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Roofing Glossary for Texas Homeowners
125 common roofing terms defined in plain language, from decking and drip edge to hail bruising and tear-off, grouped by how a roof is actually built and inspected, so you can read any estimate with confidence.
Updated October 12, 2026
22 terms
Roof Structure & Anatomy
Decking (sheathing)
The structural wood panels, usually plywood or OSB, fastened to the rafters or trusses that everything else on the roof is built on. Rotten or delaminated decking must be replaced during a reroof.
Rafter
A sloped structural framing member running from the ridge to the eave that supports the deck. Stick-framed roofs use rafters; many newer homes use trusses.
Truss
A pre-engineered triangular framework that supports the roof deck and spans the walls. Trusses are not to be cut or altered without an engineer.
Ridge
The horizontal line at the very top of a roof where two slopes meet. It is capped with ridge shingles and is a common location for exhaust ventilation.
Hip
The external angle where two roof slopes meet and run down to a corner. Hip roofs shed wind well and have no vertical gable end.
Valley
The internal angle where two roof slopes meet and channel water downward. Valleys carry heavy water flow and are a frequent leak point if flashed poorly.
Eave
The lower edge of the roof that overhangs the exterior wall. Eaves carry the gutter and the drip edge.
Rake
The sloped edge of a roof at a gable end, running from eave to ridge.
Fascia
The flat board along the eave and rake that closes off the rafter ends and carries the gutter.
Soffit
The underside of the roof overhang between the fascia and the wall. Vented soffit is the primary intake point for attic ventilation.
Pitch (slope)
The steepness of a roof, expressed as vertical rise over 12 inches of horizontal run (for example 6:12). Pitch drives material choice, walkability, and water shedding.
Square
The roofing unit of measure equal to 100 square feet of roof area. Materials and labor are commonly priced per square.
Gable
The triangular section of wall at the end of a pitched roof, between the two rake edges. Gable ends catch wind broadside, which is why gable roofs need attention to bracing and to how the rake edge is fastened.
Dormer
A framed structure that projects from a roof slope, usually with its own small roof and a window. Every dormer adds valleys, sidewalls and a headwall, so a dormer is four flashing details, not one.
Cricket (saddle)
A small peaked structure built on the uphill side of a chimney or other wide penetration to split water around it. The IRC requires one behind chimneys wider than 30 inches; without it, water and debris pile against the chimney and the flashing fails early.
Collar tie
A horizontal framing member connecting opposing rafters in the upper third of the attic. It keeps the ridge from separating under wind uplift. It is not the same as a ceiling joist, which sits at the bottom of the rafters.
Ridge board
The horizontal board at the peak that the tops of the rafters bear against in a stick-framed roof. Trussed roofs have no ridge board; the peak is the truss itself.
Overhang
The part of the roof that extends past the exterior wall, made up of the eave and rake. Overhangs keep water off siding and windows; the underside is the soffit.
Parapet
A low wall that rises above the roof line, common on flat and low-slope commercial roofs. The joint where the roof meets the parapet is a base-flashing detail and a frequent leak source.
H-clip
A small metal clip placed between roof deck panels mid-span to stiffen the joint. Code and manufacturers call for them on thinner decking where panels would otherwise flex between rafters.
Skylight curb
The raised frame a skylight sits on, which lifts the unit above the plane of the roof so it can be flashed like a small chimney. Curb height and flashing, not the glass, are usually where skylights leak.
Roof-to-wall transition
Any place a roof slope dies into a vertical wall, whether a headwall (wall above the slope) or a sidewall (wall beside it). Each transition needs its own flashing method, and each is a common point of failure on additions and dormers.
23 terms
Coverings & Materials
Three-tab shingle
A flat, single-layer asphalt shingle with a uniform look. Largely superseded in Texas by architectural shingles because of lower wind and impact performance.
Architectural (dimensional) shingle
A multi-layer asphalt shingle with a thicker, textured profile, higher wind ratings, and longer warranties than three-tab. The most common residential choice in Texas.
Impact-resistant shingle (Class 4)
A shingle that passes the UL 2218 steel-ball impact test at the highest level, Class 4. In Texas these often qualify for insurer premium discounts when documented.
UL 2218
The steel-ball drop standard that rates a shingle’s impact resistance from Class 1 to Class 4. Class 4 is the top rating.
