Reference
Roofing & home improvement glossary
The jargon, decoded. Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll hear from contractors, insurance adjusters, and inspectors.
Roofing
17 terms
- Architectural shingles
- Multi-layered asphalt shingles with a dimensional, slate-like look. Heavier and longer-lasting than 3-tab shingles, typically warrantied 30–50 years. Today's standard for most NJ residential roofs.
- 3-tab shingles
- The older, flat-profile asphalt shingle with three uniform tabs. Cheaper but shorter-lived (15–20 years). Most homeowners now upgrade to architectural when re-roofing.
- Underlayment
- The protective layer installed directly on the roof deck before shingles. Modern synthetic underlayment is tear-resistant and acts as a secondary water barrier if shingles fail.
- Ice & water shield
- A self-adhering waterproof membrane installed at eaves, valleys, and around penetrations. Required by NJ code in cold-climate zones to prevent ice-dam leaks.
- Drip edge
- A metal flashing installed along the eaves and rakes that directs water into the gutter and away from fascia. Required by code on new roofs.
- Flashing
- Thin metal pieces installed at roof transitions (chimneys, walls, vents) to direct water away from joints. Failed flashing causes most leaks — not failed shingles.
- Step flashing
- L-shaped flashing pieces woven into shingle courses where the roof meets a wall. Each step overlaps the one below to shed water down the slope.
- Ridge vent
- A continuous vent along the peak of the roof that lets hot air escape from the attic. Paired with soffit intake vents to keep the attic cool and prevent ice dams.
- Soffit & fascia
- Soffit is the underside of the roof overhang (often perforated to allow attic intake air). Fascia is the vertical board at the eave that the gutter mounts to.
- Pitch (slope)
- Roof steepness, expressed as inches of vertical rise per 12 inches of horizontal run. A "6/12" roof rises 6 inches for every foot. Below 2/12 is considered low-slope or flat.
- Square
- A roofing measurement equal to 100 square feet. Roofers price by the square — a typical NJ home is 20–30 squares.
- Tear-off vs. overlay
- Tear-off removes the existing roof down to the deck before installing new shingles. Overlay (a.k.a. layover) installs a second layer over the existing one. Tear-off is required by NJ code if there are already two layers.
- Valley
- Where two roof slopes meet at an internal angle. Channels a lot of water — a common leak point if not flashed correctly.
- Cricket (saddle)
- A small ridge built behind a chimney or other obstruction to divert water around it. Required by code on chimneys wider than 30 inches.
- TPO
- Thermoplastic polyolefin — a single-ply white membrane used on most modern commercial flat roofs. Heat-welded seams and energy-efficient reflectivity.
- EPDM
- A synthetic rubber single-ply roofing membrane (the classic "rubber roof") used on flat or low-slope roofs. Long lifespan, glued or mechanically fastened seams.
- Modified bitumen
- An asphalt-based flat-roofing membrane reinforced with polymers, applied in rolls with heat or cold adhesive. Common on small commercial buildings and porch roofs.
Siding & exterior
6 terms
- Vinyl siding
- PVC siding panels — the most popular siding in NJ for its low cost, low maintenance, and 25–40 year lifespan. Available in many colors and profiles.
- Fiber cement (Hardie board)
- A composite of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. Looks like wood, lasts 50+ years, and stands up to fire and impact. James Hardie is the dominant brand — "Hardie board" is generic shorthand.
- Cedar shake
- Hand-split or sawn wood shingles, traditionally cedar. Premium look but requires periodic staining or sealing.
- House wrap
- A water-resistive barrier (e.g. Tyvek) installed between sheathing and siding. Lets vapor escape but blocks bulk water. Standard on every modern siding job — if a contractor "skips it to save money," walk away.
- J-channel
- A U-shaped trim piece that receives the cut edges of vinyl siding around windows, doors, and corners. Sloppy J-channel is a giveaway of a rushed install.
- Gutter / leader
- Gutter = the horizontal trough at the eave. Leader (a.k.a. downspout) = the vertical pipe carrying water down. "Seamless" gutters are formed on-site from a single coil to eliminate leaky joints.
Masonry
8 terms
- Tuckpointing (repointing)
- Removing failing mortar between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar. Restores weatherproofing and structural integrity without rebuilding the wall.
- Mortar joint
- The gap between bricks or stones, filled with mortar. Different "tooled" profiles (concave, V, weathered) shed water differently.
- Lintel
- A horizontal support — usually steel or stone — over a window or door opening that carries the weight of masonry above. Rusted steel lintels expand and crack the brick above them.
- Step crack
- A diagonal "stair-step" crack running through mortar joints. Often signals foundation movement or settling — get it checked, don't just patch it.
- Efflorescence
- The white powdery deposit on brick or concrete caused by water carrying salts to the surface. Cosmetic on its own, but signals moisture migration that needs investigating.
- Belgian block
- Quarried granite blocks (roughly 4×4×9 in.) used as driveway edging, curbs, and accents. Tougher and more upscale than concrete edging.
- Retaining wall
- A wall that holds back soil at a grade change. Anything over 4 ft tall in NJ generally requires engineering and a permit.
- Paver vs. stamped concrete
- Pavers are individual interlocking units; stamped concrete is a single poured slab textured to look like pavers. Pavers are easier to repair but cost more upfront.
Insurance & permits
8 terms
- HIC license
- Home Improvement Contractor license. NJ contractors must register (NJ HIC #13VH12075600 for us). Verify any contractor at the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs site before signing.
- General liability insurance
- Insurance that covers property damage or injury caused by the contractor while working at your home. Always ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) before work starts.
- Workers' compensation
- State-mandated insurance covering injuries to workers on your property. If a contractor lacks it and someone gets hurt at your home, the homeowner can be liable.
- ACV vs. RCV
- Actual Cash Value pays the depreciated value of your roof at time of loss. Replacement Cost Value pays full cost to replace, minus your deductible. RCV policies usually pay out in two checks (initial + recoverable depreciation after work completes).
- Adjuster
- The insurance-company employee or independent contractor who inspects damage and writes the claim estimate. We meet adjusters on-site to make sure nothing legitimate gets missed.
- Supplement
- An additional claim line item submitted to the insurer when the original estimate missed something (extra layer of shingles, code-required upgrades, hidden decking damage). Common and routine on roofing claims.
- Depreciation (recoverable)
- The amount the insurer holds back at first payout, then releases once you complete the work and submit a final invoice. Don't leave money on the table — make sure your contractor invoices for it.
- Permit
- Most NJ municipalities require a building permit for full roof replacements, structural work, and major exterior changes. We pull permits on every job that needs one — unpermitted work creates resale and insurance problems.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Call us — we're always happy to talk through a project, no pressure.