How to Supplement a Roofing Insurance Claim

What Is a Roofing Supplement?

A supplement is additional documentation submitted to your insurance company requesting more money for items that were missed, underpriced, or required by local building code that the adjuster did not include in the original estimate.

Here is the reality of roofing insurance claims in Arkansas: the adjuster's initial estimate is almost never the final number. Adjusters work from software called Xactimate, which prices line items based on national or regional averages. Those prices lag real-world material and labor costs, especially after major storm events when roofing demand spikes. They also work fast — a thorough adjuster might spend 30–45 minutes on your roof. A contractor who works roofs every day will catch things the adjuster missed.

Supplements are routine, not adversarial. Most insurance adjusters expect to receive supplements from experienced roofing contractors. It is part of how the claims process works. Framing it as a dispute or a fight misrepresents what is actually a professional back-and-forth with documentation. A well-prepared supplement moves quickly. A poorly documented one gets rejected or delayed.

SMI's experience with the supplement process means we know what to document, how to price it correctly, and how to present it in the format insurance companies expect. We do this work on every applicable claim at no additional cost to you.

What Gets Supplemented Most Often

Drip edge is the most commonly missed line item on Arkansas claims. Drip edge is a metal flashing that runs along the eaves and rakes of the roof and is required by the International Building Code — which Arkansas has adopted. When drip edge is missing from an adjuster's estimate, adding it is not optional work; it is a code-required item that must be included in any legitimate re-roofing scope.

Ice and water shield is a self-adhering waterproof membrane required at roof valleys, eaves, and around penetrations per current building code. It is frequently missing from adjuster estimates because it is not visible from a quick roof inspection. SMI documents ice and water shield requirements from measurements and code references, not just visual inspection.

Code-required upgrades vary by property. If a roof has outdated ventilation that does not meet current code, a re-roof triggers an upgrade requirement. If decking is damaged or non-compliant, replacement is code-required. Adjusters routinely omit these items. An experienced contractor knows what local inspectors require and documents it accordingly.

Material price increases. Xactimate pricing is updated periodically but consistently runs behind actual market prices, especially in post-storm periods when material demand is high. SMI documents current actual material costs when they exceed Xactimate pricing and includes that documentation in the supplement package.

Overhead and Profit (O&P) is a line item that applies when a general contractor is coordinating multiple trades on a project. It typically represents 10% overhead and 10% profit on the total scope. Insurance companies frequently omit O&P on straight roofing claims, but it is legally warranted when the contractor's role includes coordination and project management beyond just the roofing installation. This is one of the most consistently contested supplement items and one of the most consistently recovered ones when properly documented.

Additional decking discovered after tear-off is one of the few supplement items that cannot be documented until the old roof comes off. If decking is found to be damaged, rotted, or non-compliant during installation, SMI photographs it, documents the square footage, and submits a supplement immediately. Insurance companies expect this and typically process it quickly.

The Supplement Process Step by Step

Once SMI identifies that an initial estimate is deficient, here is how the supplement process works:

1. Documentation package preparation. SMI compiles photographs of each missed or underpriced item, precise measurements, current pricing documentation, and citations for any applicable code requirements. This is the foundation of a successful supplement — documentation that leaves no room for dispute.
2. Submission to the insurance company. The supplement is submitted directly to the assigned adjuster or their supervisor, formatted according to the insurance company's preferred method (Xactimate file, PDF package, or both).
3. Review and response. The adjuster reviews the supplement and either approves it, approves it in part, or disputes specific line items. SMI handles all communication during this phase.
4. Negotiation if needed. On disputed items — most often O&P and code upgrades — SMI provides additional documentation, code citations, and pricing references to support the request. In our experience, well-documented supplements resolve in the contractor's favor the large majority of the time.
5. Revised settlement issued. The insurance company issues a revised settlement reflecting the approved supplement items. Work proceeds or continues based on the updated scope.

Timeline: most supplements resolve within 2–6 weeks. Complex multi-item supplements on large claims can take longer. SMI keeps you informed throughout the process and does not begin work until the scope and payment are properly established — or begin supplementing work already in progress when additional items are discovered during installation.

How Much Can a Supplement Add?

A typical supplement on an Arkansas residential roof claim adds $1,500 to $6,000 to the approved settlement. On larger claims — particularly those involving code upgrades, extensive decking replacement, or O&P — supplements can exceed $10,000.

To put that in practical terms: if your initial settlement was $11,000 on a job that should cost $15,000, a thorough supplement can bridge that gap and get the scope right before work begins. That difference is not SMI padding a bill — it is the proper scope required to do the job correctly and meet code, covered by the insurance you have been paying for.

For the full picture of how the claims process works from the first phone call through final payment, read our guide on how to file a roofing insurance claim in Arkansas. If you have already received a settlement and want to know if it is fair, schedule a free inspection — SMI will review your estimate at no charge and tell you exactly what is there and what is missing.