Standing-seam metal
A metal roof system with raised, interlocking vertical seams and concealed fasteners. Durable and low-maintenance, with a higher upfront cost.
Exposed-fastener metal
A metal panel system screwed directly through the face of the panel. Lower cost than standing seam; the exposed screws and washers need periodic inspection.
Concrete or clay tile
Heavy, long-life roofing common on some Texas homes. Requires adequate structural support and careful flashing detail.
Low-slope membrane (TPO, modified bitumen)
Single-ply or rolled systems used on flat and low-slope roofs where shingles cannot shed water reliably. Common on patios, additions, and commercial buildings.
Granules
The mineral coating on asphalt shingles that shields the asphalt from UV and adds fire and impact resistance. Heavy granule loss is a sign of age or hail bruising.
Fiberglass mat
The woven glass base inside a modern asphalt shingle, saturated with asphalt and coated with granules. It replaced organic (paper) mats, which absorbed water and are no longer made for residential shingles.
Sealant strip (self-seal)
The factory strip of adhesive on a shingle that bonds to the shingle above it once the sun warms it. Until it seals, the roof has no wind resistance; on a cold-weather install, shingles may need hand sealing.
Starter strip
The first course at the eave and rake, laid under the field shingles with its sealant at the edge. A proper starter is what keeps the first row from lifting; using cut-down field shingles instead is a common shortcut.
Hip-and-ridge cap
The purpose-made shingles that cover hips and ridges. They are thicker than field shingles, and cutting field shingles to cap a ridge voids most manufacturer wind warranties.
Luxury (designer) shingle
A heavier laminated asphalt shingle built to imitate slate or wood shake. Longer warranties and better wind and impact performance, at two to three times the weight of a three-tab.
Shingle exposure
The part of each shingle left visible below the course above, typically 5 to 5 5/8 inches. The manufacturer sets it; stretching the exposure to save material leaves nail lines uncovered and voids the warranty.
Galvalume
A steel sheet coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy, the standard substrate for residential metal roofing. It outlasts plain galvanized steel, but it must not be in contact with copper, lead or treated lumber.
PVDF (Kynar 500) finish
A fluoropolymer paint system used on better metal roofing that resists fading and chalking for decades. The alternative, polyester (SMP) paint, costs less and fades faster in Texas sun.
Gauge (metal thickness)
The thickness of a metal panel, where a lower number is thicker: 24 gauge is heavier than 26, which is heavier than 29. Thinner panels dent more easily in hail and oil-can more visibly.
Oil canning
The wavy, rippled look that can appear on flat areas of metal roofing panels. It is a visual condition, not a defect in most warranties, and it is reduced by heavier gauge, striations and proper fastening.
Cool roof (solar reflectance)
A roof surface that reflects more sunlight and sheds heat faster than a standard dark roof, measured as solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Lighter shingle colors and reflective metal both qualify; the benefit is real in a Texas summer and smaller than the marketing suggests.
Wind rating (ASTM D3161, D7158)
Laboratory ratings for how well a shingle resists wind. D3161 Class F is tested to 110 mph; D7158 Class H to 150 mph. The rating only holds when the shingle is installed to the manufacturer nailing pattern.
Class A fire rating
The highest fire-resistance rating for a roof covering under UL 790 or ASTM E108. Nearly all asphalt shingles, metal and tile carry Class A; some wood shakes do not.
Synthetic slate or shake
A molded composite (usually polymer) made to look like slate or cedar shake. Far lighter than real slate, with impact ratings that real slate cannot match, at a price between architectural shingles and metal.
21 terms
Underlayment, Flashing & Water Control
Underlayment
The layer installed over the decking and under the shingles. Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced felt for its tear resistance and consistency.
Ice-and-water shield
A self-adhering waterproof membrane applied in valleys, at eaves, and around penetrations to block wind-driven water and backup.
Drip edge
A metal flashing installed along eaves and rakes that directs runoff into the gutter and away from the fascia. Required by most current codes.
Step flashing
Individual metal pieces woven into the shingle courses where a roof slope meets a wall, so water steps down and out rather than behind the siding.
Counter flashing
Flashing set into or over a wall that covers the top edge of step or base flashing, sealing the wall-to-roof transition.
Apron (base) flashing
Flashing at the base of a wall or chimney on the downslope side that carries water onto the shingles.
