditional on proper starter installation. If the adjuster pays for a shingle with an advertised wind rating but declines to pay for the starter that makes the rating valid, the carrier has effectively approved a scope that delivers a lower-performing product than what was specified. That is a coverage gap the homeowner should not have to absorb.

Sample Supplement Language

"Adding RFG STARTER at rakes, 168 LF. The original estimate included starter at eaves only. Manufacturer installation instructions for [shingle brand and line] require starter course shingles at both eaves and rakes. Installation without rake starter voids the manufacturer wind warranty and does not comply with 2021 IRC R905.2.6, which governs asphalt shingle installation. Please approve the additional 168 LF to complete the specified scope."

For more supplement language examples, see our supplement letter templates.

How to Supplement the Missing Starter

Supplementing missing starter is one of the more straightforward supplement types because the math is clean and the code and warranty arguments are unambiguous. Here is a workflow that consistently gets these items approved.

Step 1: Pull the Measurements

Use the measurement report (EagleView, HOVER, or an in-person measurement) to pull eave LF and rake LF separately. Compare these numbers to the RFG STARTER quantity on the adjuster's estimate. If the estimate quantity is less than eave LF plus rake LF, you have a supplement.

Step 2: Identify the Gap in Writing

Step 3: Attach Supporting Documentation

Include in the supplement submission:

• A copy of the manufacturer installation instructions highlighting the starter requirement at eaves and rakes
• A marked-up diagram or measurement report showing the rake LF that was not included
• A brief written justification citing the warranty and code basis
• The Xactimate line item with the corrected quantity and your current price list region

Step 4: Bundle With Other Missing Items

Starter is rarely the only item missing. If the adjuster forgot rake starter, they very likely also underscoped ice and water shield, drip edge detail, ridge cap quantities, or ventilation. Submit starter as part of a comprehensive supplement rather than a standalone request. For a checklist of items to look for in the same review pass, see our Xactimate supplement list.

Step 5: Tie It to the Homeowner Outcome

When you present the supplement, make sure the homeowner understands that this is about delivering a roof that matches the warranty the insurance company approved. This is not a contractor upcharge. This is code-required scope that was missed.

For a full walkthrough of the supplement process, our how to supplement a roofing claim guide covers documentation, submission, and follow-up in depth.

Common Mistakes Contractors Make on Starter

A few recurring mistakes cost contractors money on starter scope. Avoid these and you will capture the full line item on every claim.

Mistake 1: Only Supplementing Eave Starter

What happens: The contractor notices the estimate is short on starter LF, assumes the adjuster just underestimated the eave length, and submits a supplement for a small LF increase. The rake starter, which is the bigger gap, never gets addressed.

The fix: Always compare the estimate's RFG STARTER quantity to eave LF plus rake LF separately. Do not assume the missing LF is just an eave measurement error.

Mistake 2: Accepting "Cut Field Shingles" as Starter

What happens: The adjuster tells the contractor that the crew can cut tabs off field shingles and use them as starter, so no separate line item is needed. The contractor accepts this and installs a non-compliant roof.

The fix: Cut field shingles do not qualify as starter under any major manufacturer's warranty. Cite the manufacturer instructions and hold the line on purpose-built starter products.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to Update the Supplement Total

What happens: The contractor adds the starter line to the supplement but forgets that adding LF to RFG STARTER also requires updating any related overhead or sales tax calculations at the bottom of the estimate.

The fix: Recalculate the full estimate totals when submitting the supplement. Xactimate will do this automatically if you are working in the software. If you are working in a document-based supplement letter, double-check the math.

Mistake 4: Not Keeping the Warranty Paperwork

What happens: The contractor supplements successfully, installs the roof correctly with starter at eaves and rakes, and then fails to document the installation for the warranty registration. Years later, the homeowner files a wind claim and the manufacturer asks for proof of starter installation.

The fix: Photograph the starter installation at both eaves and rakes during the job. Save the product wrappers or labels showing the starter brand. Register the warranty promptly with the manufacturer using their online portal.

Mistake 5: Only Fighting on the Biggest Claims

What happens: The contractor only bothers to supplement starter on the largest claims, assuming a couple hundred dollars isn't worth the paperwork on a smaller job.

The fix: Starter supplements take five to ten minutes to prepare once you have a template. Across a full year of residential claims, those supplements add real money to the bottom line and protect every homeowner's warranty. Treat it as a standard part of every review.

For a systematic review of every adjuster estimate that comes through your door, use our adjuster estimate review checklist.

Bringing It All Together

RFG STARTER is one of the cleanest, most defensible supplement items in residential roofing. The manufacturer instructions are public. The code reference is clear. The math is simple. The adjuster push-back is usually nothing more than habit or oversight. Every estimate you review should get a quick starter check in the first sixty seconds: what's the eave LF, what's the rake LF, what's the RFG STARTER quantity on the estimate, and is there a gap?

If there is a gap, supplement it. Every time. The homeowner gets a warrantied roof. The contractor gets paid for the scope they are actually going to install. The carrier writes an estimate that matches the manufacturer spec for the product they approved. Everyone wins except the pattern of underwriting that costs the industry millions of dollars a year in shorted scope.

For tools that automate the line-by-line comparison between adjuster estimates and required Xactimate scope, take a look at ClaimStack. The platform catches missing starter quantities, undersized drip edge, skipped ice and water shield, and the dozens of other line items that routinely go underwritten on storm claims.