Roofing & Materials
Valley
A valley is the inside angle where two roof slopes meet, and it carries water from both planes, making it a common leak point. In a claim, photograph the valley metal or woven method and note rust, granule loss and debris, since carriers often question replacing a valley that shows only partial damage.
Full guide: commonly missed roofing line items xactimate codes
More roofing & materials terms
- Turbine Vent
A turbine vent is a spinning rooftop vent that pulls hot air out of an attic as wind turns its blades. On a storm claim, note bent or missing turbines and whether the flashing leaked, because a vent that still spins may be repairable while a crushed one is usually replaced.
- Underlayment
The protective layer between the roof deck and the shingles, felt or synthetic.
- Valley flashing
Metal installed in the valleys where two roof planes meet, directing water down and off the roof.
- Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier blocks moisture vapor from moving into a roof or wall assembly, and in roofing it is usually a membrane or underlayment layer. Replacing or disturbing it can be its own line item, and whether it is required depends on local code and the assembly, so photograph what was there.
- Ventilation
The intake-and-exhaust system that keeps the attic cool and dry, required by code in most areas.
- Wear Pattern
A wear pattern is the gradual deterioration that age, sun and foot traffic leave across a roof, unlike the random or directional marks a storm leaves. Adjusters use it to separate maintenance from storm damage, so photograph whole slopes, not just the worst spots, or your claim can be read as normal aging.
Common questions
What does "Valley" mean in Xactimate estimating?
A valley is the inside angle where two roof slopes meet, and it carries water from both planes, making it a common leak point. In a claim, photograph the valley metal or woven method and note rust, granule loss and debris, since carriers often question replacing a valley that shows only partial damage.
Where does "Valley" 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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