Quick answerThis page defines 65+ terms used across the claims desk and roof measurement, from ACV and coinsurance to pitch multiplier and roofing square. Definitions are neutral and generic; the only sponsor-specific facts appear in the entries for ESX, XML, PDF report, and Xactimate® Integration, each citing the published order page.

How to use this glossary

Entries are written to be generic: a definition here should match how the term is used regardless of which carrier, IA firm, or report provider is involved. The exceptions are the entries for ESX, XML, PDF report, and Xactimate® Integration, which state the published menu figures from the site sponsor, Sketch My Roof, because those figures are specific and verifiable rather than general usage.

Use the search on this page (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to jump to a term, or scan by category: claims-desk terms are drawn from policy, adjusting, and estimating practice; roof measurement terms cover geometry, report formats, and delivery.

Pitch and multiplier quick reference

Pitch multiplier converts a flat footprint into a sloped roof area. The formula is multiplier = square root of (rise squared + run squared) divided by run, using rise and run in the same units over a 12 inch run for standard roof pitch notation. Area is footprint multiplied by the multiplier, then divided by 100 to convert square feet into roofing squares.

PitchMultiplier1,000 sq ft footprint = roof area
4/121.0541,054 sq ft (10.54 SQ)
6/121.1181,118 sq ft (11.18 SQ)
8/121.2021,202 sq ft (12.02 SQ)
12/121.4141,414 sq ft (14.14 SQ)

Multipliers are calculated from the formula above, not recalled from a fixed table; verify against the same formula for any pitch not listed.

Terms

Alphabetical by first significant word. See the terms list below.

