Commercial Roof Supplements
Commercial roof claims are where the biggest dollars and the thinnest first estimates meet. A field adjuster who is comfortable on a 30-square shingle roof writes a 400-square TPO roof with the same instincts, and the estimate that comes out misses the insulation, the tapered system, the curbs, the coping, the HVAC detach-and-reset and the tear-off of the second membrane the core cut found. Estimate on Demand writes commercial roof supplements in Xactimate and Symbility for roofers doing insurance restoration on commercial, multifamily and institutional buildings. Residential is here; this page covers the low-slope and large-loss side.
What a commercial supplement usually adds
- Tear-off and disposal of every existing layer the core cuts show, not the one layer the estimate assumed, plus wet insulation removal documented by a moisture survey.
- Insulation and cover board to the adopted energy code’s R-value, tapered systems where drainage requires them, and mechanically attached or adhered specifications that match the manufacturer’s warranty requirements and the wind-uplift design.
- Flashings, curbs, coping and edge metal: parapet and wall flashings, pipe and curb flashings, drains and scuppers, expansion joints, and the edge-metal attachment the code requires.
- Rooftop equipment: detach-and-reset of HVAC units, disconnect and reconnect by a licensed trade, crane time, and the labor minimums for electrical and mechanical work.
- Deck repair where the survey shows deteriorated metal, wood or lightweight concrete deck, and the engineering that supports it.
- Access and general conditions: lifts, hoisting, staging, safety and protection, permit and inspection fees, and overhead and profit where multiple trades are on the job.
Each item carries a written justification: the code section (IBC and the adopted energy code rather than the IRC), the manufacturer’s specification, the engineer’s finding or the photo. Our code items post is residential-focused, but the documentation method is identical.
How commercial claims get reviewed
Expect a team on the carrier side: a large-loss adjuster, an engineering firm or building consultant, and often a preferred-vendor contractor whose bid becomes the carrier’s number. The supplement has to answer all three. That means responding to the engineer’s report on its own terms (core cuts, moisture survey, seam and lap condition, deck condition), pricing to the same regional list the carrier used, and separating system replacement from repair with the manufacturer’s own repair limitations. Where the carrier’s number is a competing contractor’s bid, we reconcile it line by line rather than arguing totals. Our estimators are former carrier field adjusters; several handled commercial losses on the carrier side, and all of them know what the large-loss desk needs to see before it moves.
Working with EOD on commercial files
Send the carrier’s estimate, any engineering or consultant report, the roof survey or field measurements, the core-cut and moisture-survey results, the photo set and the declarations page. We review, write the supplement in the carrier’s platform and price list, deliver PDF plus native file, submit it, and follow up with the large-loss desk until the revised estimate is issued, with written technical rebuttals as needed. We do not represent the policyholder or argue coverage; on commercial losses that typically involve a public adjuster or the owner’s counsel, we work alongside them as the estimating desk (see supplement writing for public adjusters). Historically our supplements have averaged about a 28.6% increase over the carrier’s original estimate, with supplements submitted within 24 hours of a complete file and about 19 days from submission to a revised estimate. Those are past averages across many carriers, states and roof types, not a promise about any one claim.
Commercial roof supplement FAQ
What commercial roof types do you supplement?
Low-slope membrane systems (TPO, PVC, EPDM), modified bitumen and built-up roofs, standing-seam and screw-down metal, and steep-slope commercial (churches, multifamily, retail with shingle or tile). We also write the trades that come with them: rooftop HVAC detach-and-reset, curbs and flashings, parapet and coping, drains and scuppers, insulation and cover board, and interior damage below the roof.
How is a commercial supplement different from residential?
Larger scopes, more trades, more engineering, and a carrier team rather than a single desk adjuster. Quantities come from a roof report or a field measure rather than an aerial; code items include energy-code insulation requirements and wind-uplift attachment, not just drip edge; and most disputes are about system replacement versus repair, tapered insulation, and whether the deck is salvageable. The documentation standard is the same; the file is just bigger.
What does it cost?
10% of the increase between the carrier’s original estimate and the final approved estimate, billed net 28 after the job closes. No increase, no fee. No minimums, no separate commercial rate. On very large losses we will quote a capped fee up front if you prefer; ask.
Do you handle the carrier’s engineer and consultant reports?
Yes. Commercial claims almost always carry a third-party engineering or consultant report, and the supplement has to respond to it item by item: core cuts, moisture surveys, seam and lap condition, deck condition, manufacturer warranty requirements. We write that response as a technical rebuttal on scope and quantities; coverage positions stay with the policyholder or their public adjuster.
Working a commercial roof claim? EOD’s roofing supplement services handle the write-up and the follow-up: 10% of the increase, no increase, no fee, no minimums. Send us a claim.