Starter strip
What is a starter strip?
The first course of shingles at the roof’s edge that seals the eaves and rakes — required, and frequently left off the scope.
Definition
Starter strip is a specialized first row of shingles installed along the eaves and rakes before the field shingles go on. It seals the edges, helps lock down the first course, and protects against wind uplift and water intrusion.
Manufacturers and codes call for proper starter, but carriers often leave it off the first estimate or assume cut-up field shingles. Either way it’s a legitimate, spec- and code-backed supplement.
Like drip edge and ridge cap, starter strip is a routine missed line item. A quick note of the eave and rake footage is enough to add it back to the scope.
Related terms
Drip edgeA metal flashing installed along the roof’s edges that directs water away from the fascia — and a line item carriers frequently leave off.Ridge capThe finishing shingles that cap the peak of the roof — often priced as standard shingles or left off the scope entirely.Supplement line itemsThe specific items added to a claim through a supplement — the missed materials, code work, and underpriced entries that bring the scope up to the real job.Roofing supplementAn additional request to the insurance carrier for money the original scope left off — extra line items, missed materials, or code-required work.