Kick-out flashing
A small diverter at the bottom of a wall-to-roof junction that kicks water away from the wall and into the gutter. A commonly missed detail that causes hidden wall rot.
Pipe boot (jack)
The flashing collar that seals around a plumbing vent or other round penetration. Cracked rubber boots are one of the most common leak sources.
Valley metal
Metal lining installed in a valley to carry concentrated water flow. Open-metal valleys are durable and easy to inspect.
Felt underlayment (#15, #30)
Asphalt-saturated paper, the traditional underlayment. #30 is heavier than #15. It tears in wind, wrinkles when wet, and is being replaced by synthetics on most new work.
Synthetic underlayment
A woven polymer sheet used under shingles in place of felt. Lighter, far more tear-resistant, safer to walk on, and stable if it sits exposed for a few days before shingles go on.
Open valley
A valley where the metal is left exposed and the shingles are cut back on each side. Sheds debris best and is the easiest valley to inspect; it is the preferred method for long or low-slope valleys.
Closed-cut valley
A valley where one slope’s shingles run across the valley and the other slope’s are cut in a straight line just off center. The most common valley on Texas homes; it depends on ice-and-water shield underneath because there is no exposed metal.
Woven valley
A valley where shingles from both slopes are interlaced across the centerline. Only suitable for three-tab shingles; weaving laminated shingles creates a hump that traps water.
Gutter apron
An L-shaped metal flashing at the eave that directs water off the deck and into the gutter, behind the gutter’s back edge. Not the same as drip edge, though the two are often confused on estimates.
Headwall flashing
Flashing where a roof slope meets a vertical wall above it, such as a second story over a porch roof. The flashing runs up under the siding and out over the shingles, and it must be continuous.
Sidewall flashing
Flashing where a roof slope runs alongside a vertical wall, done with individual step flashing pieces lapped with each course. A continuous strip here, instead of steps, is a shortcut that fails.
Pitch pocket
A metal box built around an irregular penetration (a pipe cluster, a conduit) and filled with sealant. It is a last resort, because the sealant has to be renewed for the life of the roof.
Roof cement (plastic cement)
Asphalt-based mastic used to seal small gaps and bed flashings. It dries out and cracks within a few years in sun, so a roof held together with cement is a roof with deferred leaks.
Nail pop
A nail that has backed out of the deck and pushed up through the shingle above it. Each one is a hole; nail pops show up as small bumps in a row and are a common source of drips that appear years after a reroof.
Exposed nail
A fastener head left visible on the surface, most often at ridge caps, vents and flashing edges. Every exposed nail needs sealant and every sealant fails eventually, so the fewer the better.
14 terms
Ventilation
Ridge vent
An exhaust vent running along the ridge that lets hot attic air escape at the highest point.
Soffit vent
An intake vent in the underside of the eave that pulls cooler air into the attic. Intake must be present for exhaust to work.
Box (off-ridge) vent
A static exhaust vent set below the ridge, used where a continuous ridge vent is not practical.
Balanced ventilation
A ventilation system with roughly equal intake (soffit) and exhaust (ridge) so air moves continuously through the attic. Imbalance shortens shingle life and raises energy costs.
Baffle
A channel installed at the eave that keeps insulation from blocking soffit intake airflow.
Net free area (NFA)
The actual open area a vent provides for air to pass, after screens and louvers are subtracted, stated in square inches on the product. Vent sizing is done in NFA, not in the size of the hole cut in the roof.
The 1:150 and 1:300 rules
The IRC sizing rule for attic ventilation: one square foot of net free area for every 150 square feet of attic floor. It drops to 1:300 when 40 to 50 percent of that area is exhaust at or within three feet of the ridge and the rest is intake at the eaves. (The code’s other route to 1:300, a vapor retarder, applies only to cold climate zones, not Texas.) Most roofs are undersized on the intake side.
Intake and exhaust
The two halves of an attic ventilation system. Intake at the soffits lets cooler air in low; exhaust at or near the ridge lets hot air out high. Exhaust without intake does little, and mixing exhaust types short-circuits the flow.
Turbine vent
A wind-driven spinning exhaust vent. It moves real air on a windy day and nothing on a still one; on a ridge-vented roof it competes with the ridge for intake and should be removed.
Powered attic fan
An electric exhaust fan in the roof or gable. Effective when intake is adequate; with weak soffit intake it can pull conditioned air from the house through ceiling gaps and raise cooling bills.
