Roof Insurance Claims: A Homeowner's Walkthrough

A roof insurance claim has a specific shape — file, adjust, settle, repair, close. Knowing the sequence (and the terminology) puts you in control of the process. Here's the Columbus homeowner's version, from storm damage to final check.

Before You File: The Important Terms

Insurance vocabulary is designed to confuse. Five terms explain 90% of the process:

Deductible

The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance pays anything. Most Ohio homeowner policies have a flat deductible ($1,000, $2,500, $5,000). Some have percentage deductibles for wind and hail (1% or 2% of dwelling coverage), which can be much larger — a 2% deductible on a $300,000 home is $6,000.

ACV (Actual Cash Value)

The depreciated value of your damaged roof today. If your 20-year-old shingle roof is damaged, ACV is the replacement cost minus depreciation for the 20 years of life used. ACV is what most policies pay initially.

RCV (Replacement Cost Value)

The cost to replace your roof with a new one of like kind and quality. Most modern policies are RCV policies — meaning after you complete the repair, the insurance pays the "recoverable depreciation" (the difference between ACV and RCV, minus your deductible). Some older or budget policies are pure ACV and don't pay recoverable depreciation at all.

Scope of Loss

The insurance company's itemized estimate of what it will take to repair your damage. Written by the adjuster, usually using Xactimate software. The scope of loss is the basis for the insurance payment.

Supplement

Additional scope items that weren't in the original scope of loss. Usually identified after tear-off reveals hidden damage, or because the adjuster missed items in the initial walk. Supplements are submitted with documentation and, if valid, paid by the insurer.

Step 1: Decide Whether to File

Not every damage event should become a claim. (See our storm damage article for the full framework.) The key tests:

Is the damage likely to exceed your deductible by enough to matter? A $3,500 repair on a $2,500 deductible nets you $1,000 — often not worth the premium impact.

Has the damage been independently assessed by a contractor you trust? Having a second opinion before filing helps you understand what you're claiming.

Have you filed claims recently? Multiple claims in a short period can lead to rate increases or non-renewal, even if each individual claim is valid.

Step 2: Filing the Claim

Call your insurance company's claims number. They'll assign a claim number and an adjuster. You'll be asked for basic information — what happened, when, visible damage. Be factual and specific. Don't speculate.

Save the claim number, the adjuster's name and contact, and any reference numbers. Everything goes in your storm folder.

Timing matters. Most Ohio policies require filing "promptly" after damage is discovered — typically meaning within days, not weeks. If you find damage months after a storm, you may still have a claim, but be prepared to document when you first noticed it.

Step 3: The Adjuster Meeting

The adjuster will schedule a visit — usually within 1-3 weeks of filing, faster after a major storm event when they're at capacity. At the visit, they'll climb the roof, inspect damage, measure the roof, and assemble their scope of loss.

Have your contractor there

This is standard practice and legitimate. Your contractor knows what should be in the scope and can advocate for items the adjuster might miss. Adjusters are often juggling 15+ claims per day during peak season and don't have time to catch every detail.

Your contractor and the adjuster will walk the roof together. They may have a discussion about specific items — whether damage is hail vs. weathering, whether certain flashings need replacement, whether the deck needs reinforcement. This is normal. It's not confrontational.

What not to do

Don't sign a contract with your contractor that includes an "Assignment of Benefits" clause before the adjuster visit. Don't let the adjuster pressure you into accepting a verbal estimate without a written scope of loss. Don't sign the scope of loss as "final" at the meeting — ask to review it.

Step 4: Receiving the Scope of Loss and Initial Payment

Within 1-3 weeks after the adjuster visit, you'll receive the scope of loss and the first insurance check. The check amount is usually ACV minus deductible.

Example math: Scope of loss (RCV) is $18,000. Depreciation at 20 years of life used: $7,000. ACV is $11,000. Your deductible is $2,500. First check is $8,500 ($11,000 - $2,500).

Read the scope of loss carefully. Common issues to check:

Is every slope accounted for? Some adjusters scope just the damaged slopes. If your policy includes "matching" provisions (Ohio policies often do), the insurer may be responsible for more than they initially scoped.

