Start with your policy
Find your homeowners policy and its declarations page before you get far into a claim. The Ohio Department of Insurance encourages homeowners to understand a few things about how their policy treats roofs:
- Whether roof damage is settled at replacement cost or actual cash value, and whether the roof's age or condition changes that
- Your deductible, including any separate wind or hail deductible
- Whether the policy covers damage that is only cosmetic
- How quickly you must report a claim
The claim, step by step
The order can shift a little depending on your insurer, but these are the stages most storm damage roof claims move through.
- Make the home safe and prevent further damage. Policies generally require you to take reasonable steps to limit further damage, such as covering an opening. Keep your receipts.
- Document the damage. Take dated photos and video before anything is repaired. Our storm damage documentation checklist lists what to capture.
- Report the claim. Contact your insurer or agent, describe the damage and the date of the storm, and write down your claim number.
- Get a contractor inspection and written estimate. This helps you understand the full extent of the damage. The Insurance Information Institute suggests written bids that list materials and prices line by line.
- Adjuster inspection. Your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the damage and review your policy, including deductibles and limits.
- Review the insurer's estimate. The insurer issues an itemized estimate of what it will pay. Compare it with your contractor's estimate and ask about any differences.
- Receive the first payment. This is generally the approved amount minus your deductible. On many replacement cost policies, depreciation is also held back at this stage.
- Complete the repairs. Your contractor does the work you agreed to in writing.
- Collect withheld depreciation, if your policy allows it. Once the work is complete and you submit the proof your insurer asks for, the insurer may release the amount it held back.
- Close out the claim. Confirm every expected payment has arrived. If you find more damage later, ask your insurer about reopening the claim.
Terms that confuse homeowners
Deductible
The amount you are responsible for before insurance pays. The Ohio Department of Insurance explains that most home policies have an all other perils deductible and a separate wind/hail deductible, which may be a flat dollar amount or a percentage. A percentage deductible is based on the amount your home is insured for, not the amount of damage. On a home insured for $300,000 with a 2% wind/hail deductible, you are responsible for the first $6,000.
Adjuster
The person your insurer sends to inspect the damage and determine what the policy pays. The adjuster may be an insurance company employee or an independent adjuster working for the insurer.
Scope of loss or estimate
The insurer's itemized list of the damage it will pay for and what each item costs. Many homeowners hear it called the scope. It is the document to compare against your contractor's estimate, line by line.
Actual cash value (ACV)
The cost to repair or replace the damaged property minus depreciation for age and wear. If your roof claim is settled at actual cash value, the payment will likely not cover the full cost of the repair or replacement.
Replacement cost value (RCV)
The full cost to repair or replace with new materials of like kind and quality, without subtracting depreciation. The Ohio Department of Insurance notes that many policies require the repair or replacement to be done within a set timeframe, such as 180 days from the date of loss, to receive full replacement cost.
Recoverable depreciation
On many replacement cost policies, the insurer first pays the actual cash value and holds back the depreciation. After the work is done and you provide proof, it pays the difference. Your policy sets the deadline and the paperwork required.
Why your mortgage company may be on the check
If you have a mortgage, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says the settlement check is generally made out to both you and your mortgage servicer or lender. The servicer typically releases part of the money before work begins, more as the work progresses, and the rest once the job is finished and the home passes inspection.
Call your servicer early and ask what it needs from you and your contractor. Its process can affect how quickly repairs are paid for.
How long a claim takes
There is no single timeline. Your policy sets deadlines for reporting a loss, completing repairs, and claiming withheld depreciation, and those deadlines vary by insurer and by policy.
Ohio's claims-handling rule sets some minimum standards for insurers, including acknowledging a claim within 15 days of being notified of it. Adjuster scheduling, contractor availability after a large storm, and your mortgage company's process can all add time.
Who deals with your insurer
You do. The claim is between you and your insurance company. In Ohio, anyone paid to negotiate or settle a property insurance claim on your behalf must be a licensed public insurance adjuster, with limited exceptions such as attorneys. The Ohio Department of Insurance advises homeowners not to let a contractor negotiate or settle their claim.
Our team also assists with the insurance claims process by inspecting and documenting damage, providing a detailed written estimate, and explaining each step. If an estimate or payment seems off, read about roof insurance supplements and why claims get denied or underpaid.
For reference, here is how Blackridge works a claim: the inspection is free and includes photos and video you keep, we meet the adjuster on site, and we prepare and send the carrier our documentation of what the job requires, including code items and anything hidden that turns up during tear-off. We do not negotiate the claim or settle it for you, and we never waive a deductible.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice, and how your claim works depends on your policy and your insurance company.
Sources
- Questions ODI suggests asking about roof coverage (RCV vs ACV, roof age, cosmetic damage, how quickly to report); AOP and wind/hail deductibles; flat vs percentage deductibles with the $300,000 / 2% / $6,000 example; RCV often requires repair within a timeframe such as 180 days; ACV definition; do not let a contractor negotiate or settle your claim. insurance.ohio.gov
- Policy requires the insured to take steps to minimize further damage. insurance.ohio.gov
- Get written bids with materials and prices line by line; depreciated amount paid first, difference paid after replacement with proof; you can reopen a claim if you find other damage. iii.org
- Initial payment reflects depreciation; the insurer pays the difference after replacement is documented; claims can be reopened for additional damage. iii.org
- Adjuster reviews the policy and determines deductibles and coverage limits. content.naic.org
- Settlement check is generally made out to both homeowner and mortgage servicer or lender, with funds released in stages. consumerfinance.gov
- Ohio rule: insurer must acknowledge receipt of a claim within 15 days. codes.ohio.gov
- Independent adjusters representing insurers and insurer employees are exempt from public adjuster licensing; paid negotiation for an insured requires a public adjuster license. codes.ohio.gov
- Some insurers treat a signed check as a final settlement, and a check may be only a partial payment, so talk to the insurer before signing (Texas regulator guidance, general in nature). tdi.texas.gov