Gable vent
A louvered vent in the gable end wall. A traditional exhaust point that works best paired with soffit intake and no ridge vent; combined with a ridge vent it becomes an intake and shorts the system.
Radiant barrier
A reflective foil facing on the underside of the roof deck that reflects radiant heat away from the attic. It lowers attic temperature in a Texas summer; it is not insulation and does not replace it.
R-value (attic insulation)
A measure of how well insulation resists heat flow; higher is better. Current energy code for the Round Rock area calls for about R-38 in the attic, and many older homes have a third of that.
Short-circuiting
What happens when two exhaust vents sit close together, or an exhaust vent sits near an intake: air moves between the vents instead of through the attic. It is the most common reason a well-ventilated-looking roof still runs hot.
19 terms
Storm & Damage
Hail bruise
A soft, often circular spot where hail has fractured the shingle mat beneath the granules. Bruises are felt more than seen and are a key storm-damage indicator.
Spatter mark
A light, cleaned-off spot on a surface where hail struck. Spatter helps date and size a hail event but is not itself shingle damage.
Wind uplift
The lifting force of wind on shingles or panels. Uplift can crease, loosen, or tear off roofing, especially at edges and ridges.
Creasing
A visible fold line across a shingle that was lifted by wind and folded back. Creased shingles have a broken seal and reduced life.
Blistering
Small raised bubbles in a shingle surface, usually from trapped moisture or poor ventilation, not from impact.
Ponding
Standing water that does not drain off a low-slope roof within a couple of days. Ponding accelerates membrane failure.
Granule loss
Loss of the protective mineral surface, from age, foot traffic, or hail. Bare asphalt weathers quickly once exposed.
Test square
A 10-by-10-foot area marked on a slope and inspected closely, where hail hits are counted. Adjusters and contractors use the same method; the count per square on each slope is what supports or fails a claim.
Collateral damage
Hail marks on soft metals near the roof: gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC fins, vent caps, mailbox. Collateral damage establishes that hail of a given size fell on the property even where the shingles are hard to read.
Directional damage
The pattern where hail or wind damage is concentrated on the slopes facing the storm. Real storm damage is directional; damage spread evenly on every slope points to age or another cause.
Mechanical damage
Marks made by something other than weather, such as a tool, a dropped ladder or a foot. Adjusters distinguish it from hail by its shape and its lack of a directional pattern, and it is not covered as storm damage.
Craze cracking
A web of fine surface cracks in aged asphalt shingles as the asphalt dries out and shrinks. It is wear, not storm damage, and it is often mistaken for hail by people who want it to be hail.
Algae streaking
Dark streaks running down a roof, caused by a blue-green algae that feeds on the limestone filler in shingles. It is cosmetic. Algae-resistant shingles carry copper granules that slow it.
Unsealed (lifted) shingles
Shingles whose sealant strip has released, so the tab can be lifted by hand. Wind can unseal shingles without tearing them, and an unsealed roof will lose material in the next storm.
Curling and cupping
Shingle edges that turn up (curling) or centers that dish (cupping) as the shingle ages and loses volatiles. Both are end-of-life signs; a curled roof cannot be repaired back to flat.
Date of loss
The date the insurer records as when the damage happened. Claims are tied to a storm event, so establishing the right date from weather records matters, especially where more than one storm has crossed the same roof.
Severe thunderstorm criteria
The National Weather Service threshold: hail of one inch (quarter size) or larger, or wind gusts of 58 miles per hour or more. Storm records and warnings are keyed to these numbers.
Wear versus impact
The distinction at the center of most claim disputes. Impact damage is sudden, directional and has a fresh fractured look; wear is gradual, uniform and follows the age of the roof. A good inspection report separates the two slope by slope.
Debris impact
Damage from tree limbs, flying material or a falling object rather than from hail itself. Usually covered as wind damage; the mark is larger and more irregular than a hail bruise.
26 terms
Process & Documentation
Tear-off
Removing the existing roofing down to the deck before installing new material. Preferred over an overlay because it lets the crew inspect and repair the deck.
Overlay (reroof)
Installing new shingles over the existing layer. Faster and cheaper, but it hides deck problems and is limited by code to one additional layer.
Re-decking
Replacing damaged or non-compliant roof decking during a reroof.
Field record
A dated, photo-based written record of a roof’s actual condition. The Roof Shepherd produces field records as factual documentation, not as an insurance document.
