What is a roofing supplement company?

A roofing supplement company reviews insurance carrier estimates, identifies missing or underpaid line items, writes a supplemental Xactimate estimate, and submits it to the carrier for additional payment. The Estimate Company is run by licensed independent adjusters who know exactly what carriers look for.

How does Xactimate supplementing work for roofing contractors?

Xactimate supplementing starts when a roofing contractor sends us the carrier's initial estimate. We review every line item against current price lists and manufacturer requirements, identify underpaid or missing items, write an updated Xactimate estimate with F9 notes and photo documentation, and submit it to the insurance carrier. We follow up 2-3 times per week until the supplement is approved.

What states do you write roofing supplements in?

The Estimate Company holds active insurance adjuster licenses in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Alabama. We write Xactimate supplements and insurance estimates for roofing contractors across all 50 states.

How fast is your Xactimate turnaround?

We submit supplements to the desk adjuster within 24 hours of receiving the file — every time. Most other supplement companies take 5-7 business days. Our next-day turnaround is standard, not a premium.

What is your fee for roofing supplement services?

We charge 15% of the supplemental recovery — the difference we recover beyond the carrier's initial payout. You pay nothing unless we recover more for you. For contractors sending 2+ claims per week, we guarantee a minimum of six figures in additional margins over 12 months, or we write you a $5,000 check.

Why did you start The Estimate Company?

Seven years ago, we saw a shift coming to the industry where contractors were going to have the opportunity to capture more business through insurance repair relationships. We also saw a clear gap between what insurance companies were paying and what they should be paying. Legitimate items are left off estimates constantly — code upgrades, missing line items, manufacturer standards. We built a due-diligence process to comb through every estimate and include every line item that's warranted. Nothing more, nothing less.

← Blog

Why the Carrier's First Estimate Is Almost Never the Final Number

By Kyle Hamrick · March 22, 2026

If you've been doing insurance roofing work for more than a season, you already know this intuitively: the number the carrier sends first is almost never the number you should accept. But do you know why? Understanding the mechanics behind initial estimates makes you a much more effective supplement advocate.

How Initial Estimates Are Written

Insurance carriers handle thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of claims simultaneously after a major storm event. The adjusters writing initial estimates are working under time pressure with limited inspection time per property. They use Xactimate or Symbility to write fast estimates designed to close claims efficiently.

The system is built to produce estimates that are defensible minimums — not comprehensive scopes. An adjuster who spends 20 minutes on a roof and writes a $14,000 estimate will close 40 claims this week. An adjuster who spends 90 minutes writing a truly thorough $21,000 estimate will close 12 claims. The carrier's business model rewards speed, not thoroughness.

The Structural Reasons Carriers Miss Items

Code requirements require local knowledge

Drip edge requirements, ice/water shield minimums, and renailing requirements vary by jurisdiction. Adjusters working large geographic areas can't know every local code. Code-required items get omitted.

Accessory items require visible inspection

Step flashing damage, pipe boot deterioration, and ridge vent condition require close inspection. Adjusters often scope from photos or brief walkthroughs — these items disappear.

Pricing databases lag market rates

Xactimate pricing is updated periodically but often lags current material and labor costs in active markets. Carriers don't volunteer the difference.

Supplemental items require advocacy

O&P, steep slope surcharges, and waste factor corrections require justification. Adjusters don't include items that will require explanation unless someone asks.

The Initial Estimate vs. Final Number — Real Averages

Based on our experience supplementing thousands of claims: the initial carrier estimate on a typical residential roofing claim runs 25-45% below what a properly supplemented estimate produces. On a $14,000 initial estimate, the final supplemented number should often be $18,000 to $21,000. That $4,000 to $7,000 gap is the supplement opportunity.

On larger homes, complex roofs, or multi-damage claims, the gap can be even larger. We've supplemented claims where the final approved amount was more than double the initial estimate.

What to Do When You Get an Initial Estimate

Treat every carrier estimate as a starting point, not a final number. Before you accept any payment or sign any agreement based on the initial amount, have the estimate professionally reviewed.

The window to supplement is usually open for several months after the initial estimate — but it closes eventually. The sooner you identify what's missing, the sooner you collect the full amount.

What's missing from your carrier estimate?

Send it to us. We'll show you exactly what's missing within 24 hours — then write the supplement to recover it.

Roofing Supplements Email Kyle