How to Build an Xactimate Roof Estimate for Insurance Supplements

Xactimate is the insurance industry's standard software for estimating property damage repair costs. Developed by Verisk, it is used by the vast majority of insurance carriers, independent adjusters, and third-party administrators to write estimates for roofing claims. When an adjuster inspects storm damage on a roof, they enter their findings into Xactimate using standardized line codes, unit prices, and quantities to produce the claim estimate.

For roofing contractors, Xactimate matters because it is the language adjusters speak. When you submit a supplement (a request for additional payment for hidden damage found during tear-off), the adjuster needs to process that request within Xactimate. If your supplement is written in Xactimate's format with the correct line codes and pricing, the adjuster can review and approve it quickly. If your supplement is a vague description with a few photos and no reference to Xactimate codes, the adjuster has to do extra work to translate your findings, which often results in lower approvals, longer processing times, or outright denials.

You don't need to own an Xactimate license to submit supplements in Xactimate format. What you need is knowledge of the relevant line codes, current unit pricing, and how to structure your findings so the adjuster can process them efficiently.

Understanding how adjusters use Xactimate helps you write better supplements. When an adjuster inspects a roof for storm damage, they follow a systematic process:

The adjuster's Xactimate estimate only includes what they could see during their inspection. They walked the roof, noted visible damage, and wrote line items for the repairs they observed. They did not tear off the shingles. They did not inspect the decking underneath. They did not check the condition of the flashing behind the step metal or the integrity of the ice and water shield in the valleys.

This is exactly why supplements exist. The adjuster's estimate is based on a surface inspection. Your supplement adds the concealed damage that only becomes visible during tear-off. The more closely your supplement mirrors the adjuster's Xactimate format, the easier it is for them to approve the additional items.

Every supplement item maps to a specific Xactimate line code. Here are the most common codes you'll use, along with current national average pricing. Note that Xactimate prices vary by region and are updated quarterly, so always check current pricing for your area.

You don't need to own Xactimate to submit a professional supplement. What you need is a structured document that mirrors the Xactimate format so the adjuster can process it quickly.

For each finding, include these elements:

Here's what a sample supplement estimate looks like:

This level of specificity makes it easy for the adjuster to review and approve. Compare this to a supplement that just says 'additional decking and flashing needed - $1,500.' Which version gets approved faster?

Xactimate pricing is not fixed nationally. Verisk updates pricing quarterly based on regional labor rates and material costs. Prices are set by zip code, so a contractor in Dallas will see different unit prices than one in Minneapolis.

Approximate national average ranges for the most common supplement items (as of early 2026):

When submitting a supplement, use the pricing for your specific region. If you price above the Xactimate rate for your zip code, the adjuster will adjust it down. If you price below, you're leaving money on the table.

Also keep in mind that overhead and profit (O&P) is a separate discussion. Most insurance claims include 10% overhead and 10% profit on top of the line item totals. If the original claim includes O&P, your supplement should also include it.

Even with the right line codes and pricing, supplements get denied for avoidable mistakes:

Building an Xactimate-formatted supplement manually for every job takes time: looking up line codes, checking pricing, formatting the estimate, writing the narrative, organizing photos. It's the kind of work that either falls on your office staff or doesn't get done at all.

Supplement Snap automates this process. Your crew captures damage findings during tear-off: photos tagged by damage type, roof area selected, and a voice note describing what they found. Voice notes work in any language, so Spanish-speaking crews describe findings naturally and the system auto-translates to English.

From that field data, Supplement Snap automatically maps each finding to the correct Xactimate line codes with sub-items. A 'Decking' finding generates RFG SHTHN with the measured square footage. A 'Flashing' finding generates RFG FLSH with the linear footage. Each line item includes current unit pricing.

You can export the complete supplement as an Xactimate-compatible CSV that the adjuster can import directly into their system. You also get a professional PDF report with photos, AI-generated narratives, a findings summary, and the complete line item breakdown, ready to email to the adjuster the same day.

The result is a supplement that speaks the adjuster's language, includes the evidence they need, and arrives the same day the damage was found. That combination (correct format, strong documentation, fast submission) is what gets supplements approved.