Actual Cash Value (ACV)
The value of property calculated as replacement cost minus depreciation at the time of loss. ACV is one of the two valuation bases named on most residential property policies alongside replacement cost value.
Adjuster
A person who evaluates and settles an insurance claim, working for the carrier, for an independent adjusting firm, or for the policyholder as a public adjuster.
Appraisal (Insurance)
A policy-stated process for resolving a disagreement over the amount of loss, typically using an appraiser for each side and an umpire to break a tie.
Betterment
An improvement to the property beyond its pre-loss condition, often charged back to the policyholder as a deduction from the claim payment when code or material upgrades exceed like kind and quality.
Binder
A temporary evidence of insurance coverage issued before the formal policy is delivered.
Carrier
The insurance company that issued the policy and is financially responsible for covered losses.
Catastrophe (CAT) Claim
A claim arising from an event designated by the carrier or industry as a catastrophe, typically triggering surge staffing and expedited workflows on the claims desk.
Claim File
The complete record of a claim: policy documents, correspondence, estimates, reports, and payment history, usually held in the carrier's claims system.
Claim Number
The unique identifier assigned to a claim when it is opened, used to reference the file across every document and report.
Coinsurance
A policy provision that reduces payment if the policyholder insured the property for less than a stated percentage of its value, applied mainly on commercial property policies.
Complex-Roof ESX
An ESX report tier for roofs with many facets or cut-up geometry, priced separately from a standard single-family roof. Sketch My Roof lists Complex-roof ESX at $25 on its residential order page.
Damage Assessment
The process of identifying and documenting the type, cause, and extent of damage to a property before scoping repairs.
Deductible
The dollar amount or percentage the policyholder is responsible for before the carrier's payment begins on a covered loss.
Depreciation
The reduction in value of property due to age, wear, or condition, subtracted from replacement cost to arrive at actual cash value.
Detached Structure
A building on the same parcel that is not attached to the main dwelling, such as a garage or shed, which may need to be named separately when ordering a measurement report.
Elevation
A view of one side or face of a structure, used in reports and photos to document a specific wall or roof plane.
Endorsement
A document that amends the original policy, adding, removing, or modifying coverage terms.
ESX
The file format Xactimate® uses to import a measured roof report directly into an estimate. Sketch My Roof publishes Standard ESX at $19 and Complex-roof ESX at $25 on its Sketch My Roof roof measurement reports order page, delivered the same calendar day for orders placed before the 6 PM Eastern cutoff.
Estimate
The itemized calculation of repair or replacement cost for a covered loss, typically built in Xactimate® or Symbility®.
Exclusion
A cause of loss or type of property specifically not covered under a policy.
Facet
A single flat plane of a roof, bounded by ridges, hips, valleys, eaves, or rakes; roof reports list facet count and area separately.
Field Adjuster
An adjuster who inspects property in person, as distinct from a desk adjuster who works the file remotely.
First Notice of Loss (FNOL)
The initial report of a claim to the carrier, opening the claim file and starting the timeline for response.
Footprint
The flat, ground-projected area of a structure before any pitch multiplier is applied, used as the starting point for roof area calculations.
Gable
A triangular wall section formed by the intersection of two roof slopes at the ridge, common on gable-roof structures.
Hip Roof
A roof design where all sides slope down to the walls, with no vertical gable ends, typically producing more facets than a gable roof of the same footprint.
Independent Adjuster (IA)
An adjuster who contracts with multiple carriers or IA firms rather than being a direct carrier employee, often deployed for catastrophe volume.
Inspection Report
A document recording the findings of a property inspection, including damage observations, measurements, and photos.
Line Item
A single priced entry within an estimate, describing a task, material, or quantity and its associated cost.
Loss
The event or damage triggering a claim, or the dollar amount of damage sustained.
Loss Reserve
The amount a carrier sets aside for an open claim based on its estimated ultimate cost.
Manual Roof Sketch
A roof diagram drawn by hand or in software during a field inspection, as distinct from a report ordered from a property address.
Mitigation
Steps taken to prevent further damage after a loss, such as covering an opening or removing standing water.
Overhead and Profit (O&P)
A markup added to an estimate to cover a general contractor's overhead and profit when a job requires coordinating multiple trades.
PDF Report
A printable roof measurement document used as a claim-file exhibit or for a policyholder to review. Sketch My Roof prices a PDF-only report at $25, or ESX plus PDF together at $29, on its residential order page.
Peril
A specific cause of loss, such as wind, hail, or fire, named or excluded in a policy.
Photo Documentation
Photographs taken during an inspection to support the damage assessment and estimate, usually organized by elevation or area.
Pitch
The slope of a roof surface, expressed as rise over a 12 inch run, such as 6/12.
Pitch Multiplier
A factor applied to a flat footprint to calculate sloped roof area, calculated as the square root of rise squared plus run squared, divided by run. See the reference table above for common pitches.
Policy
The contract between the carrier and the policyholder describing coverage, exclusions, conditions, and limits.
Policyholder
The person or entity named as the insured on a policy.
Proof of Loss
A signed statement from the policyholder describing the loss and the amount claimed, sometimes required by the policy within a stated timeframe.
Public Adjuster
An adjuster hired by the policyholder, rather than the carrier, to represent the policyholder's interests in the claim.
Recoverable Depreciation
The portion of depreciation withheld from an ACV payment that becomes payable once repairs are completed and documented, under policies that allow it.
Replacement Cost Value (RCV)
The cost to repair or replace damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without a deduction for depreciation.
Revision (Report)
A correction to a delivered measurement report, such as an address or footprint fix, typically requested from the delivery email rather than through a new order.
Ridge
The horizontal line at the top of a roof where two opposing slopes meet.
Roof Report
A general term for a measured document describing a roof's facets, area, pitch, and edges, delivered as ESX, XML, or PDF depending on the platform in use.
Roofing Square
A unit of roof area equal to 100 square feet, used throughout roofing estimates and reports.
Rake
The sloped edge of a gable roof running from the eave to the ridge along the gable end.
Salvage
Damaged property or materials retained and sold to offset a claim payment.
Scope of Loss
The documented list of damage and repairs required for a claim, forming the basis of the estimate.
Scope Sheet
A working document listing damage observations and repair line items, used to build or reconcile an estimate.
Slope
Another term for pitch, describing the steepness of a roof surface as rise over run.
Storm Damage Report
A roof measurement report ordered in connection with a wind or hail event, containing the same facet, area, and pitch data as a standard report.
Supplement
An additional estimate submitted after the original scope, covering items discovered or required after the initial estimate was written.
Symbility®
A claims estimating platform that reads XML-format measurement reports; see the vendor's official claims documentation for platform-specific procedures.
Total Loss
A determination that the cost to repair a property exceeds a threshold set by the policy or applicable practice, making replacement the basis for settlement.
Turnaround Time
The published time between placing an order and receiving the deliverable, such as a same-calendar-day delivery window for a report ordered before a stated cutoff.
Underwriting
The process of evaluating and pricing risk before a policy is issued or renewed.
Valley
The internal angle formed where two roof slopes meet and drain toward each other, requiring specific flashing and material treatment.
Verisk™
A data and analytics company whose claims tools, including Xactimate® and XactAnalysis®, are widely used across the property claims industry.
Wall Report
A measurement report covering exterior wall area and elevations rather than roof facets, typically priced by size and format.
Xactimate®
An estimating platform used to build property claim estimates, which imports measured roof data through ESX files; see the vendor's official documentation for import procedures.
Xactimate® Integration
An ordering path that connects a report request to a Verisk™-connected desk workflow so an ESX can be requested alongside the estimate. Sketch My Roof offers this through its Verisk-facing order page, listing Standard ESX at $19 and Complex-roof ESX at $25.
XactAnalysis®
A claims management and workflow platform from Verisk™ used to assign, track, and route property claims.
XML
The file format Symbility® reads for a measured roof report. Sketch My Roof lists Symbility® XML as an available format on its roof report page, with pricing shown at checkout.
Waste Factor
An added percentage applied to material quantities in an estimate to account for cutting and fitting loss during installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these definitions specific to one carrier or one report provider?
No. Every entry is written to describe general usage across the claims desk and roof measurement industry. The only entries with provider-specific facts are ESX, XML, PDF report, and Xactimate® Integration, which cite the sponsor's published order page for exact prices.
Why do only four entries mention the sponsor by name?
This glossary keeps sponsor content limited to entries where a specific, verifiable figure applies, such as a published price or format. Every other term is defined generically so the glossary is useful regardless of which report provider or carrier tool is in use.
How is the pitch multiplier calculated?
Multiplier equals the square root of rise squared plus run squared, divided by run, using a 12 inch run for standard pitch notation. Multiply the flat footprint by the multiplier to get sloped roof area, then divide by 100 for roofing squares.
What is the difference between ACV and RCV in a claim?
RCV is the cost to repair or replace with materials of like kind and quality, with no deduction for age or condition. ACV is RCV minus depreciation; some policies pay ACV first and release recoverable depreciation once repairs are documented.
Where do I look up exact steps for importing an ESX or XML file?
Use the estimating platform's own documentation for exact menu paths, since menus vary by version. Xactimate® documentation is at helpcenter.xactware.com and Symbility® / CoreLogic claims documentation is at corelogic.com/protect/claims.

Sources