Water Damage Restoration Supplement Checklist: 47 Line Items Adjusters Routinely Miss

Water damage restoration is the most supplement-intensive category in the insurance restoration industry. The initial adjuster estimate typically covers the obvious: drying equipment, some drywall, maybe carpet. The reality of a properly scoped water damage claim is far more comprehensive. This checklist covers 47 line items that adjusters routinely miss — with the Xactimate codes and documentation tips you need to get them approved.

Category 1: Drying Equipment and Monitoring (Items 1-12)

1. Air movers (EQUIP AM): One per 50-100 sq ft of affected area per IICRC S500. Document placement with floor plan photos.
2. Dehumidifiers (EQUIP DH): Sized per IICRC S500 Class and Category. Document with psychrometric calculations.
3. Air scrubbers (EQUIP AIR): Required for Category 2 and 3 losses. Document water source and contamination level.
4. Desiccant dehumidifiers (EQUIP DESI): Required for hardwood floors, low-temperature environments, and Class 4 losses.
5. Injectidry wall drying systems (EQUIP INJECTIDRY): Required when wall cavities are wet. Document with moisture readings inside wall cavity.
6. Floor mat drying systems (EQUIP MAT): Required for wet subfloor under hardwood. Document with moisture readings.
7. Daily monitoring visits (DAILY MONITOR): Document each visit with moisture readings, photos, and equipment adjustments.
8. Moisture mapping (MOIST MAP): Initial and final moisture mapping documentation. Required for IICRC compliance.
9. Psychrometric calculations (PSYCH CALC): Required documentation for Class 2, 3, and 4 losses.
10. Equipment delivery and setup (EQUIP SETUP): Labor for delivering, setting up, and removing equipment.
11. Equipment fuel (EQUIP FUEL): For diesel-powered desiccant units and generators.
12. Negative air pressure setup (NEG AIR): Required for Category 3 losses to prevent cross-contamination.

Category 2: Demolition and Removal (Items 13-22)

13. Drywall removal (DEMO DRYW): Drywall must be removed to 2 inches above the moisture line, not just to the visible damage.
14. Insulation removal (DEMO INSUL): Wet insulation cannot be dried — it must be removed. Document with moisture readings.
15. Flooring removal (DEMO FLOOR): Carpet, pad, hardwood, laminate — each is a separate line item.
16. Baseboard removal (DEMO BASE): Required to allow wall drying. Document with photos.
17. Cabinet removal (DEMO CAB): Required when cabinets are wet or blocking wall access.
18. Vanity removal (DEMO VAN): Required when blocking wall access.
19. Debris removal (HAUL): Separate line item for hauling demolished materials.
20. Dumpster rental (DUMPSTER): For large-volume demolition.
21. Subfloor removal (DEMO SUBFLO): Required when subfloor is wet and cannot be dried.
22. Ceiling removal (DEMO CEIL): Required when ceiling is wet from above.

Category 3: Antimicrobial and Decontamination (Items 23-29)

23. Antimicrobial application (ANTI): Required for Category 2 and 3 losses per IICRC S500.
24. Mold inhibitor application (MOLD INH): Applied to structural members after demolition.
25. HEPA vacuuming (HEPA VAC): Required for Category 3 losses and mold remediation.
26. Encapsulation (ENCAP): For mold-affected structural members that cannot be removed.
27. Sewage cleanup (SEW CLNP): Category 3 loss — requires full PPE, containment, and decontamination.
28. Containment setup (CONTAIN): Required for Category 3 losses.
29. Negative air machine (NEG AIR): Required for containment areas.

Category 4: Contents and Personal Property (Items 30-36)

30. Contents pack-out (CONT PACK): Moving contents to allow restoration work.
31. Contents storage (CONT STOR): Off-site storage during restoration.
32. Contents cleaning (CONT CLNS): Cleaning water-damaged contents.
33. Contents inventory (CONT INV): Creating a detailed inventory of affected contents.
34. Electronics cleaning (ELEC CLNS): Specialized cleaning for electronics.
35. Document drying (DOC DRY): Freeze-drying or air-drying wet documents.
36. Artwork and specialty items (SPEC ITEM): Specialized handling for artwork, antiques, and collectibles.

Category 5: Temporary Repairs and Emergency Services (Items 37-42)

37. Emergency water extraction (EMERG EXTR): Initial water removal. Document with photos and extraction log.
38. Temporary power (TEMP PWR): Generator rental when power is unavailable.
39. Temporary heat (TEMP HEAT): Required for winter drying. Document with temperature logs.
40. Board-up (BDUP): Securing openings to prevent further damage.
41. Temporary plumbing repairs (TEMP PLMB): Stopping the water source.
42. Emergency response fee (EMERG FEE): After-hours or weekend response. Document with dispatch records.

Category 6: Documentation and Project Management (Items 43-47)

43. Project management (PROJ MGT): Coordination of multiple trades and subcontractors.
44. Overhead and profit (O&P): 10% overhead + 10% profit when multiple trades are involved.
45. Permit fees (PERMIT): Required for structural repairs.
46. Third-party testing (TEST): Air quality testing, mold testing, moisture testing. Document with lab reports.
47. Final documentation package (FINAL DOC): Complete documentation package for the insurance company.

How to Use This Checklist

Go through this checklist on every water damage claim before writing your supplement. For each item, ask: Was this work performed? Is it documented? Is it in the estimate? If the answer to the first two is yes and the third is no, it belongs in your supplement.

The most important rule: document everything before you do it, while you're doing it, and after you've done it. Adjusters can't deny what's thoroughly documented.

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