Wind Damage Roof — Steep and High Charges Were Missing From the Estimate

This was part of a wind damage roof where multiple facets were affected and the insurance company agreed to replace the entire roof. The issue wasn’t approval — it was the estimate. On paper, the adjuster wrote for removing and replacing shingles and included a dumpster, but critical labor adjustments were missing. One of those was steep and high charges.

The Situation

The roof was being fully replaced due to wind damage.

This was not a repair — this was a full tear-off and replacement across all affected facets. The roof was also:

• a second-story structure

• with slopes that were not easily walkable

That directly affects labor.

What Was Written

The adjuster initially wrote for:

• remove and replace shingles

• dumpster / debris removal

There were no adjustments for:

• roof pitch (steepness)

• roof height (access difficulty)

What Was Missed

Steep and high charges were completely missing.

These are standard adjustments used in estimating to reflect:

• increased labor difficulty

• safety requirements

• reduced production speed

These are not upgrades.

👉 They are job conditions

What Most People Miss

Roofing is not flat work.

👉 The pitch and height change everything

Fall Protection Hardware

There is also a charge for fall protection.

On steep or elevated roofs:

• harnesses

• anchors

• lifelines

• and safety equipment

are required for workers on the roof.

👉 This is not optional — it’s safety compliance

And it’s not built into base labor.

In estimating:

• fall protection can be applied per laborer

• especially on steep or high conditions

If it’s not included:

👉 the safety requirements of the job are not being accounted for

Steep Roof Conditions

As pitch increases:

• footing becomes unstable

• safety harnesses are required

• movement slows down significantly

Labor:

• takes longer

• requires more caution

• often needs additional setup

High Roof Conditions

On second-story (or higher) roofs:

• materials must be lifted higher

• tear-off must be controlled

• access becomes more difficult

This affects:

• labor time

• manpower

• safety requirements

Why This Matters

Estimating software includes these charges for a reason.

👉 Because not all roofs are equal

A single-story, low-pitch roof:

• is faster

• easier

• less risky

A steep, second-story roof:

• is slower

• more dangerous

• requires more effort

If these charges are missing:

👉 the labor is underwritten

This happens all the time.

Because:

• adjusters often write base-level estimates

• pitch and height are not always properly evaluated

• and these adjustments are easy to overlook

What Changed the Outcome

Once it was explained:

• that the roof had measurable pitch

• that it was above standard working height

• and that these conditions directly affect labor

👉 steep and high charges were added and approved

What Homeowners Should Look For

If your roof is being replaced, check your estimate for:

• steep roof charges (based on pitch)

• high roof charges (based on height)

If your home is:

• two stories

• or has a steep slope

And those charges are not listed:

👉 they are likely missing

Takeaway

Not all roofs cost the same to replace.

👉 the difficulty of the roof matters

Steepness and height directly impact labor.

If those conditions are not accounted for:

👉 the estimate is incomplete

And this is where it goes wrong.

One Last Thing (What Everything Comes Down To)

Everything comes down to the estimate.

If your claim is delayed, underpaid, or being pushed back, that’s usually the reason.

If you’re not finding a clear answer to your situation here, go through the other case studies. Most real-world claim problems — and how they were handled — are already shown there.

And if your estimate is in good shape, the other issues tend to be straightforward to push through.

To understand why this happens and how to fix it, review the following:

Why Insurance Claims Get Delayed (It Comes Down to the Estimate): The Real Reason Claims Get Delayed
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is Why Contractors Get It Wrong: Contractors Don’t Fail at Building — They Fail at Writing
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is Why Adjusters Rewrite Instead of Approving: Adjusters Don’t Approve What They Can’t Follow
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is What It Should Look Like: A Proper Estimate Is Not Just a Number

How to Read an Insurance Estimate (Room by Room): Why Most Homeowners Feel Confused by Estimates

How to Vet a Contractor, Public Adjuster, and Mitigation Company: Why This Matters More Than Anything Else

If you still have questions about your claim, visit our Homeowners Insurance Claim FAQs page for quick answers and links to detailed guides.

Learn More At ClaimHelpMe.com

This page explains the basics of how this part of the insurance claim process works.

However, inside ClaimHelpMe.com, homeowners can access real repair estimates, detailed examples, and step-by-step explanations showing how claims are documented, evaluated, and presented to insurance carriers.

The free content explains the fundamentals.
The ClaimHelpMe platform shows how the process actually works.

Explore more homeowner insurance claim guides in our Claim Guides section.

About The Author

Mark Grossman is a Licensed Public Adjuster and NASCLA Certified Contractor with 28 years in the restoration insurance industry and 35 years in construction.

Learn more → Mark Grossman