How to get insurance to pay for fully adhered rubber roofs
Insurance companies typically only approve basic pricing for mechanically attached 45-mil rubber, leaving out the new fiberboard, edge metal, and flashing tapes required for a fully adhered system. This makes it impossible for roofers to afford the correct materials and labor to do the job right, let alone make a profit. Insurers also frequently try to limit payouts to minor shingle repairs when a full roof replacement is actually needed.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Asking other professionals to share specific Xactimate line items for fiberboard, cover tape, and fully adhered systemsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I keep getting the basic: "Rubber roofing - mechanically attached - 45 mil - $517-650 per square for everything."”source ↗
“We all know to do a fully adhered system with new fiberboard, edge metal, cover tape, flashing tape and the works, this is not even possible to buy all the materials and labor to do the job correctly, let alone make a profit.”source ↗
“Insurance is being a real pain in the butt.”source ↗
“Let's say they do end up finding the shingle and only pay for a repair. How can we get them to pay for a full roof replacement?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 11How to know if a roof replacement quote is fair
- 4Can I install siding, soffit, and fascia before roof shingles?
- 3How to buy small quantities of roofing materials
- 3How to fight insurance denying a full roof replacement
- 6Is underlayment required under slate, tile, or thatch roofs?
- 44How to tell if a damaged roof needs replacing before winter