Roof insurance supplements, explained

What a supplement is

After the adjuster inspects, your insurer issues an estimate of what it will pay. A supplement asks the insurer to review items that were missing from that estimate, or damage found after work started, and to adjust the payment. The Insurance Information Institute notes that if you find other damage later, you can reopen a claim and file for an additional amount.

A supplement isn't a new claim for a new storm, and it isn't a guarantee of more money. The insurer reviews each item under your policy and decides.

Why an initial estimate can miss items

Missing items don't necessarily mean anyone made a mistake. A roof estimate is written before the roof is opened up, and some things can't be known until then.

How the supplement process generally works

Details vary by insurer, but a supplement usually moves through these stages.

1. Additional damage or missing items are found, usually during tear-off or when the insurer's estimate is compared line by line with the actual job.
2. The items are documented with photos, measurements, an itemized cost, and the reason each item is needed.
3. The insurer is notified and receives the documentation under your claim number. Ask your insurer early whether it wants to see newly found damage before it is repaired.
4. The insurer reviews the request. It may re-inspect, and it can approve, adjust, or deny each item.
5. A revised estimate and any additional payment are issued. If you have a mortgage, your lender may be named on that check too.

What a contractor's role should be in Ohio

Contractors often prepare the documentation for supplement items, since they are the ones who see the roof during tear-off. Ohio law, however, requires anyone paid to negotiate or settle a property insurance claim for a homeowner to be a licensed public insurance adjuster, with limited exceptions such as attorneys. The Ohio Department of Insurance also advises homeowners not to let a contractor negotiate or settle their claim.

A contractor's part should be accurate, honest documentation of real work. The claim, and the decision to accept a settlement, stay with you.

Your role as the homeowner

• Keep your claim number handy and stay in contact with your insurer.
• Ask your insurer how it wants additional damage reported.
• Get copies of every photo, estimate, and revised estimate.
• Read each revised estimate and ask about anything you don't understand.
• Log every call with the date, the person's name, and what was said.
• Ask whether a payment is partial or final before you deposit it.
• Watch your policy's deadlines for finishing repairs and claiming withheld depreciation.

How long a supplement can take

It varies. A small, well-documented item may be resolved fairly quickly. Items the insurer wants to re-inspect, or questions about whether something is covered, take longer. Busy periods after a large storm can slow every step.

Ohio's claims-handling rule requires insurers to respond within 15 days to a claimant's communication that calls for a response. A response isn't always a final decision, so keep following up in writing.

Fewer surprises start with a thorough inspection

The best way to reduce surprises is a careful inspection and a detailed estimate before work begins. Our team also assists with the insurance claims process by inspecting and documenting damage, providing a detailed written estimate, and explaining how the process works. Founder Donovan Mabry brings years of experience in roofing, siding, and insurance restoration. For the full sequence of a claim, see how a roof insurance claim works.

Supplements are the part of this Donovan handles personally. Blackridge documents what the job actually requires, in code terms and scope terms, and sends that documentation to the carrier. The insurer still decides what it pays.