Guides for contractors

How to measure, estimate and document the work, with the numbers worked out.

• 3-tab vs architectural shingles: how they differ, and what each costs on a roofHow 3-tab and architectural (laminated) shingles differ in build, look and install, and what a roof of each costs, worked out the same way on the same houses.
• Actual cash value vs replacement cost: how each pays a claim, with a roof worked throughActual cash value pays the repair minus depreciation; replacement cost pays it without the deduction. How each is figured, a roof claim worked both ways.
• Change order: what it is in construction, what goes on one, and a free templateWhat a change order is in construction, what one must say, when it's signed, and a free change order template to download as a PDF or an Excel sheet.
• Contractor estimate template: free PDF and Excel, and what goes on oneA free contractor estimate template to download as a printable PDF or an Excel sheet that adds itself up, with what goes in each part of an estimate.
• Contractor invoice template: free PDF and Excel, and what goes on oneA free contractor invoice template to download as a printable PDF or an Excel sheet that works out the total and balance due, with what goes on an invoice.
• Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement? When it pays, how much, and the claimWhen a homeowners policy pays for a new roof and when it doesn't, how replacement cost and actual cash value change the check, and the claim steps.
• Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? What's covered, what isn't, and the claimWhich water damage a homeowners policy covers and which it doesn't, from the Texas Department of Insurance and FEMA, the add-ons, and the claim steps.
• Drip edge: what it is, where it goes, and how the code says to install itWhat roof drip edge is, why shingle roofs need it at the eaves and rakes, the code's lap, reach and nailing rules, and whether it goes over or under underlayment.
• EPDM roofing: what the rubber roof is, how it goes on, and what it costsWhat an EPDM rubber roof is, the thicknesses and the three ways it's installed, the slope the code calls for, and what one costs on a porch, a garage or a house.
• How to get a floor plan on Android without LiDARAndroid phones have no LiDAR Scanner, but they still measure rooms. How a corner scan works step by step, and what the floor plan gives you at the end.
• Gable roof: what it is, its parts, and how to measure oneWhat a gable roof is, its ridge, rakes, eaves and gable ends, how it compares with a hip roof, and how to work out a gable roof's area, ridge and edges step by step.
• Hail damage to a roof: hail sizes, impact-rated shingles, and the claim step by stepHail damage to a roof: the hail sizes that count as severe, what Class 3 and Class 4 impact ratings mean, and the claim steps a state insurance department lays out.
• Hip roof: what it is, its parts, and how to measure oneWhat a hip roof is, its hips, ridge and eaves, how it compares with a gable roof, and how to work out a hip roof's area, ridge length and hip length step by step.
• How long does a roof last? Shingles, metal, tile and slate, and what shortens itHow long a roof lasts by material, shingles, metal, tile, slate and flat roofs, by a federal building table, plus what a lifetime warranty means.
• How many nails per shingle: the code's minimum, the right nail, and the wind ratingHow many nails each asphalt shingle takes by the residential code, the nail size and length, how deep it goes into the deck, and the wind ratings on the bundle.
• How much do roofers make? Pay by the hour and the year, and the outlookHow much roofers make: the median hourly and yearly pay, the low and high ends, pay at roofing contractors, apprentices' pay, and the job outlook, from the BLS.
• How to become an insurance claims adjuster: the license, the exam, and the first claimsHow to become an insurance claims adjuster: the three kinds of adjusters, the state license and exam step by step, a worked example in Texas, and the pay.
• How to calculate square footage: rooms, odd shapes and whole housesLength times width, in feet. How to measure a room, turn inches into feet, handle L-shaped rooms and angles, and work out walls, floors and a whole house.
• How to find the pitch of a roof: three ways with a level and a tapeFind a roof's pitch from the attic, a ladder or the roof itself with a level and a tape, turn it into degrees and a percent, and see what it does to the roof's area.
• How to install gutters: the slope, the hangers and the downspouts, step by stepHow to install gutters step by step: measuring the eaves, the slope toward each downspout, hanger spacing, where the downspouts go, and sending the water away.
• How to install vinyl siding: the wall, the trim, the panels, and the nailingHow to install vinyl siding step by step: the water-resistive barrier, starter strip, corners and J-channel, then the panels, nailed loose so they can move.
• How to measure a roof: from the ground, on the roof, or from the addressFour ways to measure a roof, from a tape on the ground to a report from the address, how to find the pitch, and how to turn it all into squares and bundles.
• How to measure a room: with a tape, or with your phoneMeasure a room's length, width and ceiling height with a tape, sketch it, and work out its floor and wall area, or let a phone measure the whole room.
• How to read blueprints: the sheets, the scale, the symbols and the dimensionsHow to read construction blueprints: the sheets in a set, the title block, reading the scale, floor plan symbols for walls, doors and windows, and dimensions.
• Ice and water shield: where the code calls for an ice barrier, and how far up it goesWhat ice and water shield is, where the code calls for an ice barrier along the eaves, how far up the roof it has to reach, and the steep-roof rule for 8:12 and up.
• Insurance supplement: what it is, when contractors file one, and how to write itWhat an insurance supplement is, the damage found after the adjuster's estimate it covers, how a contractor writes and proves one, and the deadlines.
• Modified bitumen roofing: what it is, how it goes on, and what it costsWhat a modified bitumen roof is, the ways it's applied (torch, hot mop, cold adhesive, self-adhering), the code's slope and standards, and what one costs.
