The roofing terms,
translated.
Adjusters, contractors, and policies all speak in shorthand. Here's every term a Colorado homeowner actually runs into during a roof claim — defined in plain English.
The claim vocabulary.
RCV — Replacement Cost Value
A policy that pays what it costs to replace your roof today, at current prices. The better policy to have in hail country. Compare ACV below.
ACV — Actual Cash Value
Replacement cost minus depreciation for the roof's age. On a 12-year-old roof, ACV can leave you paying $8–15K out of pocket. Check your declarations page for which one you have.
Recoverable depreciation
On an RCV policy, the carrier first pays the depreciated amount, then releases the held-back depreciation after the work is completed. We make sure you collect both checks.
Deductible
Your share of the claim. Colorado policies increasingly use percentage deductibles (1–2% of dwelling coverage) instead of flat amounts — on a $600K home that's $6–12K, worth knowing before you file. By Colorado law (SB12-038), no contractor may pay or waive it.
Scope of loss
The adjuster's itemized list of what the insurance will pay to repair or replace. If something's missing from the scope, it doesn't get paid — which is why photo-documentation and the supplement process below matter.
Supplement
A documented request to add items the initial scope missed — code-required upgrades, hidden decking damage, missed components. We document damage thoroughly to help supplements land accurately with your carrier.
O&P — Overhead & Profit
A standard 10%+10% line carriers pay when a job needs a general contractor coordinating multiple trades (roof + gutters + siding + windows after a big storm). Often wrongly omitted — we pursue it when it applies.
Xactimate
The pricing software nearly all carriers use to write scopes. We write estimates in the same system, line for line — so the adjuster and we are arguing from the same price book.
The roof itself.
Square
Roofing's unit of measure: 100 square feet of roof surface. A typical Colorado Springs home is 20–30 squares. Pricing is quoted per square — see our 2026 cost guide.
UL 2218 / Class 4
The impact-resistance test: a 2″ steel ball dropped from 20 feet must not crack the back mat of the shingle. Class 4 is the top rating. Many Colorado carriers offer an IR-roof discount on the wind/hail portion of the premium — amounts vary by carrier and policy. Full Class 4 guide →
Decking / sheathing
The wood panels under everything. Rotten or broken decking must be replaced before new shingles go on — a common supplement item found at tear-off.
Underlayment
The water-resistant layer between decking and shingles. Modern synthetic underlayment far outperforms old felt paper — and manufacturer warranties require it installed to spec.
Ice & water shield
Self-sealing membrane at eaves and valleys that protects against Colorado's freeze-thaw ice dams. Code-required in many applications — and a classic missed-scope supplement.
Flashing
Metal that seals the joints — chimneys, walls, skylights, valleys. Most "roof leaks" are actually flashing failures, which is why repairs often beat replacement on younger roofs.
Drip edge
Metal edging that carries water off the roof edge into the gutters instead of behind them. Code-required; frequently missing on older roofs.
Ridge vent
The exhaust vent along the roof peak. Proper intake + exhaust ventilation keeps attics cool and dry — and most shingle warranties are void without it. Pairs with attic insulation.
Hail swath
The footprint a storm's hail traces across the ground — often narrow enough that one side of a street is hit and the other isn't. We map every Colorado swath from radar: check your address.
Granule loss / bruising
Hail's signature damage: protective granules knocked off and the mat beneath bruised. Rarely visible from the ground, but it shortens roof life and carriers recognize it as damage — the reason inspections matter after storms.
Hearing a term that isn't here? Call 719-888-TOTAL (6825) — a real person answers, and we explain things in plain English for free.
Put it to work.
Free inspection, honest verdict, and a claim handled by people who know every term on this page.