Definitions for General Roofing Terms

Adjuster is a representative for your insurance company that reviews your claim and determines the validity and value.

Chimney Caps are a protective covering or housing for the top of a chimney intended for preventing the entry of animals, rain, snow, etc…

Flat Roof is a type of covering for a building. In contrast to the sloped form on a roof, a flat roof is horizontal or nearly horizontal. Materials that cover flat roofs should allow the water to run off freely from a slight incline.

Hail Damage to asphalt shingles can result in soft spots or bruising that may/may not be visible to the naked eye. Hail impacts will also tend to loosen the hard granules that make up the top surface of the shingle. In some instances hail will cause enough damage to break through the shingles felt matting and cause its fibers to be exposed.

Roof Vents are used to vent out the hot air from your attic space. Hail damage will often cause dents or marks on the metal roof venting systems. If there are signs of damage to the roof vents it is usually a good indication that the roof has sustained shingle damage.

Scope is the document provided by your insurance carrier that outlines the parameters of the work that is approved to be contracted.

Shingles are a thin piece of wood, slate, metal, asbestos, or the like, usually oblong, laid in overlapping rows to cover the roofs of structures.

Slope/Pitch is a numeric measure of the steepness of a roof usually referred to in the form of a fraction.

Square is a unit of measurement used by roofing contractors. A square is equal to a 10 X 10 area or 100 square feet.

Supplement is a request made by your contractor to your insurance company for anything that may have been left off the original scope or if there was a measurement discrepancy.

We hope this helps you understand the verbiage when speaking about roofing……