Roofing terms are the shorthand roofers use for a roof’s shape, its layers and the insurance paperwork, and Colorado homeowners need only a few dozen of them to read a bid. Roofers measure in squares (100 square feet each), describe roof shapes as gable or hip, and build every roof in layers: decking, underlayment, an ice barrier where code or good practice calls for it, flashing at every wall, valley and pipe, then the shingles or panels, finished with hip and ridge cap. Insurance estimates add their own words, such as RCV, ACV, depreciation and supplement. Below are the terms you will meet on an inspection report, a bid and a claim, with the Colorado Springs and Denver rules that give some of them real numbers.
Roof shapes and parts
- Gable. Two slopes meeting at a ridge, with a triangular wall at each end. The sloped edges over those walls are rakes.
- Hip. Slopes on every side, so the roof has eaves (the lower, horizontal edges) all the way around.
- Ridge. The top line where two slopes meet. Hips are the sloped lines where two planes meet on a hip roof.
- Valley. The inside corner where two slopes meet and water concentrates. Valleys are a common leak point.
- Pitch (slope). Rise per 12 inches of run. A 4:12 roof rises 4 inches every foot. PPRBD does not allow asphalt shingles below 2:12.
- Square. 100 square feet of roof. Denver requires a permit for a repair larger than 10 percent of the roof or two squares, whichever is smaller; in the Pikes Peak region the threshold is 100 square feet, one square.
The layers, bottom to top
- Decking (sheathing). The plywood, OSB or old plank boards the roof is nailed to. PPRBD and Denver both cap how wide the gaps between old plank boards can be; wider gaps mean new decking or an overlay before the new roof goes on.
- Underlayment. The sheet laid over the decking under the shingles. Once called felt or tar paper; synthetic sheets are common now.
- Ice barrier (ice and water shield). A self-adhering membrane at the eaves that seals around nails. PPRBD requires it on homes above 7,000 feet, at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall; Denver does not require it. Many roofers install it in valleys anyway.
- Drip edge. Metal at the eaves and rakes that sends water into the gutter instead of behind it. Required on shingle roofs under the codes PPRBD and Denver enforce.
- Flashing. Metal that turns water at walls, chimneys, skylights and valleys. Step flashing goes piece by piece up a sidewall; counterflashing covers its top edge; a kick-out at the bottom of a sidewall directs water into the gutter. Denver requires a cricket behind chimneys and other projections wider than 30 inches.
- Pipe boot (pipe jack). The rubber or lead collar around plumbing vents. A cracked boot is one of the most common small leaks.
- Starter strip. The first course at the eaves and rakes that seals the bottom row down.
- Shingles. Three-tab shingles are flat and uniform; architectural (laminated) shingles are thicker with a dimensional look.
- Hip and ridge cap. Shaped pieces that cover hips and ridges.
- Ventilation. Intake vents at the eaves and exhaust at the ridge or roof vents let the attic breathe.
Ratings you will see on a bid
- Class A fire rating. The highest fire rating for a roof covering. PPRBD requires Class A on one- and two-family homes in the City of Colorado Springs.
- Class 4 (UL 2218). The highest impact rating for hail resistance. See our Class 4 shingle comparisons.
- ASTM D7158 and D3161. Wind ratings. Denver requires shingles labeled to D7158, by wind zone; our ASTM D3161 article explains the classes.
Insurance claim words
- RCV (replacement cost value). What it costs to replace the roof today.
- ACV (actual cash value). RCV minus depreciation for age and wear. Many policies pay ACV first and release the depreciation after the work is done; see how long you have to recover depreciation.
- Deductible. Your share of the loss. In Colorado no roofer may pay, waive or rebate it; see roofing ethics.
- Supplement. A request to add missed items to the claim, backed by photos.
- Functional vs cosmetic damage. Whether hail hurt the roof’s ability to shed water or its life, or only its looks; see what a HAAG-trained inspector checks.
Put the words to work
Now that you know the terms, our guides on roof maintenance that actually helps, licensing and insurance and the most common causes of roof damage in Denver will read faster. Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, with 650+ Google reviews. Call Colorado Springs at (719) 488-2800 or the Denver area at (303) 209-0152, or book a free roof inspection and we will walk you through your roof in these terms, with photos.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroof Guidelines, rev. 03/05/2024; City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist, updated 4/11/2024.
