What Carriers Pay For in 2026: Approved and Denied Line Items

Carrier behavior shifts every year as claims volume, market pressure, and underwriting philosophy evolve. What got paid in 2023 does not always get paid in 2026. This is the current line-item approval landscape across the 10 largest US residential carriers, updated for 2026 claim activity and pre-season storm cycle.

Line items approved 90 percent or higher

These are the items you should expect to be paid on every reasonable supplement. If any of these get denied, you have grounds for an immediate re-inspection request.

Tear-off and disposal

Removal of existing shingles plus dump fees. Paid nearly universally. 2026 Xactimate prices: $45 to $68 per square tear-off, $85 to $125 per dump load for disposal.

Standard asphalt shingle replacement

3-tab or architectural replacement at manufacturer's spec. Paid when damage is documented. $185 to $285 per square RCV for architectural.

Drip edge

Required by code in most jurisdictions since 2012. $4.20 to $6.85 per linear foot. Paid as a code-upgrade when missing on pre-2012 homes.

Ridge and hip cap

Matched cap shingles at $4.50 to $7.20 per linear foot. Paid on every re-roof.

Nails and fasteners

Included in the shingle install cost. Itemized separately on some supplements at $22 to $35 per square.

Felt or synthetic underlayment

Code-required under shingles. $22 to $55 per square depending on product. Paid on every re-roof.

Starter strip

Matched starter at eaves and rakes. $1.85 to $2.80 per linear foot. Universal inclusion.

Line items approved 70 to 89 percent

These are the battlegrounds. Included properly in the initial scope, they get paid. Missed or poorly justified, they get denied.

Ice and water shield

Code-required in most northern states at eaves, valleys, and penetrations. $78 to $115 per square. Paid 85 percent of the time on full re-roofs. Denied when carrier argues "not required by existing code."

Step flashing

Wall-to-roof transitions at chimneys, sidewalls, and dormers. $12 to $22 per linear foot. Paid when documented as damaged. Denied when carrier claims "re-usable."

Valley metal

W-valley or open valley replacement. $8.50 to $14 per linear foot. Paid 80 percent when documented.

Ridge vent

Continuous ridge ventilation. $8.20 to $12.40 per linear foot. Paid 85 percent when code-required or when existing is damaged.

Pipe boots and flashing

Replace at every vent penetration. $28 to $55 each. Paid when damaged or when re-roofing entire section.

Line items denied 50 percent or higher

These are the fights. You will win some and lose some. Know which is which before writing the supplement.

R&R chimney flashing

Remove and replace chimney step/counter flashing. $285 to $485 per chimney. Denied 60 percent of the time with carrier arguing "minor repair only." Fight with photos of deteriorated counter flashing and mortar condition.

Gutter replacement

Aluminum or steel gutter full replacement. $8.50 to $14 per linear foot. Denied 55 percent of the time unless visible impact damage documented. Hail claims increasingly require dent-per-foot documentation.

Fascia and soffit replacement

Aluminum or wood fascia/soffit. $18 to $32 per linear foot. Denied 65 percent without direct damage documentation. Paid when ice dam or impact damage is clear.

Decking replacement

Plywood or OSB deck replacement. $85 to $125 per 4 by 8 sheet. Denied 50 percent unless visible damage or rot documented through test cuts.

Satellite dish R&R

Remove and reset Dish or DirecTV equipment during re-roof. $185 to $285. Denied 70 percent as "homeowner responsibility."

Solar panel R&R

Remove and reset solar during re-roof. $1,200 to $2,800 depending on system size. Denied 60 percent or capped at $500 as "homeowner responsibility." Fight with manufacturer letter requiring licensed solar removal.

2026 carrier behavior changes

State Farm

Tightened on cosmetic hail, especially metal roofs. Now pushing hard on match statutes. Increasingly requiring engineer letters for functional damage arguments.

Allstate

Shifted to third-party field adjusters for most storm claims. Less familiar with local code. Fight harder on code-upgrade line items like ice and water shield.

Farmers

Rolled out cosmetic exclusion riders on metal roofs in 7 states. Read policy endorsements carefully before setting expectations with the homeowner.

Liberty Mutual

Slightly softer on first submission but aggressive on re-inspection denials. Document thoroughly on first pass.

Travelers

Most balanced of the big carriers. Pays fair scope on documented damage. Rare denials on legitimate claims.

USAA

Historically fairest carrier. Tightened slightly in 2025 but still pays supplements when documentation is clean.

Progressive

Limited homeowner market but expanding. Newer adjusters, more variable outcomes.

Nationwide

Code-upgrade on ice and water shield and ridge vent is approval-heavy in 2026.

Amica

High-value market. Pays full scope on documented damage. Rare supplement fights.

Chubb

Premium market. Pays premium scope including upgraded materials and extended warranties.

New approaches in 2026

Drone-first inspections

Several carriers (Allstate, Farmers, Liberty) now send drone inspections before adjusters walk the roof. Bring your own drone documentation to counter their preliminary drone findings.

AI-assisted scope estimation

State Farm and USAA are piloting AI-generated Xactimate scopes from drone and satellite imagery. These scopes often miss slopes, miss flashings, and underprice labor. Your manual scope is your defense.

Depreciation aggressiveness

2026 has seen carriers apply steeper depreciation schedules, particularly on roofs over 15 years old. Fight with manufacturer warranty documentation and pre-loss condition photos.

Weather report challenges

Carriers are more aggressive about challenging storm reports. Pull from multiple sources (NOAA, HailTrace, Interactive Hail Maps) for corroboration.

Code-upgrade strategy

Most homeowner policies have an Ordinance or Law endorsement. This pays for code-upgrade requirements during repair. Check the homeowner's policy for this endorsement. If present, push for:

• Ice and water shield to current code (typically 2 feet past interior wall line)
• Drip edge on all eaves and rakes (required in most jurisdictions post-2012)
• Ridge vent upgrade if existing ventilation is inadequate
• Decking replacement where existing does not meet current span tables
• Nailing pattern upgrade to 6-nail high-wind pattern

Ordinance or Law endorsements typically pay up to 10 or 25 percent of the dwelling coverage. On a $450,000 dwelling, that is $45,000 to $112,500 of additional coverage.

For the full supplement workflow, see supplementing underpaid scopes. For contract protection, read roofing contract addendums that protect you.

The RoofKnockers approach

RoofKnockers Supplement Manager maintains a current Xactimate database, tracks carrier-specific behavior by region, and flags line items likely to be denied so you can front-load documentation.

FAQ

What is the difference between RCV and ACV?

RCV (Replacement Cost Value) is what it costs to replace today. ACV (Actual Cash Value) is RCV minus depreciation. Most policies pay ACV upfront and depreciation hold-back after repair is complete.

Can I negotiate line item prices with the adjuster?

The prices are set by Xactimate or carrier internal databases. You are not negotiating price. You are negotiating which line items belong in the scope. Price changes require regional update letters to Xactimate.

How do I handle carrier depreciation hold-back?

Complete the work, submit certificate of completion with final invoice, provide photos of completed work. Depreciation is released upon proof of full repair.