Roofing & Materials
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.
Full guide: commonly missed roofing line items xactimate codes
More roofing & materials terms
- 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.
- 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.
- Starter course
The first row of shingles at the roof edge that seals the eaves, often its own line item.
- Starter Strip
The first course laid along the eaves before the field shingles, sealing the bottom edge and locking the first full course down. It is priced separately from field shingles, so a scope that only counts field squares is missing a line item. Some manufacturers require it for the shingle warranty.
Common questions
What does "Soft metal damage" mean in Xactimate estimating?
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.
Where does "Soft metal damage" show up in a claim?
The term matters on estimates and scopes across the insurance restoration workflow, see the full guide for where it fits.
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