Three of the most important components on a residential roof are invisible the day the job is done — and missing from carrier scopes with suspicious regularity. This guide gives roofers the working knowledge for drip edge, starter strip, and ice & water shield: what the IRC actually requires (with section numbers), the installation sequencing that inspectors check, why manufacturer instructions carry code force, and how to document each item so it survives claim review.

Stop hunting through 10,000+ line items every time you write a roof estimate. This cheat sheet covers the 15 Xactimate line item codes that appear on nearly every residential roofing claim — tear-off, shingles, underlayment, flashing, steep charges, and more — plus the units they're measured in, the ones carriers most often leave off, and how to turn this list into estimates that build themselves.

The architectural vs. 3-tab question comes up on nearly every residential job — and the answer roofers give shapes their margins, callbacks, and reputation for years. This guide breaks down the real differences in construction, wind ratings, lifespan, warranty, and cost; where 3-tab still legitimately makes sense; how to handle the conversation on insurance claims; and how to price and estimate each one correctly.