Steep Roof and High Roof Charges: How to Document Them

Steeper roofs take more time and more safety setup, and so do roofs that are high above the ground. Many pricing systems include charges for steep pitch and for roof height. The carrier's estimate may include them, partly include them or leave them out. A contractor documents the pitch and height of each area so the right charge can be checked.

Disclosure: we make Supplement Snap, which helps roofing crews document damage found at tear-off and export a report. It does not decide coverage, negotiate claims or guarantee approval. This page is general guidance, not legal or claims advice.

The table lists what to record. Estimating software groups pitch into ranges, and the ranges and names depend on the price list in use. Check the price list on your claim for the categories rather than assuming.

Use a level and a tape, a pitch gauge or an app on a phone, and take a photo that shows the reading. Do it for each slope that differs. Write the pitch beside the slope and the square feet of that slope.

If the carrier's report used drone or satellite measurements, compare them with what you measured and note any difference without guessing why.

Photograph each side of the house from the ground showing the eave height, and note the number of stories. If a section is above two stories, say so and show it. A wide photo with a person or a ladder for scale is more convincing than a number alone.

Roof jacks, harnesses and anchors are part of working on steep roofs. Whether they are separately payable depends on the price list and the carrier. Record what your crew actually used and why, and do not add items to the request that you cannot show.

Example: Steep charge, rear slope, 9/12 pitch measured, 760 sq ft. Photo 4 shows the reading. High roof charge, rear section above two stories, 480 sq ft, photo 5.

List each area as its own line with its own pitch or height. That makes it simple for the adjuster to check one against the estimate.

A house has a main roof with a 6/12 pitch and a rear addition with a 10/12 pitch. The rear addition is two stories at the back and measures 520 square feet. The main roof measures 2,400 square feet.

The contractor measures each slope with a level and tape, records the readings with photos, and lists the pitch beside the area: Main roof, 6/12, 2,400 sq ft. Rear addition, 10/12, 520 sq ft. If the price list adds a charge for the pitch range that includes 10/12, the request is for that charge on the 520 square feet, not on the whole roof. The charge categories and their ranges come from the price list on the claim, so check them there.

A single pitch for the whole roof can lead to a charge on every square when only part of the roof qualifies, or to no charge when only part of the roof is steep. Reviewers check this because it changes the total. Breaking it down by slope shows you measured, and it makes your request easy to verify.

Do not climb a steep roof to measure it if it is unsafe. A pitch gauge, a level on a straight board, or a measurement from the attic rafters can give the rise and run without walking the slope. If you use aerial reports, treat their pitch as a starting point and say in your notes whether you confirmed it on site.

Show the level or gauge against the roof surface, with the reading visible. Include something that shows which slope it is, such as the chimney or a vent. A second photo from the ground showing the whole slope helps the reviewer match the reading to the area.