Roof waste factor on an insurance claim: 10% vs 15%
Waste depends on roof geometry. A simple gable roof runs about 10%. Hip roofs and roofs with valleys run 15% or more, because every hip and valley cut wastes material. When the carrier applies 10% to a cut-up roof, the shingle quantity comes up short.
Why it gets left off
- —The estimate applies one waste factor to every roof.
- —The suggested waste from the measurement report is ignored.
- —Shingles are written to the measured area with no waste at all.
The code or standard
Waste factor follows the measured roof geometry: about 10% for simple gable roofs and 15% or more for hip roofs and roofs with valleys.
How to measure it
Measured squares times (1 + waste %), rounded up to the next bundle (1/3 square). Use the measurement report's suggested waste table when it has one.
Typical value on a 30-square roof
1.5 SQ of shingles (5% waste gap on 30 SQ) × $310.00/SQ ≈ $465
National ballpark price. On a real claim ClaimGap uses the unit price from the carrier's own estimate.
What to put in the supplement
- The measurement report's waste calculation table.
- The hip and valley lengths that drive the higher waste.
Questions
- Is there a standard waste factor?
- No single standard, but measurement providers publish suggested waste by geometry and carriers usually accept it when you include the table.
This guide is general information for roofing contractors documenting their scope of work. It is not legal advice. Code adoption varies by jurisdiction, and some states restrict contractors from negotiating claims on a homeowner's behalf.