• Parts of a roof: every part named, from the ridge to the gutterThe parts of a roof named on two pictures: ridge, hip, valley, eave and rake from above, then shingles down to the rafters, drip edge, fascia and soffit.
• Public adjuster: what one does, what they charge, and how they differ from the insurer's adjusterWhat a public adjuster is, how they differ from a staff or independent adjuster, what Florida caps their fees at, and what contractors can and can't do on a claim.
• Recoverable depreciation: the second insurance check, what you can recover, and the deadlineRecoverable depreciation is the part of a replacement cost claim held back until the repair is done. How it's figured, how to claim it, and the deadlines.
• Ridge cap shingles: what they are, how many bundles a roof needs, and how they go onWhat hip and ridge cap shingles are, the standard, SBS-modified and premium kinds, how many bundles cover a roof's hips and ridges, and how they're nailed on.
• Roof decking (sheathing): plywood or OSB, how thick, and when it gets replacedWhat roof decking is, plywood, OSB or boards, how thick a panel has to be for rafters 16 or 24 inches apart by the code's span table, and when it's replaced.
• Roof estimate: what goes into one, how it's worked out, and what it comes toWhat goes into a roof estimate, from the measurements to the materials, tear-off, labor, overhead and tax, how roofers work one out, and what typical roofs come to.
• Roof flashing: the kinds, where it goes, and the code's rules for eachWhat roof flashing is, step, base and cap, kick-out, valley and chimney flashing and crickets, where the code calls for each, and the metal it has to be.
• Roof overhang: the eave and rake, how it adds to the roof, and the code near the lot lineWhat a roof overhang is at the eaves and rakes, how much area it adds to a roof estimate, and how close to the lot line the residential code lets it reach.
• Roof rafters: the parts, how far they span, and rafters vs trussesWhat roof rafters are, the parts of a rafter and its cuts, how far a 2x6 to 2x12 spans by the code's table, the usual spacing, and rafters vs trusses.
• Ridge vent: what it is, how much an attic needs, and how it's installedWhat a roof ridge vent is, how much ridge vent an attic needs by the code's vent rule and a vent's net free area, and how it goes on under the ridge cap shingles.
• Roof trusses: the parts, the common types, how many you need, and the code's rulesWhat a roof truss is, its chords, webs and plates, the common truss shapes, how to count them for a roof, and what the code says about drawings and changes.
• Roof types: the shapes, the materials, and the lowest pitch each one allowsThe common roof shapes (gable, hip, Dutch gable, gambrel, mansard, shed, flat) and roofing materials, with the lowest pitch the building code allows for each.
• Roof underlayment: felt or synthetic, one layer or two, and the code's rulesWhat roof underlayment is, felt, synthetic and self-adhered, when shingle roofs take one layer or two by slope, and how the code says to lap and lay it.
• Roof valleys: open, closed and woven, and the valley lining the code calls forWhat a roof valley is, the open (metal), closed-cut and woven ways to shingle one, and the valley lining and flashing the building code calls for under each.
• Roof vents: the types, how much venting an attic needs, and where it goesThe kinds of roof vents (ridge, box, turbine, power, gable and soffit), the code's rule for how much vent area an attic needs, and how to split it high and low.
• Roofing cement: what it is, what it fixes, and how to use itWhat asphalt roofing cement is, the leaks and seams it patches, how to apply it wet or dry, the standards it's made to, and when a roof needs more than a patch.
• What is a square in roofing? 100 square feet, bundles per square, and how to count themA roofing square is 100 square feet of roof. How to work out a roof's squares from its size and pitch, add waste, and turn squares into bundles of shingles.
• Soffit and fascia: what they are, what they do, and what replacing them costsWhat a soffit and a fascia are, how soffit vents feed the attic's air, the materials they come in, and what replacing metal soffit and fascia costs by the foot.
• Starter shingles: what they do, how many bundles, and how they go on at the eaves and rakesWhat starter strip shingles are, why they go at the eaves and rakes, how many linear feet a bundle covers, and the overhang and nailing steps from GAF.
• TPO roofing: what it is, how it's installed, and what it costsWhat a TPO roof is, how the single-ply membrane is installed (fully adhered or mechanically attached), the code's slope and standard, and what a TPO roof costs.
• Types of gutters: K-style, half-round and box, the materials, and what size you needThe types of gutters, K-style, half-round and box, in aluminum, vinyl, steel or copper, sectional or seamless, the sizes from 4 to 6 inches, and the parts.
• Types of metal roofing: the panels, the metals, and the lowest pitch for eachThe types of metal roofing: standing seam, ribbed and corrugated panels, metal shingles, the metals the code lists, and the lowest pitch for each.
• Water heater leaking: where it's coming from, what to do first, and the code's pan and valve rulesA leaking water heater: where the water comes from, the relief valve, drain valve, fittings or tank, what to do first, and the code's pan and relief valve rules.
• What is a rake on a roof? The sloped edge, its trim, and how it's measuredA roof's rake is the sloped edge at a gable end. What it is, how it differs from the eave, the drip edge and trim the code calls for there, and how to measure it.
• What is a takeoff in construction? The quantities behind every estimateA construction takeoff is the list of quantities a job needs: areas, lengths and counts from plans or the site. How one is done, by hand or by app.
• What is an ESX file? How to open one, and how to send one from your phoneAn ESX file is the project file Xactimate imports and exports. What it holds, how to open one in Xactimate, and how to send one from a phone after a scan.
• Which iPhones have LiDAR? Every model, and what it does on a jobEvery iPhone and iPad with a LiDAR Scanner, from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the models without one, and how contractors use it.