What the report actually delivers
A residential roof report states a total area in square feet (and often in squares, where 1 square equals 100 square feet), plus separate linear-foot totals for ridge, hip, valley, eave, and rake. It lists the roof pitch, and it typically itemizes flashing detail: step flashing length along walls, counter flashing where applicable, and a count of penetrations such as pipe jacks or vent stacks where the format supports it.
Delivery format matters here because it determines how the numbers reach your estimate. ESX opens directly in Xactimate® with the sketch already built. Symbility® uses an XML import. A PDF is a document you read and re-key by hand. None of the formats choose the line item codes or set the price; they hand you quantities and let the estimating software price them from your selected price list.
The area figure: how it is built
Total roof area is not the footprint. It is the footprint measurement multiplied by a pitch multiplier that accounts for slope. The formula is: pitch multiplier = square root of (rise squared plus run squared), divided by run. A flat 0/12 roof has a multiplier of 1.000; steeper pitches push the multiplier higher because more surface is packed into the same footprint.
A report should state the footprint square footage and the pitch it used, so the area figure is checkable rather than taken on faith. The table below shows the multiplier at common pitches, worked from the formula.
| Pitch | Multiplier | 1,500 sq ft footprint becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | 1.054 | 1,581 sq ft (15.81 SQ) |
| 6/12 | 1.118 | 1,677 sq ft (16.77 SQ) |
| 8/12 | 1.202 | 1,803 sq ft (18.03 SQ) |
| 12/12 | 1.414 | 2,121 sq ft (21.21 SQ) |
1 roofing square equals 100 square feet. A cut-up roof with multiple planes and pitches should be measured and reported plane by plane, since a single blended multiplier can misstate area on complex geometry.
Report elements mapped to line item categories
Xactimate® groups roofing work under the RFG category. Each figure below typically feeds a distinct RFG line item family. The exact code and description depend on the roof covering (composition shingle, tile, metal, wood shake) and on your selected price list; this table maps geometry to category and unit, not to a specific code or price.
| Report element | What it feeds | Typical line item category | Common unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total roof area | Tear-off, underlayment, field shingle or covering install | RFG tear-off and install (covering-specific) | SQ |
| Ridge length | Ridge cap, ridge vent | RFG ridge cap / ridge vent | LF |
| Hip length | Hip cap (often combined with ridge on the same line item) | RFG hip and ridge cap | LF |
| Valley length | Valley metal, valley underlayment | RFG valley metal | LF |
| Eave length | Drip edge, eave starter course, ice and water shield at eaves | RFG drip edge / eave starter | LF |
| Rake length | Rake edge drip edge, rake trim | RFG drip edge (rake) | LF |
| Flashing (step, counter, pipe jack, chimney) | Flashing replacement by type | RFG flashing | LF for step/counter runs, EA for pipe jacks and similar penetrations |
| Number of squares (area divided by 100) | Quantity field on covering, underlayment, and labor line items | Conversion, not a line item itself | SQ |
Getting the numbers into your estimate
The workflow differs by format, and menus vary by version, so verify the exact path in your build before relying on these steps.
- Open the file in the right application
Open an ESX in Xactimate® via the Sketch import option, or an XML in Symbility® through its equivalent import path. A PDF is read and its figures re-keyed by hand.
- Confirm the roof sketch matches the property
Check facet count, overall footprint, and pitch against the roof you are estimating before pricing anything. A mismatch here is easier to fix before line items are added.
- Let the software calculate quantities from the sketch
Once the sketch is in place, Xactimate® and Symbility® both calculate area, ridge, hip, valley, eave, and rake lengths from the geometry rather than requiring manual re-entry of each figure.
- Select the specific line item codes
Choose the covering-specific tear-off, install, ridge, valley, eave, rake, and flashing codes that match the actual roof covering and detailing. The report supplies the quantity; you supply the code.
- Verify totals against the report before finalizing
Cross-check the estimate's calculated total area and total linear footages against the report's stated figures. A discrepancy usually means a facet was added, merged, or excluded incorrectly during import.
What the report does not decide
A measurement report states quantities. It does not choose which specific line item code applies to a given roof covering, does not set price, and does not resolve judgment calls like whether a low-slope section should be priced as a different roof system. Those decisions belong to whoever is building the estimate, using the price list and scope for that claim.
- Confirm the roof covering type before selecting codes
Composition shingle, tile, metal, and wood shake each carry distinct RFG codes; area alone does not tell you which family applies.
- Check whether ridge and hip are itemized separately or combined
Some price lists price them as one combined line item, others separately; matching the report's figures to the wrong structure double-counts or omits footage.
- Verify penetration counts (pipe jacks, chimneys) against the roof
Reports that list flashing by type rather than a blended total let you price each penetration correctly instead of estimating a count.
- Reconcile total area against total squares before pricing labor
Labor and disposal line items are often priced per square; a rounding difference between area and squares changes the total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a measurement report tell me which Xactimate® line item code to use?
Why does the report show a pitch multiplier instead of just an area number?
Are ridge and hip always separate line items?
How do flashing counts show up if the report is a PDF instead of ESX?
Sources
- Xactimate® groups roofing line items under the RFG category, priced by square, linear foot, or each depending on the item: Xactimate® official documentation (as of August 2026)
- Symbility® estimates consume imported measurement data mapped to comparable line item categories: Symbility® / CoreLogic claims documentation (as of August 2026)
- Report contents include area, ridge, hip, valley, eave, and rake lengths and pitch, delivered as ESX, XML, or PDF: Sketch My Roof roof measurement service facts (as of August 2026)
- ESX files import into Xactimate® via the Sketch import option: Sketch My Roof ESX import guide (as of August 2026)