Permit
The municipal authorization to perform roofing work. Requirements vary by city and county in Texas.
Punch list (final walk)
The end-of-job review where remaining items are identified and corrected, and the site is checked for debris and stray fasteners.
Actual cash value (ACV)
What the damaged roof was worth at the time of loss: its replacement cost less depreciation for age and condition. On a replacement-cost policy the ACV is the first check; the rest is paid when the work is done.
Replacement cost value (RCV)
The full cost to replace the roof with like kind and quality today, before depreciation. A replacement-cost policy pays RCV in two parts: ACV up front, and the withheld depreciation once the roof is replaced.
Recoverable depreciation
The amount held back between ACV and RCV until the insurer has proof the work was completed and the deductible was paid. Under Texas law the insurer can require that proof before releasing it.
Deductible
The part of a covered loss the policyholder pays. In Texas the insured is required to pay it, and it is against the law for a contractor to waive, absorb or advertise a way around it. A roofer who offers to “handle” the deductible is describing a crime.
Scope of loss
The adjuster’s itemized list of what is damaged and what it will cost to fix, usually produced in estimating software. Everything about the claim flows from the scope, which is why it should be read line by line.
Line item
A single entry in the scope: a material, a quantity and a unit price. Missing line items (drip edge, ice-and-water, starter, ridge cap, disposal) are the most common reason a scope comes up short.
Supplement
A request to add items to the scope that were missed or discovered during the work, such as rotten decking found after tear-off. Supplements are normal; they are documented with photos and submitted through the policyholder.
Adjuster (staff, independent, public)
A staff adjuster works for the insurer. An independent adjuster is hired by the insurer for a claim or a storm. A public adjuster is licensed and works for the policyholder for a fee. In Texas a roofing contractor may not act as a public adjuster on a roof it may work on.
Xactimate
The estimating software most insurers and adjusters use to price a scope. Its unit prices are regional and updated monthly, which is why a contractor bid and an adjuster scope can differ on the same roof.
Matching
Whether a repaired or partially replaced roof has to match the rest in color and style. Texas policies vary on it, and discontinued shingle colors are a common reason a repair becomes a full replacement.
Code upgrade (ordinance or law)
Coverage for costs the current building code requires that the old roof did not have, such as ice-and-water shield (IRC R905.1.2) or drip edge (IRC R905.2.8.5). It is optional on many policies and worth confirming before a storm, not after.
Overhead and profit (O&P)
A percentage added to a scope when the job is complex enough to need a general contractor to coordinate trades. Whether a roof-only job qualifies is decided by the policy and the insurer, not by the contractor.
Manufacturer warranty versus workmanship warranty
Two different promises. The manufacturer warrants the shingle against defects, usually prorated after an early period, and only if installed to spec. The contractor warrants the installation. A leak from a bad nail is the contractor’s; a shingle that cracks on its own is the manufacturer’s.
Prorated warranty
A warranty whose payout shrinks with the age of the roof. A 30-year prorated warranty may pay a fraction of the material cost in year 20 and nothing toward labor. The non-prorated period, often the first ten years, is the part that matters.
Nailing pattern (four-nail, six-nail)
How many nails go in each shingle and where. Four is the code minimum under the IRC; manufacturers specify six for high-wind areas and for their enhanced wind warranties. Nails driven above the nail line or at an angle count as missed.
Certificate of completion
A signed document stating the work is finished to the scope. Insurers often require it before releasing recoverable depreciation, and it is the homeowner’s record that the job was closed out.
Lien waiver
A signed statement from the contractor (and, on larger jobs, the suppliers) that they have been paid and give up any right to a lien on the property. Get one at final payment; it is the proof that no one else can claim against the house for that work.
Change order
A written amendment to the contract for work added or removed after signing. Verbal changes are how disputes start; a change order records who agreed to what, and for how much, before the work is done.
Magnet sweep
Running a rolling magnet over the yard, driveway and beds after tear-off to pick up dropped nails. It is the last step of a reroof and the one homeowners notice most when it is skipped.
Roof age
How long the current roof covering has been in place, which is not the same as the age of the house on a home that has been reroofed. Insurers price and underwrite on it, and a permit, a receipt or an inspection report is how it is established.
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Every term in this glossary shows up somewhere real: on the anatomy page, in the full guides, and in the decisions the guides walk you through.