Methodology
How Insurance Estimates Are Calculated
ACV vs. RCV, depreciation schedules, deductibles, and recoverable depreciation.
Insurance calculators answer a different question than cost calculators. Instead of what a roof costs, they estimate what a policy is likely to pay. The result depends on your settlement basis, your deductible, and how old the roof was on the date of loss.
Replacement cost value versus actual cash value
Replacement cost value pays what it costs to rebuild the roof today. Actual cash value pays replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear, which on an older roof can be a large reduction. Your declarations page states which basis applies, and some policies apply ACV to roofs specifically even when the rest of the dwelling is on RCV.
How depreciation is modelled
We depreciate on a straight-line basis over the material's expected service life, capped so that a very old roof still retains a residual value. A ten-year-old architectural shingle roof on a thirty-year life is modelled at roughly one third depreciated before deductible.
Deductibles, including percentage deductibles
Flat deductibles subtract a dollar amount. Wind and hail percentage deductibles are calculated against the dwelling coverage limit, not against the claim, so a 2 percent deductible on a $400,000 dwelling is $8,000 regardless of claim size. Our tools support both.
Recoverable depreciation
On an RCV policy, carriers typically pay actual cash value first and release the withheld depreciation after the work is completed and invoiced. Our estimates show both the initial payment and the recoverable amount so the cash-flow gap is visible before work begins.
Where a carrier will differ
Adjusters use proprietary pricing databases and their own scope of damage. Matching rules, code upgrade coverage, and disputed damage cause the largest differences. Treat our figure as a preparation tool for the conversation, not a prediction of the settlement.
References
Calculators that use this
For estimation purposes only. Reviewed by the RoofingCalculatorUSA Editorial Team. See our editorial policy and data sources.