Maximizing Roofing Insurance Claims: Strategies for Contractors
Why Maximizing Roofing Claims Matters
For contractors working insurance-funded jobs, profit depends on whether the final insurance estimate reflects the actual scope of work required. Too often, line items are missing, underpaid, or miscategorized in the original estimate. That’s where a smart supplement strategy comes in.
Let’s say the original insurance estimate comes in at $24,000. By reviewing the scope, identifying missing line items, and submitting a well-documented supplement, you increase the revised estimate to $35,000. That’s an 45% increase in revenue - without changing your job volume.
At OneScope, we help contractors increase revised estimates by submitting clean, code-backed, and fully documented supplements. This guide outlines how you can take control of the process and build repeatable success.
The 5 Key Ways to Maximize Claims
There’s no silver bullet to maximizing roofing claims, but there is a system. The five strategies below are the foundation we use to help contractors consistently improve their insurance estimates. Each one is backed by real-world results and designed to be applied across every job.
Use Supplements to Capture the True Scope
Supplements aren’t about adding fluff. They’re about aligning the insurance estimate with the real-world requirements of a code-compliant roofing job.
They help you:
Correct inaccurate quantities (e.g., shingle, felt, or ridge cap waste factors)
Include scope that’s routinely left off initial estimates (e.g., drip edge, starter strip, flashing)
Adjust for conditions that change your labor needs (e.g., steep slope sections, multi-layer tear-offs)
Missing line items can affect margins dramatically. Catching and correcting them through a supplement ensures you’re paid for the full scope you’re responsible for delivering.
→ For real-world examples: Effective Techniques for Increasing Roofing Supplement Revised Estimates
Understand and Include Overhead and Profit (O&P)
If you're managing multiple trades or subcontractors to complete the job, you're operating like a general contractor, and the revised estimate should reflect that.
Including overhead and profit helps account for:
Administrative time
Project management
Coordination across trades (e.g., gutters, siding, interior work)
To increase your chances of having O&P included:
Break out line items clearly in your Xactimate estimate
Use documentation to show how you managed or coordinated multiple trades
→ Learn more: Understanding Overhead and Profit in Roofing Insurance Claims
Submit Clean, Professional Documentation
The best scope supplement in the world won't get approved if it's not supported with the right documentation.
Minimum documentation package:
Clear, labeled photos (pre-job, in-progress, and completed)
Annotated EagleView report (or similar) to support steep charges and waste factors
Accurate Xactimate supplement using local pricing profiles
References to code items where needed (more on that next)
Avoid disorganized folders, unclear image naming, or vague line item requests. The easier you make it to verify the scope, the more likely it is to be approved.
→ Related: How to Document Roof Damage for Insurance Claims
Get Code Items Approved
One of the most common reasons a claim is undervalued? Code-required line items that get missed entirely.
Some of the most frequently missed include:
Ice and water shield
Drip edge
Valley metal
Starter strip
And others!
But it’s not enough to state that these items are required. They need to be supported by:
Citing IRC or local municipal code directly
Providing photo documentation of where the item applies
Adding manufacturer documentation if applicable
→ Learn more: How to Get Code Items Approved in Roofing Supplements
Build a Repeatable Supplement System
If you’re building supplements from scratch every time, you’re wasting time and leaving money on the table. Contractors who systematize this process are more profitable, faster, and more consistent.
What a supplement system looks like:
A standard checklist to review all initial insurance estimates
Templates for supplement structure and documentation
Consistent use of EagleView, Xactimate, and formatted photo folders
This doesn’t just help you scale, it protects your profit margins job after job.
At OneScope, we provide contractors with a complete supplementing system so nothing falls through the cracks. That includes a step-by-step scope review checklist, standardized photo and documentation formats, and supplements built in Xactimate using localized pricing. We also track response times and follow up strategically, saving you hours on every job while improving approval odds.
What Happens When You Don’t Maximize the Claim?
A lot of contractors are doing great work but leaving revenue behind. When the original estimate doesn't reflect the real-world cost of building a code-compliant roof, you're:
Eating costs that should be covered
Delaying job timelines with change orders
Reducing job profitability without realizing it
Even a $3,000 to $5,000 difference per job can add up to tens (or hundreds!) of thousands in missed revenue over the course of a season.
Don’t absorb scope gaps. Address them early and consistently with a better supplement process.
So, how do roofing companies maximize insurance claims?
The most successful contractors are proactive. They have a plan to review every scope, submit what’s missing, and close the gap between original and revised estimates.
At OneScope, we help you simplify that process. Our team handles the full supplement lifecycle so you can focus on getting the job done with the confidence that the estimate will match the real scope.
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