Roofing & Materials
Snow guard
A small attachment that holds snow on a metal or steep roof so it releases in pieces instead of one dangerous slide. It appears as a line item on estimates for those roofs. On a claim, ask whether any were damaged or removed and need replacing.
More roofing & materials terms
- Skylight
A window set into the roof; the flashing around it is a common missed line item.
- Slope
How steep a roof is, expressed as rise over run, a 6/12 roof rises 6 inches for every foot it runs.
- Soffit
The finished underside panel at the roof overhang, which also vents the attic. It is a separate line item from fascia in most estimates. Fascia and soffit are damaged together often, so quoting just one can miss owed work.
- Soffit vent
Ventilation built into the underside of the eaves to pull cool air in.
- Soft metal damage
Denting, deformation, or perforation of soft metals such as gutters, downspouts, vents, and flashing, usually from hail. It is the classic hail indicator an adjuster looks for to confirm the damage is storm-caused. Dents that break the surface or crease metal are the ones that get replaced.
- SQ
Shorthand for a roof square, 100 square feet of roof surface. Carriers write roof quantities in SQ on the scope.
Common questions
What does "Snow guard" mean in Xactimate estimating?
A small attachment that holds snow on a metal or steep roof so it releases in pieces instead of one dangerous slide. It appears as a line item on estimates for those roofs. On a claim, ask whether any were damaged or removed and need replacing.
Where does "Snow guard" show up in a claim?
The term matters on estimates and scopes across the insurance restoration workflow. Browse the glossary for related terms.
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