What Changed: Ice & Water Shield Minimum (IRC R905.1.2)
Under the 2026 PPRBD adoption of the IRC, ice barrier (Ice & Water shield) must now extend a minimum of 24 inches past the interior wall line — an increase from the previous 18-inch standard. For the typical Colorado Springs home, this means an additional full course of self-adhering membrane on every eave.
What This Means For Your Claim
If your adjuster's estimate was written before January 2026, or if they're using a pre-2026 Xactimate price list, they may be pricing Ice & Water shield coverage at the old standard. On a 2,000 sq ft roof with four eave edges, this can represent 80–120 sq ft of underpaid material — and that's before labor and the updated felting prices.
Drip Edge: The Rake vs. Eave Distinction (R905.2.8.5)
This is where most adjusters miss a substantial code item. IRC R905.2.8.5 requires drip edge to be installed in two different configurations depending on location:
- ●Eave (bottom edge): Drip edge installed UNDER the underlayment — so water behind the shingles is directed off the fascia
- ●Rake (side edges): Drip edge installed OVER the underlayment — directing wind-driven rain away from the gable end
A single-line "drip edge" line item in your adjuster's estimate almost certainly doesn't account for this distinction. A code-compliant installation is technically two separate operations with different sequencing requirements — and they should be priced separately.
Ventilation Balance: R806.2
The 2026 update also clarified the 1:150 net-free-area ventilation ratio requirement. If your attic currently has soffit vents only (or ridge vents only), a code-compliant restoration must balance intake and exhaust. This is a legitimate line item for any re-roofing permit — and it's one of the most commonly missed supplements in claim negotiations.
The Revival Approach
Our forensic audit documents every code-compliance item before we submit your claim package. We photograph the existing installation, cross-reference against current PPRBD requirements, and generate a line-by-line code supplement that we walk through with your adjuster. We know these codes because we pull permits under them.
How to Use This Information
If you've already received a settlement offer, request a copy of the Xactimate report from your carrier. Look for these specific line items:
- ●Ice & Water shield: Should be priced at minimum 24" from interior wall — not just the eave overhang
- ●Drip edge: Should appear twice — once for eave (under underlayment) and once for rake (over underlayment)
- ●Ventilation: Any re-roofing project should include a net-free-area calculation and, if imbalanced, a ventilation supplement
- ●Permit fee: PPRBD permit for residential re-roofing is required — if it's not in the estimate, the carrier owes it
If any of these are missing, you have grounds for a supplement request — or a formal re-inspection. Call us before you accept a settlement you're not sure about.