Materials with significant volatility
- Lumber (OSB, dimensional, plywood)
- Drywall
- Shingles and tile
- Copper (plumbing, electrical)
- Steel (framing, rebar)
- Concrete
How pricing lags
- Xactimate updates quarterly
- Surge pricing (post-event) not captured immediately
- Discontinuations slow to reflect
- Specialty materials often under-priced
Documenting current cost
Supplier quotes
- Written quotes from local suppliers
- Dated to match claim timing
- Specific to the materials actually needed
Contractor material pricing
- Contractor's actual material cost
- Not distributor list price
- Market reality
Published indices
- Construction cost indices
- Florida market reports
- Trade publications
When to challenge
- Estimate pricing significantly below contractor quotes
- Post-catastrophe surge not reflected
- Discontinued material requires substitution
- Specialty material under-priced