Are all necessary accessories included? Ridge vent, ice and water, flashings, pipe boots, gutter apron — the scope should cover what's actually needed to make the roof whole.

Is the O&P included? Overhead and Profit — typically 20% — applies on claims involving 3 or more trades. Roof claims usually involve just roofing, but deck repair and gutter work can trigger it.

Are the prices current? Adjusters use Xactimate, which publishes price lists by region. Prices lag actual market by 3-9 months. In high-inflation environments, Xactimate pricing can be meaningfully below real contractor costs.

Step 5: Negotiating and Supplementing

If the scope of loss doesn't cover what the work actually requires, your contractor can submit a supplement. Supplements should be documented with photos, specific line items, and code references or industry standards.

Common valid supplements: deck damage discovered during tear-off (document with photos before covering), code-required items the adjuster omitted (ice and water shield coverage per current code, for example), damaged items not visible from the ground (flashings, chimney components).

Most valid supplements are paid without much resistance. The insurance company's interest is generally in paying a fair claim and closing the file. Supplements become contentious when they look like scope expansion rather than actual discovered damage.

A warning about over-supplementing: Some contractors make their money on aggressive supplementing — adding items that may or may not be legitimate. This can trigger insurance investigation, claim denial, or fraud charges. A reputable contractor submits supplements that are clearly justified and walks away from shaky ones. If your contractor is pushing hard for questionable supplements, you're the one whose name is on the policy.

Step 6: Doing the Work

With the scope agreed and initial payment received, your contractor proceeds with the work. During the project:

The contractor documents any additional damage found (for supplement submission).

You don't typically need to be present — the work happens whether you're home or not.

Keep copies of all invoices, material receipts, and photos. The insurance company will need them to release depreciation.

Step 7: Closing the Claim

Once the work is complete, your contractor provides documentation: final invoice, photos of completed work, and any required "certificate of completion." You submit these to the insurance company, which then releases the recoverable depreciation.

Continuing the example: Initial check was $8,500. After work is verified complete, insurer releases $7,000 in recoverable depreciation. Total paid by insurance: $15,500 ($18,000 RCV minus $2,500 deductible). You paid $2,500 out of pocket (your deductible).

If your policy is ACV-only, you don't get the depreciation check — the $8,500 was your total insurance payment, and you pay the rest out of pocket.

The Scenarios That Get Messy

The "matching" question

Your insurer may scope repair of 2 of your 4 roof slopes. The unpatched slopes don't match the new ones. Some Ohio policies have "matching" provisions that require full replacement when damage to one side creates a visible mismatch with the rest. Read your policy. This is a point worth negotiating.

The "wear and tear" denial

Insurers sometimes characterize storm damage as wear and tear. If you disagree, a second adjustment (at your request) or a contractor-documented response often resolves it. In persistent cases, public adjusters or attorneys can be involved, but these bring additional costs.

The "undiscovered damage" argument

If you notice damage months after a storm, the insurer may argue you can't prove it was that storm. Good contemporaneous documentation (photos from the storm date, a subsequent contractor inspection) helps. Weather records for the specific date and location can also support the claim.

The recoverable depreciation deadline

Most policies require the work to be completed within 6 to 12 months for recoverable depreciation to be paid. If you don't complete the work in that window, you may forfeit the depreciation and be stuck with ACV only.

Things Contractors Sometimes Do That You Should Refuse

Insurance work is a large part of the roofing industry, and most contractors handle it ethically. Some don't. Refuse any of the following:

"We'll handle your deductible" — illegal in Ohio.

"Sign this AOB" — don't. You lose control of the claim.

"We'll add extra items to get you a free roof" — this is fraud, not a favor.

"Don't worry about the scope, we'll make the numbers work" — you should worry about the scope, it's your claim.

"Sign the contract before the adjuster comes so we can lock you in" — reverses the proper sequence and limits your options.

How we handle insurance work: We document thoroughly, attend adjuster meetings, and submit clearly-justified supplements when hidden damage appears after tear-off. We don't play games with deductibles or push fraudulent supplements. The homeowner's name is on the policy — we help them get a fair claim settled cleanly, and the file closes without drama.