What the code-upgrade file has to prove
Three things carry a code upgrade item through review. First, coverage: the policy has a law and ordinance or similar endorsement, and the loss triggers it (a covered peril damaged the roof system, not just cosmetic wear). Second, the existing condition: a photo or note showing the roof as found lacked or had insufficient ice and water shield, drip edge, or ventilation compared to what the current build standard calls for. Third, a quantity that a reviewer can check against the measurement report rather than a round number pulled from the estimate template.
None of that requires citing a specific code section number from this desk. It requires naming the adopted code edition and any local amendment in the file (often available from the building department or the roofing contractor's permit application) and letting that citation, not this guide, set the requirement. The math below shows how to turn report figures into the quantity once the requirement is known.
Ice and water shield: eave and rake length to a square count
A measurement report lists total eave length and total rake length in linear feet, along with roof area and pitch. Ice and water shield coverage width is set by the adopted code or by the manufacturer's installation instructions for the shingle system, not by this guide; once the width is known, the area calculation is simple multiplication because the membrane width is already measured up the slope from the eave.
Formula: membrane area (sq ft) = eave length (LF) x coverage width (ft). Convert to squares by dividing by 100. Add the waste percentage the estimate already uses for starter and lap overlap; a common allowance is 10 percent, but confirm against the actual product's lap instructions.
| Eave length (LF) | Coverage width | Area | Squares (before waste) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 LF | 24 in (2 ft) | 80 sq ft | 0.80 sq |
| 60 LF | 36 in (3 ft) | 180 sq ft | 1.80 sq |
| 80 LF | 36 in (3 ft) | 240 sq ft | 2.40 sq |
| 100 LF | 36 in (3 ft) | 300 sq ft | 3.00 sq |
If the scope also covers valleys, add valley length (also on the report) at the same width using the same formula as a separate line, since valley coverage is frequently specified independently of eave coverage.
Drip edge: eave plus rake length to a piece count
Drip edge runs the full eave and the full rake, so the total linear footage needed is the sum of both figures from the report. Pieces are commonly stocked in 10-foot lengths; divide total linear feet by 10 and round up, since a partial piece still consumes a full unit.
Formula: total LF = eave LF + rake LF. Pieces = total LF / 10, rounded up to the next whole piece. Add a waste allowance for corners and cuts if the estimate template calls for one.
| Eave LF | Rake LF | Total LF | Pieces at 10 ft each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 80 | 200 | 20 |
| 150 | 95 | 245 | 25 |
| 90 | 60 | 150 | 15 |
Ventilation: attic floor area and net free area
Ventilation quantities are worked from attic floor area, which is a horizontal measurement, not from roof area, which is a sloped measurement. A measurement report gives roof area in squares or square feet along with the pitch; convert to footprint (attic floor) area by dividing roof area by the pitch multiplier, since roof area = footprint x multiplier.
Pitch multiplier = sqrt(rise squared + run squared) / run. Common values: 4/12 = 1.054, 6/12 = 1.118, 8/12 = 1.202, 12/12 = 1.414.
Once footprint area is known, a commonly referenced ratio in ventilation guidance is 1 square foot of net free area for every 150 square feet of attic floor space, sometimes reduced to 1/300 when specific vapor-barrier or balanced intake/exhaust conditions are met. Which ratio applies is a code and manufacturer question, not a fixed rule; confirm it against the adopted code and the product's published net free area per linear foot before finalizing quantities. Convert square feet of NFA to square inches by multiplying by 144, then split between intake and exhaust per the code or manufacturer split (commonly an even 50/50, but verify), then divide each half by the vent product's published NFA per linear foot to get the run of ridge or soffit vent needed.
| Report roof area | Pitch | Multiplier | Attic footprint | NFA at 1/150 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 sq ft | 6/12 | 1.118 | ≈1,790 sq ft | ≈11.9 sq ft (1,714 sq in) |
| 1,600 sq ft | 4/12 | 1.054 | ≈1,518 sq ft | ≈10.1 sq ft (1,458 sq in) |
| 2,400 sq ft | 8/12 | 1.202 | ≈1,997 sq ft | ≈13.3 sq ft (1,918 sq in) |
Attic footprint = roof area / multiplier. Square inches = square feet x 144. Split intake and exhaust per the code or product spec before ordering linear feet of ridge or soffit vent.
Building the packet
- Coverage confirmation for law and ordinance or equivalent endorsement
A reviewer needs to see the trigger exists before reading the quantity.
- Photos of the existing eave and rake edge, the underlayment condition, and any visible attic vents
This documents what was actually there, which is what the upgrade is measured against.
- The measurement report page showing eave length, rake length, roof area, and pitch
Every quantity above traces to these four figures; a reviewer can recompute the math from this page alone.
- Adopted code edition and any local amendment referenced by name and date
This is the source of the width, ratio, or requirement; the file should not assert a requirement without naming where it comes from.
- The Xactimate® or Symbility® line items with quantities matching the packet's math
A quantity in the estimate that does not match the supporting math is the first thing a reviewer will flag.
Getting the eave and rake figures onto the report
The eave and rake totals used above come from a measured roof report ordered by property address; the deliverable lists eave length, rake length, roof area, and pitch by facet and in total. Sketch My Roof roof measurement reports deliver as ESX for Xactimate®, XML for Symbility®, or PDF, with published pricing of Standard ESX $19, Complex-roof ESX $25, PDF-only $25, and ESX + PDF $29, same calendar day for orders placed before the 6 PM Eastern cutoff. Attach the report page itself to the code-upgrade packet rather than retyping the figures into a note.
If a figure needs correcting after delivery, request a revision from the delivery email rather than re-measuring by hand; the corrected figures then carry through the same math above without a second order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this guide say what code a given jurisdiction requires for ice and water shield or ventilation?
Why is the ice and water shield area just eave length times width, with no pitch multiplier?
Why divide roof area by the multiplier for ventilation instead of using roof area directly?
How many pieces of drip edge should the estimate carry for a 200 linear foot eave and rake total?
Where should the supporting measurement report live in the claim file?
Sources
- Pitch multiplier = sqrt(rise^2 + run^2) / run; values for 4/12, 6/12, 8/12, 12/12; roof area = footprint x multiplier: Xactimate® help center, roof geometry reference (as of August 2026)
- Xactimate® ESX line-item entry and import handling for measurement reports: Xactimate® help center (as of August 2026)
- Symbility® claims documentation and XML file handling: CoreLogic Symbility® claims documentation (as of August 2026)
- Published residential report menu: Standard ESX $19, Complex-roof ESX $25, PDF-only $25, ESX + PDF $29, same-day delivery before the 6 PM Eastern cutoff, order by address: Sketch My Roof residential order page (as of August 2026)
- Report contents include eave length, rake length, roof area, and pitch by facet and in total: Sketch My Roof roof measurement service facts (as of August 2026)
