Most roofers treat siding as the side dish. The roof is the main course, the siding is "while we're here," and the carrier estimate reflects that attitude: a few squares of vinyl on one elevation and not much else.
That's a lot of money left on a plate. On storm jobs, siding scopes often carry as many missed items as the roof does, and they're frequently easier to prove because you can photograph them from the ground. Here's what to look for.
Why siding estimates come in light
Siding damage gets scoped fast. An adjuster counts the cracked panels on the windward elevation, prices the siding itself, and moves on. What gets skipped is everything that has to happen around the panels for the work to be done right: what's behind them, what's attached to them, and what has to match them.
The siding line items we see missed most
House wrap or water-resistive barrier
The IRC requires a water-resistive barrier behind exterior wall coverings (R703.2). When siding comes off an elevation, the existing wrap is often torn, brittle, or was never there. If the jurisdiction requires it and the existing barrier can't be preserved, replacing it belongs on the estimate.
Proof: photos of the wall with siding removed or a test panel pulled, plus the adopted code year.
Trim and accessories
Panels don't hang in midair. Look for:
- starter strip at the base,
- J-channel around windows, doors and rooflines,
- inside and outside corners,
- window and door wraps (trim coil),
- frieze board, fascia and soffit where damaged or disturbed.
These are routinely left off or priced as a token allowance.
Backer board or insulation underlayment
Many vinyl installs sit over fanfold or foam backer. If it's there, it's damaged or disturbed when panels come off, and it belongs on the estimate.
Detach and reset
Anything mounted to the wall has to come off and go back on: gutters and downspouts on affected elevations, light fixtures, shutters, hose bibs, mounting blocks, house numbers, satellite dishes, and A/C line-set covers. Each is its own line. Walk every elevation and count.
Full-elevation replacement for matching
Vinyl colors fade and profiles get discontinued. Replacing six panels in the middle of a sun-bleached wall leaves a visible patch. Depending on the state and the policy, that may support replacing the full elevation, or more. We cover the rules in detail in shingle and siding matching laws.
Proof: a new sample held against the existing siding in daylight, the product identification, and any discontinuation notice.
Lead-safe work practices on older homes
On homes built before 1978, disturbing painted surfaces can trigger the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule. That means certified renovators, containment and cleanup, which cost real money. If painted trim or siding is being disturbed on a pre-1978 home, those costs belong in the scope.
Paint and prime
Fiber cement and wood siding usually need priming and painting after replacement. Painting just the new pieces rarely matches, which loops back to the matching question.
Access for tall walls
Two-story elevations and gable ends often need ladder jacks or scaffolding. If the crew needs it to work safely, document it.
How to document a siding supplement
The same three-part rule we use on roofs applies here: the line item priced in the carrier's software, a short note on each line, and labeled proof.
A few siding-specific habits help:
- Photograph every elevation, labeled. Front, rear, left, right, and every gable. Desk adjusters lose track of "the west side" fast.
- Count accessories per elevation. A simple table in the notes, such as "Rear: 2 lights, 1 hose bib, 18 LF gutter," saves a round trip.
- Measure, don't estimate. Hover and similar tools produce wall-area reports. Use them the same way you'd use a roof report.
- Mark impacts with chalk before you photograph them, just like test squares on a roof.
Stay on your side of the line
Your job is documenting the wall and pricing the work. Interpreting the policy's matching provisions for the homeowner is a conversation for the homeowner, their agent, or a licensed public adjuster. See where supplementing ends and public adjusting begins.
FAQ
Does insurance pay for house wrap when siding is replaced?
Often, when the code requires a water-resistive barrier and the existing one can't be preserved. Document the condition and cite the adopted code.
Will insurance replace all my siding if only one side is damaged?
It depends on the state's matching rules and the policy. Strong match evidence, such as a test-fit photo and product identification, helps the carrier make that decision.
What siding items get missed most often?
Wrap, trim and accessories, backer board, detach-and-reset items, lead-safe work on older homes, and paint.
Can I supplement siding and roof together?
Yes, and you should. One clean supplement with every trade on the claim is easier for a desk adjuster to review than several separate submissions.
EOD writes roof and siding supplements for roofers, in Xactimate or Symbility, and follows up with the carrier until the revised estimate is issued. 10% of the increase, no increase no fee. See our roof and siding supplement service or send us a file.
