Guide
This page is general information about property insurance claims after roof or storm damage in Ohio. It is not legal advice, not a promise about coverage, and not a substitute for your policy or a licensed professional you hire. The Exterior Desk is not a law firm and not an insurance adjuster.
Photo: Valeria Boltneva.
If it is safe, take your own photos and notes of what you can see from the ground: lifted or bruised shingles, missing tabs, stained ceilings, ice-dam marks, or loose gutters. Then call your insurance company using the number on your policy or your declarations page, not a number handed to you at the door. Keep a simple log of dates and names. We cannot tell you whether a particular event is covered.
After hail, wind, or a heavy snow, crews sometimes go door to door. Some are legitimate local companies; some are not. You are not required to sign a contract on the porch, hand over a policy, or let someone speak to your insurer for you as a condition of an inspection. Ask for a written estimate, check local registration and insurance, and walk away if the pitch feels wrong.
A contractor can look at the house and give you an opinion about the work. That is not the same as a licensed public insurance adjuster, who may represent a policyholder on a claim. An appraisal is a process that some policies allow when the amount of a loss is in dispute. An attorney may be involved after a denial or when you want legal advice. You do not have to know those titles in advance. If you want help choosing a starting point, use our claim-help questionnaire; we recommend one person from our network when we have someone who can help.
The Exterior Desk can recommend one professional to start with. We do not file your claim, negotiate with your insurer, or give legal advice. Introductions on the claim-help path are free for homeowners. A recommendation is not a guarantee of coverage or of any outcome.
FAQ
No. Nothing on this site is legal advice or a guarantee of coverage. For advice about your policy or a dispute, talk to a licensed professional you hire.
No. You can document damage and call your insurer yourself. Some homeowners also want a contractor to look at the property, or later want help if a claim is delayed, denied, or feels too low.
You can use the claim-help path and tell us where you are with the insurance company. We may recommend one person to start with. We are not a law firm and not an insurance adjuster.
Claim help · Storm, hail, and wind claims · How to choose a roofer · Get a recommendation