Guide
A roofing job in this climate is not a sunbelt job. Ice at the eaves, lake-effect snow in some towns, wind off Lake Erie, and freeze-thaw all year are part of the work. This guide is general information for homeowners, not a specification and not a promise about any particular contractor.
Photo: Valeria Boltneva.
Tell a contractor what you have seen — a leak after a thaw, stained soffits, granules in the gutters, lifted tabs after wind, or a roof that is simply old — and ask them to walk the roof or inspect from the ground and attic when it is safe. A useful visit looks at ventilation, flashing, valleys, chimneys, and the eaves, not only the shingle color. We will not invent a life expectancy or an energy-savings percentage.
Ohio does not issue a statewide residential roofer license. Many cities and townships in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Summit, Stark, Portage, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties require local contractor registration and a permit for a replacement or other major work. Rules differ from one city to the next; a Cleveland registration does not automatically cover Lakewood or Cleveland Heights. Ask whether the company is registered at your address, whether they carry liability insurance, and whether your project needs a permit. The Exterior Desk confirms those items for people we recommend, but you should still ask to see them yourself.
A written estimate or contract should say the scope (repair versus replacement), the materials in plain language, how flashing and ventilation will be handled, who pulls the permit if one is required, and how payment is staged. Be cautious of high-pressure 'storm team' pitches, large upfront cash demands, or anyone who wants to handle your insurance claim as a condition of the work. You should review any contract yourself. We do not guarantee the work.
If you want help finding someone, you can request a recommendation from The Exterior Desk. A person at the desk personally knows or has worked with every professional we recommend, and we recommend one contractor at a time when we have someone who covers your ZIP. We will tell you if we do not. You can hire them, hire someone else, or do nothing.
FAQ
No. Ohio does not issue a statewide residential roofer license. Local registration, permits, and insurance are the checks that usually matter. Ask the building department in your city or township.
Be careful. Document damage yourself, call your own insurance company, and do not sign away control of a claim just to get a roof look. If you also need help with the insurer, we have a separate claim-help path. We are not a law firm and not an insurance adjuster.
Yes, when we have someone who covers your ZIP. There is no fee for a homeowner to request a recommendation. A recommendation is not a contract, and we do not guarantee the work.
Ice dams: prevention and repair · Filing a roof insurance claim in Ohio · Roofing matching in Northeast Ohio · Get a recommendation