Field notes
Guides for contractors on estimate gaps, supplements, and getting claims paid in full.
Roof decking: the re-nail and board replacement estimates skip
The deck is under the shingles, so a photo never shows it and estimates assume it's fine. But a tear-off can trigger a code re-nail, and damaged or gapped sheathing has to be replaced — two line items that quietly go missing.
October 26, 2026
Flashing on a re-roof: what gets reused when it shouldn't
Step, counter, headwall, valley metal, and pipe boots all have to work with the new roof. On a tear-off they're often assumed reusable when they aren't — and that's where leaks and missed line items start.
October 19, 2026
Ridge vent and ridge cap: two roof-line items that quietly get shorted
They share the same line of the roof and get confused for field shingles or each other. One is code-driven ventilation, the other a separate material — and estimates often miss or underpay both.
October 12, 2026
Steep slope and two-story access: the labor modifiers a photo estimate misses
Roofing labor isn't one flat rate. Pitch and height change the work, and an estimate built from photos often defaults to the easy case. Here's what to check.
October 8, 2026
Detach & reset vs. remove & replace: getting the right line for what's already there
Gutters, dishes, detached solar, gutter guards — items that have to come off for the roof work. Whether the estimate resets them or replaces them changes the scope, and it's easy to get wrong in both directions.
October 5, 2026
Starter strip: the shingle course that seals the edge — and quietly gets dropped
The starter course seals the first row of shingles against wind uplift at the most vulnerable edge of the roof. Here's why manufacturers require it and why estimates leave it off.
September 21, 2026
Drip edge vs. gutter apron: what code requires, and why one gets left off
Drip edge and gutter apron look similar and do related jobs — but code names drip edge specifically, and a photo estimate often omits it or covers only half the roof.
September 14, 2026
Gutter apron vs. drip edge: what it is, and why it's often left off
The difference between drip edge and gutter apron, why estimates confuse the two, and how to document the one that's missing.
September 7, 2026
Ice & water shield: where code requires it, and why it's often missing
What the ice barrier requirement generally covers, why estimates leave it off, and how to confirm what applies to your job.
September 7, 2026
How to write a roofing supplement an adjuster will approve
A step-by-step way to document a supplement so it reads as verifiable fact, not a negotiation — and moves faster because of it.
September 7, 2026
Commonly missed line items in a roof insurance estimate
A practical checklist of roofing line items that adjuster estimates often leave out — and why they're frequently legitimate to include.
September 7, 2026