Roofing & Materials
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.
More roofing & materials terms
- Slope
How steep a roof is, expressed as rise over run, a 6/12 roof rises 6 inches for every foot it runs.
- 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.
- 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.
- Standing-Seam Metal
A metal roof made of long panels that run eave to ridge and lock together at raised seams instead of overlapping shingles. Repairs usually mean replacing a whole panel, and matching an older profile or finish can be hard. Hail and wind claims turn on whether the panel or only its coating was damaged.
Common questions
What does "Soffit" mean in Xactimate estimating?
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.
Where does "Soffit" 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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