Starter Strip Shingle
A pre-cut or trimmed shingle strip installed along the eaves and rakes before the first course of shingles. Provides a continuous adhesive seal line and covers the gaps between the first course tab cutouts.
What Is a Starter Strip Shingle
A starter strip shingle is a pre-manufactured or field-cut shingle strip installed along the eaves and rakes of a roof before the first full course of shingles, providing a sealed adhesive bond and covering the gaps that would otherwise exist beneath the first course tab slots. Every shingle manufacturer requires starter strip installation for warranty compliance. Omitting it voids the warranty and creates a weak point at the roof's most wind-vulnerable edge.
Why Starter Strips Are a Separate Line Item
Starter strips are not included in the per-square cost of field shingles. In Xactimate, they carry their own selector code and are measured in linear feet along the total eave and rake length. On a roof with 200 linear feet of eave and rake, the starter strip line item is a meaningful cost. Adjusters who omit it from the initial scope are leaving a legitimate line item off the estimate.
Installation Requirements
Modern starter strips come as pre-cut rolls or strips with a factory-applied adhesive line positioned to bond with the overlapping first course. They are installed directly over the underlayment and drip edge. The adhesive strip must face upward so the first course of shingles bonds to it. Along rakes, the starter strip extends the full length of the gable edge. Proper installation prevents the most common cause of shingle blow-off at the roof perimeter.
Frequently asked questions
The starter strip provides a factory-applied adhesive line along the eave and rake edges, bonding the first course of field shingles down and sealing the gaps between tab cutouts. Without it, the first course is vulnerable to wind uplift and water infiltration through the cutout slots.
Yes. Starter strip shingles have their own line item in Xactimate, measured in linear feet. They should appear on every re-roof estimate. If the adjuster's scope omits starter strip, it is a valid supplement item.
No credit card required