Steep & High Roof Documentation
Field procedure for documenting steep-slope and high-access roofing work: pitch verification, safety staging evidence, and line items that carriers omit on desk-reviewed estimates.
Claims Ninja Operations
Purpose
Capture pitch and access evidence on site so steep and high labor modifiers survive desk review — the most commonly omitted roofing line items on aerial and remote estimates.
When to use
Any plane measures 7/12 pitch or greater
Signal: Pitch gauge reading or measurement report steep flag
Two-story or greater eave height on affected slopes
Signal: Ground-to-eave measurement exceeds one-story threshold
Carrier estimate lacks steep/high modifiers
Signal: Estimate review flags pitch without corresponding charges
Zero-lot-line or limited staging access
Signal: Dump location, ladder setup, or equipment requires extra labor
Required documentation
Pitch gauge photo per steep plane
Readable gauge at eave or ridge; include date and elevation in filename.
Wide elevation showing roof height and slope
Ground-level shot showing full wall height to ridge.
Photos of staging, ladder setup, or equipment constraints
Support high charge and labor difficulty on multi-story or tight lots.
Measurement report pitch table excerpt
Highlight planes where report pitch exceeds carrier sketch defaults.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Measure and record pitch on every plane
Field- Use digital pitch gauge at eave on each slope — not guess from ground.
- Record pitch as rise/run (e.g., 9/12) on field sketch or CRM form.
- Photograph gauge reading with elevation context in frame.
- Flag any plane at 7/12+ for steep charge and 10/12+ for second steep tier per pricelist.
- 2
Document eave height for high charges
Field- Measure eave height from grade on two-story and multi-story elevations.
- Photograph wide shot showing full height with reference (ladder, story count).
- Note zero-lot-line, fence, or pool constraints affecting staging.
- 3
Align documentation to Xactimate modifiers
Field- Cross-check pitch breakpoints in current pricelist (typically 7/12 and 10/12).
- Confirm which squares fall in steep vs. super-steep categories.
- Match high charge to story count thresholds in estimate software.
- Hand off pitch table and photos to supplement coordinator same day.
Misaligned pitch tiers are an easy partial-approval fix if documented early.
- 4
Stage for adjuster or reinspection
Field- Leave pitch gauge available for adjuster demonstration on visit.
- Prepare one-page pitch summary by elevation for roof walk.
- Duplicate adjuster angle if they photograph pitch during visit.
Quality gates
Pitch recorded for every plane on scope — not sample only
Gauge photos readable without enhancement
Eave height documented on multi-story affected elevations
Pitch evidence uploaded before shingle install completes
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Impact | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Relying on aerial pitch without field verification | Aerial models smooth pitch; steep charges denied on 8/12+ planes. | Field gauge reading required on every steep supplement file. |
| Applying steep charge to entire roof when only one plane qualifies | Overreach triggers credibility loss; entire steep request denied. | Allocate steep squares per plane using measurement report facets. |
| No height evidence on two-story jobs | High charge omitted when adjuster never accessed site. | Wide elevation photo plus eave height measurement. |
| Pitch photos taken after install — gauge not visible | Cannot prove slope at supplement review. | Capture during inspection or tear-off before coverage. |
Relying on aerial pitch without field verification
Impact: Aerial models smooth pitch; steep charges denied on 8/12+ planes.
Correction: Field gauge reading required on every steep supplement file.
Applying steep charge to entire roof when only one plane qualifies
Impact: Overreach triggers credibility loss; entire steep request denied.
Correction: Allocate steep squares per plane using measurement report facets.
No height evidence on two-story jobs
Impact: High charge omitted when adjuster never accessed site.
Correction: Wide elevation photo plus eave height measurement.
Pitch photos taken after install — gauge not visible
Impact: Cannot prove slope at supplement review.
Correction: Capture during inspection or tear-off before coverage.
Supplement opportunities
Planes at 7/12 to 9/12 without steep modifier
Gauge photos + measurement facet pitch table
Line item hint: Steep charge per qualifying square
Planes at 10/12+ without super-steep tier
Gauge photos at steepest plane; safety staging photos
Line item hint: Super-steep or second steep breakpoint per pricelist
Two-story eave height without high charge
Elevation wide shot + height measurement from grade
Line item hint: High charge per story threshold
Tight access requiring extra labor for tear-off and haul-off
Staging constraint photos with narrative in supplement
Line item hint: Additional labor hours or equipment line per local pricelist
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