Roofing & Remodeling Glossary
Contractors use a lot of shorthand. Here are plain-language definitions for terms you’re likely to hear during a roofing job, a remodel, or an insurance-claim conversation — generic industry terms, not brand-specific claims.
Roofing terms
- Decking (or sheathing): The layer of wood panels fastened to the roof framing that shingles or other roofing material attach to. If decking is soft or rotted, it has to be replaced before new roofing goes on.
- Underlayment: A water-resistant layer installed directly on the decking, under the visible roofing material. It’s a second line of defense if wind-driven rain or ice gets past the shingles.
- Ice and water shield: A self-adhering, waterproof membrane used in vulnerable spots — eaves, valleys, around chimneys — to stop ice dams and wind- driven rain from working their way under the roofing.
- Flashing: Thin metal installed at roof transitions — chimneys, walls, skylights, valleys — to direct water away from seams and penetrations, which are the most common places roofs actually leak.
- Drip edge: A metal strip installed along the roof’s eaves and rakes (the edges) that directs water into the gutter instead of behind the fascia.
- Ridge vent: A vent that runs along the roof’s peak, letting hot, moist attic air escape. Works with intake vents lower on the roof to keep the attic properly ventilated.
- Valley: The internal angle where two roof slopes meet, directing water downward. Valleys see more water volume than any other part of the roof and are a common trouble spot if not flashed correctly.
- Granule loss: Asphalt shingles are coated with mineral granules that protect against UV and impact damage. Loose granules (often visible in gutters or downspouts) can signal aging shingles or hail impact.
- Soft-story / soft decking: Roof decking that has lost structural integrity from prolonged moisture exposure, usually found once old roofing is torn off.
Remodeling & construction terms
- Scope of work: The written, itemized description of exactly what work will be performed, in what order, and to what standard. A clear scope is what a fair price and a fair inspection are both built on.
- Load-bearing wall: A wall that carries structural weight from the roof or floors above down to the foundation. Removing or altering one without proper support changes the building’s structural path and requires an engineer’s plan.
- Egress: A code-required exit path — most often discussed for basement bedrooms, which typically need a window or door large enough for someone to escape through in an emergency, and for a firefighter to enter through.
- Punch list: The list of small, remaining items identified near the end of a job — touch-ups, adjustments, fixes — that get resolved before the job is considered complete.
- Permit: Official local approval required before certain work can begin, confirming the planned work meets code. Requirements vary by city and county.
- Change order: A documented, signed amendment to the original scope of work when the job’s conditions or the customer’s requests change after work has started — it keeps both sides working from an updated, agreed written record instead of a verbal understanding.
Insurance-claim terms
- Adjuster: The insurance company’s representative who inspects storm or other damage and determines what the policy will cover.
- Supplement: An additional item or cost submitted to an insurance company after the initial estimate, when the true scope of the damage turns out to be larger than what was first identified.
- Deductible: The portion of a covered claim the policyholder pays out of pocket before insurance coverage applies. In Colorado, a contractor legally cannot pay, waive, or rebate your deductible for you (SB 12-038).
Related pages
See our process for how these terms show up in an actual job, or our FAQ page for straight answers to the questions people ask most.