The 14 Line Items Adjusters Miss Most on Roof Claims

These are the 14 line items insurance adjusters miss most often on roof claims — each one is money you’re entitled to, but only if someone asks for it. They’re missed for the same reason every time: the first estimate is written from a quick visual inspection and standard software defaults, not a full tear-off view of the roof and its code requirements.

1. Drip edge. The metal edging along eaves and rakes that directs water into the gutter instead of behind the fascia. Often left off entirely, especially if the old roof didn’t have it — even where current code now requires it. Approved with the applicable code citation requiring drip edge on new roofing, plus photos showing it’s missing.

2. Ice and water shield. Self-adhering waterproof membrane at eaves, valleys, and penetrations. Adjusters frequently price it to match what was there before rather than the code-required minimum width for the climate zone. Approved with the code citation and a measurement of the linear footage that needs coverage.

3. Steep and high charges. Extra labor pricing for roofs steeper than a set pitch (commonly 7/12 or above) or above a certain number of stories. Estimating software defaults to standard-pitch pricing unless someone manually flags the actual roof. Approved with a pitch-gauge photo and the story count.

4. Permit fees. The building permit required before work starts, priced by the municipality. Left off because it’s a variable local fee, not a default line in most estimating software. Approved with the permit receipt or the municipality’s published fee schedule.

5. Dump and disposal fees. The cost to haul away and dispose of the old roofing material. Often underpriced against actual local rates, especially on a second-layer tear-off. Approved with the haul invoice or local disposal rate sheet and the number of squares removed.

6. Code-required ventilation upgrades. Ridge and intake vents that current code requires but the existing roof may not have had. Priced to match the old, non-compliant roof instead of the code minimum. Approved with the net-free-ventilation-area code citation and attic measurements.

7. Additional decking replacement. Rotted or delaminated plywood or OSB discovered only once the old roof comes off. Impossible for the adjuster to see during the initial walk. Approved with tear-off photos of the damaged decking and the square footage replaced.

8. Step flashing. The individual interlocking pieces where a roof plane meets a sidewall. Estimates sometimes assume it’s reusable, but code and most manufacturer warranties require new step flashing with a full re-roof. Approved with photos of the sidewall transitions and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

9. Chimney flashing. The flashing at the base of a chimney where it meets the roof deck. Usually damaged during tear-off even if it looked fine beforehand. Approved with photos of the chimney base once the old flashing is removed.

10. Counter-flashing. The flashing embedded into the chimney or wall masonry that overlaps the flashing below it. Missed often because it reads as a masonry item rather than a roofing one, falling into the gap between trades on the estimate. Approved with photos of the reglet or mortar joint and a scope note tying it to the roof replacement.

11. Head wall flashing. Flashing where a roof slope meets a vertical wall at the top of the slope. Same problem as step flashing — assumed reusable when it shouldn’t be. Approved with photos of the wall-to-roof transition after tear-off.

12. Skylight flashing. The flashing kit around a skylight. The skylight itself often makes it onto the estimate; its flashing kit doesn’t, or an old kit gets reused when the manufacturer requires a new one with a re-roof. Approved with the skylight make and model, the manufacturer’s flashing requirement, and photos.

13. Pipe boot replacement. The rubber or plastic collar sealing around plumbing vent penetrations. Rubber degrades over time, and estimates sometimes price one boot when a roof has several penetrations. Approved with a photo count of every vent penetration on the roof.

14. Flue caps. The metal caps on furnace and water heater flue pipes. Small, rarely inspected closely from the ground, and easy to leave off an estimate entirely. Approved with photos of each flue penetration and its cap condition.

How do you get these line items approved?

The pattern repeats across all fourteen: document what’s actually there, cite the code or manufacturer requirement behind it, and submit it as a specific, itemized supplement — not a general request for “more money.” Photos taken during tear-off matter more than photos taken before it, since several of these items are only visible once the old roof is off.

What if the adjuster still says no?

A first denial isn’t the end of it. Most policies include a reinspection option, and many also include an appraisal clause for genuinely disputed amounts. Stronger documentation — a code section instead of a general claim, a clearer photo, a manufacturer spec sheet — is usually enough to reverse a denial that was really just a missed detail rather than a real dispute.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Do all 14 of these apply to every roof claim?+−

No. Which ones apply depends on the roof — its pitch, age, penetrations, and local code. A roof with no skylights won't have a skylight-flashing supplement. The point of the list is to check each one against the specific roof, not to submit all 14 by default.

Will asking for a supplement delay my payout?+−

The original approved amount is typically released on the original timeline. The supplemented amount is a separate, additional payment that follows its own review — it adds to the process, but it doesn't usually hold up the base claim.

Can a homeowner request these on their own?+−

Yes, technically — but most homeowners don't know the code citations or documentation a carrier expects, which is exactly why these items get missed in the first place. In practice, it's almost always the contractor who catches and submits them.