Adjusters work fast, and they're not incentivized to find line items you didn't ask for. That means the burden is entirely on you to identify missed scope — and then write a supplement request that's specific enough that it can't be dismissed.
Here are the ten line items restoration contractors most commonly leave on the table, and exactly how to supplement for each one.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — WTR-LAB-PPE / RMV-PPE
Gloves, respirators, and Tyvek suits required for Category 2/3 water and mold jobs. Adjusters rarely include these in initial estimates. Cite IICRC S500 Section 8 (safety requirements) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 for respiratory protection. Document by job-day with unit costs.
Containment Setup and Removal — WTR-CONT-SETUP
Poly barrier installation, zipper doors, and negative air pressure setup. Often missing entirely from adjuster estimates on smaller jobs. Per IICRC S520 Section 9.1, containment is mandatory for Class 2+ mold. Cite linear footage of barriers and days of deployment separately.
Antimicrobial Application — WTR-ANTIMICRO
Adjusters often allow one application but miss the follow-up treatment after drying. Specify the EPA-registered product, application method (spray vs. fogger), square footage treated, and dwell time. Two-stage treatment is often required per manufacturer instructions.
Content Manipulation — CNT-MANIP-BOX
Moving furniture, boxing contents, and moving them back after drying. Adjusters routinely omit this or undercount it. Document the number of rooms, items moved, and man-hours. Per-room and per-box Xactimate line items both apply depending on scope.
Floor Protection / Specialty Surface Protection — FLR-PROT
Protecting hardwood, tile, and finished surfaces during remediation and drying. Frequently omitted. Cite the square footage, material used, and installation/removal labor. Include photos of protected areas.
Dehumidifier and Air Mover Daily Monitoring — WTR-EQUIP-MNTR
Equipment check visits, log entries, and adjustments. Adjusters will include equipment rental but skip the monitoring labor. IICRC S500 requires daily psychrometric readings — this labor has to go somewhere. Document daily visit times and readings.
Carpet Pad Disposal — FLR-PAD-REMOVE + Disposal
Adjusters commonly include carpet pad removal but forget disposal as a separate line item. Category 2/3 water-damaged pad must be disposed of as contaminated material. Document disposal weight and facility receipts.
HEPA Vacuuming — RMV-HEPA-VAC
Required for all mold remediation projects per IICRC S520. Adjusters frequently omit this entirely or allow only a fraction of the actual square footage. Cite the specific surfaces vacuumed (studs, joists, subfloor) separately from walls and floors.
Dumpster / Debris Removal — DBR-DUMPSTER
The cost of dumpster rental and haul-away for demolished materials. Often missing from initial estimates, especially on partial demo jobs. Include the dumpster size, rental days, and weight ticket if available.
Post-Remediation Clearance Testing Coordination — RMV-TEST-COORD
Your time coordinating with the industrial hygienist for clearance testing, being on-site, and facilitating re-access. This is legitimate labor that adjusters rarely include. Document hours and cite the necessity under IICRC S520 clearance protocols.
The Pattern Behind All 10
Notice what these have in common: they're all legitimate, documented requirements — but they're easy to miss because they don't show up as obvious physical repairs. Adjusters are trained to price installed materials. They undercount process, labor, and compliance steps.
Your job in a supplement letter is to make each of these items undeniable by:
- Naming the exact Xactimate line item
- Citing the standard or requirement that mandates it
- Providing the unit quantity and your documentation
💡 A supplement letter that says "HEPA vacuuming — 840 SF per IICRC S520 Section 10.2 — $XXX.XX" is essentially impossible to deny. A letter that says "additional cleaning required" gets ignored.
Stop leaving these line items on the table
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