When severe weather causes property and roof damage, the GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service is the must-have tool for every contractor responding to the storm. Part of GAF Business Services' offerings, the GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service delivers all the details required to replace the roof and does so in an insurance-approved format, aligned with common insurer estimating principles.
GAF Product Manager Gretchen Scheufele likens it to popular tax preparation software, where you plug in all the information, and the work is done for you. "You enter a few details about the roof, and within 24 hours* receive an estimate written by a trained professional," she explains. "Each estimate is also written in consideration of local building code in the U.S. [national building code in Canada], so it's going to call out things required by code, like ice and water shield."
How Contractors Are Using It
Scheufele says they're seeing two primary use cases for the GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service: "For contractors who already have an in-house estimating team, this is a great way for them to streamline when there's a big storm response needed. They get a solid scope of work, and they can repurpose their in-house team to focus on other areas beyond the roof that need attention, like the siding, windows, or interior damage."
She continues, "The other use case is contractors who are intimidated by all the paperwork that goes into insurance work. This is a great way for them to take on those types of jobs with the confidence that they have a solid estimate that's written in a way that's intended to be accepted by insurance, while also addressing the components necessary to replace the roof."
Supplementing the Estimating Department
Chris Billings, president of Billings Roofing and Solar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is no stranger to insurance work. Serving the Central Plains region of the United States means he sees plenty of severe weather and restoration work that involves insurance claims. He's well-versed in Xactimate, one of the accepted insurance estimating platforms, but has found the GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service to be a crucial tool when he needs to ramp up for storm response.
"Probably 95% of our work is storm work related, so we're very familiar with the insurance process and the kind of estimates they look for utilizing Xactimate or Symbility," says Billings. "ScopeConnect℠ helps us when we get really bogged down with claims, and we need a quick write-up."
Fast and Accurate Insurance Scopes
Billings says the turnaround time is fast, and within 24 hours, his team will have the insurance scope estimate in hand. "The time savings that ScopeConnect℠ gives us allows us to go get more work. It's definitely helped us increase the number of claims we can take on throughout the storm season."
The accuracy has also been great, says Billings. "We may have to tweak a few things, but they do a lot of the heavy lifting and get these turned around quickly for us. If we need to add anything to it, we can quickly do that, or they'll make one change upfront at no charge, which is really nice for us."
Easy-to-Use Portal
For contractors who aren't currently doing roof insurance restoration work but want to, Billings recommends using the GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service."If you're starting out as a new company, I would utilize them as your estimate writer, so you don't have to go and write all the estimates. It can be very time-consuming if you don't know what you're doing, or you're starting out and trying to learn Xactimate."
The portal is very intuitive to use and navigate. Contractors can select whether they want their estimate in Cotality™ (Symbility) or Xactimate format, depending on the insurance company's requirements. "You just work through it, click a few buttons, and choose your options, and you get your estimate the next day. It's very easy," says Billings.
A Win-Win for All Parties
The service was designed specifically for contractors and to take the pain out of roof insurance restoration work. Scheufele says the feedback they've received has been fantastic. "The experience for the contractors who've tried it so far has been very positive."
That positive experience extends to all parties involved in the claim. Whether the insurance company requires the estimate to be written in Cotality™ (Symbility) or Xactimate, the GAF ScopeConnect℠℠ service delivers the format contractors need, it can be custom branded and includes all details needed to complete the work. The insurance company, the homeowner, and the contractor can be confident that the estimate is accurate and the work to restore that property can be completed in a timely manner.
FORTIFIED Option for Homeowners Wanting More Protection
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), an independent, nonprofit, scientific research and communications organization, has developed the FORTIFIED™ program that provides standards for more resilient construction, including the installation of roofs. These roofs are built to a higher standard than most building codes and designed to withstand severe weather better than traditional roofing systems. Often, homeowners who choose FORTIFIED are eligible for insurance discounts, grants, or other incentives.
The GAF ScopeConnect℠ Service offers the option to receive a scope of work that will meet the FORTIFIED requirements1 and contractors can get a FORTIFIED bill of materials2 through GAF's QuickMeasure™ reports.
1Eligibility criteria, terms, and restrictions apply. For details, see fortifiedspecs.org.
2Use of GAF products listed does not guarantee a FORTIFIED Roof™ designation will be issued.
Learn more about FORTIFIED and GAF products at gaf.com/fortified
Get Started Today
If you want to add roof insurance restoration work to your portfolio of services, or if you just want to ramp up the number of claims you can handle,the GAF ScopeConnect℠ service is the key to doing so successfully. There's no need to hire additional team members, there's no learning curve or software licensing costs, and you don't need to take special classes to use it.
The fast turnaround time, the accuracy of the estimate, and the ease of use make it a fit for any size contractor. At just $99 per estimate, which includes the measurements, the return on investment is clear. Order your first estimate here.
*Terms and restrictions apply. Visit gaf.com/scopeconnect for details.
