7 Missed Xactimate Line Items Costing You Money
In the roofing and restoration industry, the difference between a project that barely breaks even and one that drives significant profit often lies in the details of the estimate. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, often overlooking necessary components of a legitimate restoration job. If you are relying solely on the carrier’s initial scope of loss, you are essentially donating your time and materials to the insurance company.
At Boss Up Solutions, we see hundreds of estimates every week. Time and time again, we identify the same missing Xactimate line items—omissions that can cost a contractor thousands of dollars per job. Scaling your business requires you to stop leaving money on the table and start getting paid for every component you install.
Whether you handle your estimates in-house or are looking to outsource to experts, knowing what to look for is critical. Here are the top 7 missed Xactimate line items that are likely costing you money right now.
1. Starter Strip Shingles (RFG STR)
One of the most common omissions in carrier estimates is the starter strip. Adjusters frequently bundle this into the waste factor of the field shingles, arguing that you can simply use the waste from 3-tab shingles or cut architectural shingles to create the starter row. However, most modern shingle manufacturers require a specific starter strip product to maintain the wind warranty.
Using cut-up field shingles often voids the manufacturer's warranty. Therefore, RFG STR should be a separate line item. It is a material and labor cost that exists outside of the standard waste factor. If you are installing it, you must invoice for it. Do not let the carrier tell you it is "included" unless the waste factor is inflated significantly to account for it—which it rarely is.
2. Ridge Cap Shingles (RFG RIDGC)
Similar to starter strips, specialized ridge cap shingles are often overlooked. On many older roofs, roofers used cut-up 3-tab shingles for the hips and ridges. However, on a replacement job involving high-profile architectural shingles, you are likely installing a dedicated high-profile ridge cap to match the aesthetic and warranty requirements.
The cost difference between a bundle of 3-tab shingles and a box of high-profile hip and ridge shingles is substantial. If the estimate only accounts for generic capping, you are eating the cost of the upgrade. Ensure that RFG RIDGC (Standard Profile) or RFG RIDGC+ (High Profile) is utilized depending on the specific product you are installing.
3. Drip Edge and Gutter Apron (RFG DRIP)
Many adjusters will exclude drip edge on the premise that "it wasn't there before." While this may be true for older homes, modern International Residential Code (IRC) requires drip edge on eaves and rakes. As a professional contractor, you are obligated to build to code, regardless of what was previously on the roof.
This falls under Ordinance and Law coverage in many policies. If you are required to install it to pass inspection or meet manufacturer installation instructions, it must be included. Utilizing the line item RFG DRIP guarantees you are compensated for the metal, the installation labor, and the necessary fasteners.
4. Step Flashing (RFG STEP)
When replacing a roof, step flashing is often reused by lazy contractors, but diligent ones know that reusing rusted or nail-riddled flashing is a recipe for leaks. Adjusters often omit step flashing, assuming it will be manipulated and saved. However, removing old shingles often damages the existing flashing, necessitating replacement.
Furthermore, if you are installing ice and water shield (which you should be), proper integration with step flashing requires removal and re-installation at a minimum. If you are replacing it entirely, ensure RFG STEP is on your estimate. This is a labor-intensive detail that, if missed, eats directly into your labor budget.
5. Detach and Reset Items (D&R)
Roofing isn't just about shingles; it's about everything attached to the roof. Adjusters frequently miss the labor required to detach and reset accessories to facilitate the roofing work. If it's in the way, you have to pay someone to move it.
Commonly missed D&R items include:
Satellite dishes (require recalibration)
Lightning rods
Cupolas or weathervanes
Gutter screens or guards
Solar panels (often require a specialized subcontractor)
Every minute your crew spends unscrewing a satellite dish is a minute they aren't shingling. Charge for it.
6. Painting Vent Pipes and Flashings (PNT R***)
Aesthetics matter. When you replace a roof, leaving bright, galvanized metal pipe jacks or flashing sticking out like a sore thumb against a darker shingle looks unprofessional. Most quality roofers spray paint these accessories to match the roof color.
While a can of spray paint is cheap, the labor to go around and paint every pipe jack, turtle vent, and flashing adds up. Xactimate has specific line items for painting roof vents and jacks. It is a small item that, across 100 jobs a year, adds up to significant lost revenue if ignored.
7. General Contractor Overhead and Profit (O&P)
This is the biggest "line item" of them all. Overhead and Profit (10% and 10%) is designed to compensate a General Contractor for the complexity of coordinating multiple trades. If a claim involves roofing, gutters, interior painting, window screens, and fencing, you are acting as a General Contractor.
Insurance carriers notoriously try to strip O&P from estimates, claiming the job isn't complex enough. However, if you are coordinating, scheduling, and assuming the liability for multiple trades, you are entitled to O&P. Losing 20% of the total job value because you didn't fight for O&P is the fastest way to shrink your margins.
Stop Estimating, Start Profiting
The difference between an average roofing company and a market leader is often in the paperwork. Catching these 7 items requires time, knowledge of Xactimate, and the confidence to push back against adjusters. But as a business owner, your time is best spent selling jobs and building roofs, not fighting over line items behind a computer screen.
This is where Boss Up Solutions changes the game. Our Xact360 Estimate Packages and Supplement360 Claims Management services ensure that every legitimate line item is included, justified, and fought for. We combine AI precision with human expertise to maximize your claims while you focus on scaling your business.
Ready to Stop Leaving Money on the Table?
Let Boss Up Solutions handle your estimates and supplements so you can focus on selling and building.
