Code Upgrades Your Insurance Should Cover (But Often Doesn't — Without a Supplement)
When your roof is replaced after storm damage, it has to meet current building codes — not the codes from when the house was built. Many of these code-required upgrades are covered by insurance, but adjusters frequently leave them off the initial estimate. Here are the most common ones we fight for.
Ice & Water Shield
Iowa building code requires ice and water shield membrane along eaves, valleys, and around penetrations. This prevents ice dam leaks. Many older roofs don't have it, but when the roof is replaced, it must be added. This is a code upgrade — and it should be on your claim.
Drip Edge
Metal drip edge along the eaves and rakes is required by code. It directs water away from the fascia and into the gutter. If your old roof didn't have it, the replacement must include it. We document this with photos and code references in every supplement.
Proper Ventilation
Building codes require adequate attic ventilation — typically 1 sq ft of ventilation for every 150 sq ft of attic space. If your home is under-ventilated, the new roof installation must bring it up to code. This often means adding ridge vents, soffit vents, or both.
Starter Strip & Hip/Ridge Cap
Manufacturer installation guidelines (which most codes reference) require proper starter strip along eaves and hip/ridge cap shingles. These are separate line items from the field shingles and are often missed on initial estimates.
Nailing Patterns & Fastener Requirements
Code specifies the number and placement of nails per shingle. In high-wind zones, enhanced nailing patterns may be required. We follow manufacturer specs on every job and document compliance for the insurance file.
Permit Fees
Many Iowa jurisdictions require a permit for roof replacement. The permit fee is a legitimate project cost that should be included in the insurance scope. We pull all required permits and include the fee in our supplement if it was missed.
Why This Matters for You
If these items aren't on your claim, one of two things happens: either your contractor skips them (which means your new roof doesn't meet code), or you pay for them out of pocket. Neither is acceptable.
We submit supplements for every code-required item that's missing from the initial scope. Our documentation includes the specific code reference, annotated photos, and Xactimate line items — making it very difficult for the carrier to deny.
Think Your Estimate Is Missing Code Items?
Send us your estimate and we'll review it for free. We'll identify what's missing and explain what should be covered.
