Code Upgrade Claims
The Law Is On The Estimate
When a claim rebuilds your roof, it must be rebuilt to today’s code — and ordinance & law coverage exists to pay the difference. These are the line items that vanish from fast estimates.
Old Roof, New Rules, Covered Difference
Your 2005 roof was legal in 2005. Rebuild it today and the residential code requires things it never had: ice barrier membrane at the eaves in our climate zone, metal drip edge at eaves and rakes, ventilation minimums, fastening schedules. Ordinance & law coverage — standard in most homeowner policies — exists precisely to fund code-driven differences on covered losses. The requirements themselves live in the residential code (ICC published codes, adopted with Ohio amendments); we cite chapter and section on every line.
Software Defaults Don’t Know Your Code
Estimating software prices what the adjuster clicks — and code items don’t add themselves. An estimate showing shingles-and-felt with no ice barrier line in Northeast Ohio isn’t a judgment call; it’s an omission, and it’s one of the most common supplement items we file. Decking that can’t serve as a sound fastening surface gets the same treatment: documented at tear-off, cited, claimed.
What Policyholders Ask Us Daily
What is ordinance & law coverage?
The policy section funding code-required differences when rebuilding after a covered loss — typically a percentage of dwelling coverage. Most policies include it; we verify yours before claiming against it.
Which code items get missed most?
Ice and water barrier at eaves, drip edge, and ventilation corrections — in that order. On siding claims: house wrap requirements.
Can code items be claimed after the estimate is written?
Yes — that’s standard supplement territory, strongest when documented before or during the work.
Does my city’s permit process interact with this?
Helpfully, yes: the permit inspection enforces the same code we’re citing, which makes the carrier’s obligation concrete. We pull permits on every claim job.
What is ordinance and law coverage?
The policy section funding code-required differences when rebuilding after a covered loss — typically a percentage of dwelling coverage, present in most policies, used in few.
Does insurance pay for drip edge and ice barrier?
Where current code requires them and the old roof lacked them — yes, under ordinance and law. They’re the most-skipped compensable items we supplement.
How do I know if my policy has ordinance and law coverage?
Your declarations page lists it, typically as a percentage of dwelling coverage — we read it during the free policy review before claiming against it.
Are permits required for insurance roof work?
Nearly always for replacement — and helpfully so: the permit inspection enforces the very code items ordinance-and-law coverage pays for.
Runs With Code Claims
The companion levers.
Rebuilt To Code, Paid To Code
Free estimate audit for missing code items — citations included.