Why Does Xactimate Expertise Matter on a Roof Claim?
Most homeowners have never heard of Xactimate — but it’s the single most important piece of software standing between you and a fully covered roof replacement.
By Alex Hostetler · Hiring & Trust Hub · Serving Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill & Middle Tennessee
Quick Answer
Xactimate is the line-item estimating software nearly every major insurance carrier uses to price roof claims, and a properly written estimate can include 40 to 80 individual line items, each representing money a homeowner is entitled to under their policy. Because most insurance adjusters in Middle Tennessee aren’t formally Xactimate certified, claims are frequently underscoped by missed items like overhead and profit, drip edge, or code upgrades. Red Rover Roofing’s Xactimate Level 2 Certification means estimates get written in the carrier’s own language, so homeowners in Williamson County and Middle Tennessee don’t leave money on the table.
TL;DR
Part of Roof University: Trust, Hiring & Contractor Guidance
What Is Xactimate, and Why Does It Matter for a Roof Claim?
Xactimate is a property claims estimating software built by Xactware, a Verisk Analytics company, and it is the platform nearly every major U.S. insurance carrier uses to price roof damage claims. State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Nationwide, Farmers, and Tennessee Farmers Insurance all rely on it. The software pulls from localized pricing databases updated monthly for labor rates and material costs by zip code, and it breaks a roof replacement into individual line items rather than a single lump-sum number. A typical roof claim estimate includes 40 to 80 separate line items, and the completeness of that estimate directly determines how much the insurance company pays.
What Are the Xactimate Certification Levels, and Why Does Level 2 Matter?
Xactware offers a formal certification program with multiple levels that validate a professional’s proficiency with the software. These certifications require coursework, testing, and demonstrated competency.
Xactimate Level 1 Certification
Basic navigation, simple estimates, common line items — limited ability to catch complex scoping issues
Xactimate Level 2 Certification
Advanced roof scoping, overhead & profit calculations, waste factors, code upgrade documentation, and supplement writing
Xactimate Level 3 Certification
Expert-level macros, custom templates, and training other estimators
A contractor holding Level 2 certification or higher has passed Xactware coursework and testing that most roofing contractors never complete.
“This isn’t a small detail. This is the difference between a claim that gets approved at full value and a claim that gets shortchanged by thousands of dollars.”
Are Insurance Adjusters Required to Be Xactimate Certified?
No. Insurance adjusters in Tennessee must pass a state licensing exam covering insurance law and claims handling procedures, but formal Xactimate certification is not required. Many adjusters learn the software through on-the-job or carrier-specific training, which means the person pricing a roof claim may not fully understand the tool they are using, and estimates can come in undervalued as a result.
Which Line Items Are Most Often Missed on a Roof Insurance Claim?
Every one of these items has a specific Xactimate code and a corresponding price in the localized database, so an estimator who does not recognize the code will not know to include it.
If you’re reviewing a roof claim estimate and aren’t sure whether every line item has been captured, that’s exactly where a qualified second opinion helps. Read more about how insurance claim advocacy works on our Insurance Claim Advocacy page. And if you’re still vetting contractors, our Hiring a Roofer guide covers the full set of questions worth asking before you sign anything.
How Can Missing Line Items Change a Roof Claim by Thousands of Dollars?
In one Franklin, Tennessee case, an initial adjuster estimate came in at approximately $18,400 after a spring hailstorm. The estimate included shingles, felt, ridge cap, and basic tear-off labor, and looked complete on the surface. After a Xactimate Level 2 Certified estimator reviewed the scope line by line, several items turned out to be missing or under-scoped, including ice and water shield upgrades, drip edge, starter shingles, step flashing, additional ridge vent quantity, satellite dish detach and reset, waste factor adjustments, and overhead and profit. Once supplemental documentation with photos and code references was submitted in Xactimate format, the carrier approved an additional $5,700 in claim value. The roof itself had not changed; the accuracy of the scope had.
What Is a Supplemental Claim, and When Is One Filed?
A supplemental claim is a formal request to add line items or adjust pricing on an existing claim after the initial adjuster estimate has already been written. Supplements are a normal part of the process, since no single inspection catches every item on the first pass. To be approved, a supplement needs photo documentation, applicable code references, and proper Xactimate formatting; a generic invoice or informal request is far less likely to hold up under carrier review.
What Is the Difference Between Xactimate and Symbility?
| Platform | Typical Use |
| Xactimate (Xactware / Verisk) | Used by most major national carriers; dominant U.S. market share |
| Symbility (CoreLogic Claims Connect) | Used by some regional carriers and select national carriers |
Both platforms are line-item estimating systems with localized pricing, photo integration, and standardized reporting, but they use different interfaces and coding structures, so proficiency in one does not automatically transfer to the other.
What Questions Should You Ask a Roofing Contractor About Xactimate Before Hiring?
Are you Xactimate certified, and if so, what level?
Will you write your own Xactimate estimate for my roof?
Will you meet with my adjuster during the inspection?
Do you handle supplemental claims?
Do you know which platform my insurance company uses?
A contractor who can’t answer these confidently isn’t necessarily a bad roofer — it just means insurance advocacy isn’t part of what they offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Xactimate and Roof Insurance Claims
Red Rover Roofing is a licensed, insured, and certified roofing contractor serving Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Leiper’s Fork, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities. Tennessee Home Improvement License #12890 | Xactimate Level 2 Certified | CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator.