The answers roofing contractors and adjusters actually need — ESX files, Xactimate pricing, insurance claims, supplements, and the free tools.
An ESX file is Xactimate's native project file format. It holds the full estimate: line items, groups/folders, CAT|SEL codes, quantities, prices, notes, and metadata. Import it into Xactimate and it reprices against the loaded price list.
A SEL code is Xactimate's shorthand for a line item (for example, 300S = laminated composition shingle, reroof). Each SEL belongs to a category (cat) and carries a current-list unit price. ESXPress resolves SEL codes from the real 18,054-code price list and flags anything it cannot verify.
Xactimate reprices every line against the price list loaded for the current month and region. If your .esx carries a price or skClass the list does not match (such as a catch-all skClass 9500/9501), the total changes. ESXPress emits lines with correct CAT|SEL and current pricing so repricing is stable.
No. Xactimate is a registered trademark of Verisk Analytics. ESXPress is an independent product that generates .esx files for use with properly licensed copies of Xactimate desktop software.
Flat monthly plans from $149/mo (Starter, 25 conversions) to $999/mo (Volume+, unlimited conversions), with a free tier of 5 conversions/month. Past your cap on Starter/Professional/Enterprise, conversions pause — there are no surprise overage charges. Volume+ never pauses.
Not per line — every conversion includes up to 500 line items at a flat per-conversion price, with no per-line charges. Scopes over 500 lines are rejected with a clear error rather than silently cut.
Yes. The free tier is card-free with 5 conversions/month. Every paid plan includes a 14-day free trial (a card is required to start it, but you are not charged until it ends).
RCV (Replacement Cost Value) is what it costs to replace the damaged property with like-kind quality. ACV (Actual Cash Value) is RCV minus depreciation. Insurance claims pay RCV minus the deductible, then recover depreciation after repairs.
Recoverable depreciation is the portion the carrier pays back after repairs are completed to policy standard. Non-recoverable depreciation is never paid back. Most standard homeowner policies pay RCV (with recoverable depreciation) if you repair with a licensed contractor and document the work.
O&P is the overhead and profit a general contractor is entitled to on top of a scope. Policy language determines whether O&P is owed; the '20% O&P trap' is when contractors forget to claim the true budget including overhead and profit.
A supplement is an additional estimate submitted to the carrier for line items the original scope missed or undervalued. Winning supplements requires showing why each item is owed: a code requirement, a manufacturer requirement, or that it previously existed.
Code upgrade coverage pays to bring a repair up to current building code even where it exceeds the pre-loss condition (for example, adding ice-and-water shield that did not previously exist). It is an endorsement, so coverage depends on the policy.
Ice and water shield is a self-adhering underlayment installed in valleys and at roof-to-wall transitions, and as a 36-inch ice barrier at eaves in cold climates. It is commonly owed on insurance scopes and is often cited under IRC R905.1.2 / R905.2.1.
Drip edge is metal flashing installed at eaves and rakes that directs water away from the fascia and into the gutter. IRC R905.2.8.5 requires it at eaves and gables, and it is one of the most commonly missed line items on insurance scopes.
A starter course is the first row of shingles at the eaves and rakes, cut to expose the sealant. Shingle manufacturers (GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed) require it for warranty coverage, and it is frequently missed on insurance scopes.
A roofing square (SQ) is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roofing quantities are quoted in squares (for example, a 30 SQ roof covers 3,000 sq ft). One square of asphalt shingles is typically three bundles.
Step flashing is L-shaped metal installed at wall-to-roof intersections (where a roof meets a sidewall or chimney). IRC R905.2.4 requires step and counter flashing at walls and chimneys to shed water; it is frequently missed or undervalued.
The true budget on a claim is the full RCV including overhead and profit, code upgrades, and recoverable depreciation — not just the visible line items. The O&P trap is understating the scope and losing the overhead/profit and depreciation you are owed.
Photo-Scope is ESXPress's AI damage analysis: upload jobsite photos and it identifies damage, grades severity, and suggests line items. It runs on a vision pipeline (Gemini) with a fallback.
The free validator at esxpress.org/tools/esx-validator checks an ESX file's structure and pasted XACTDOC XML against the structural rules Xactimate project files follow. It runs entirely in the browser, with no signup.
The free Reprice Check at esxpress.org/tools/esx-reprice-check lets you paste estimate lines and see current-list prices, so you can spot lines that would reprice before you export to Xactimate.