Reference
Roofing and Insurance Claim
Terms Explained in Plain English.
Insurance estimates, adjuster conversations, and contractor proposals come with a specific vocabulary. Here is every term you are likely to encounter and what it actually means.
A
Actual Cash Value (ACV)
The value of your damaged roof after depreciation. ACV equals the replacement cost minus the reduction for age and wear. Under an ACV policy your insurance payment reflects this reduced figure. There is no second check.
See the full ACV vs RCV explanation.Adjuster
The person your insurance company assigns to inspect your property and produce a damage estimate. Staff adjusters are employees of the insurance company. Independent adjusters are contractors hired by the insurance company. Both work on behalf of the insurer.
Assignment of Benefits (AOB)
A legal transfer of your insurance claim rights to a third party, typically a contractor. Signing an AOB gives the contractor the right to deal directly with your insurance company and collect payment without your involvement. Understand exactly what you are signing before agreeing to any AOB document.
B
Bruising
The soft, pliable impact mark left in an asphalt shingle's mat layer after a hail strike dislodges granules. Bruising is the primary hail damage indicator in a HAAG certified inspection. It is not visible from the ground and cannot be detected without physical contact with the shingle surface.
C
Claim Window
The period of time after a storm event during which a homeowner can file a claim. Most policies allow one to two years from the event date. Filing earlier produces better documentation outcomes. Waiting creates ambiguity about whether damage is storm-related or the result of wear.
Code Upgrade
Work required to bring a roof into compliance with current local building codes at the time of replacement. Codes change over time. If your area now requires ice and water shield or updated drip edge specifications that were not standard when your original roof was installed these are legitimate code upgrade line items in an insurance estimate.
D
Decking
The structural wood panels, typically oriented strand board or plywood, that sit beneath the underlayment and shingles and form the structural base of the roof system. Damaged or rotted decking found during tearoff is documented and addressed before new material is installed.
Depreciation
The reduction in value applied to your damaged property based on age and expected remaining lifespan. Insurance companies use depreciation schedules to calculate ACV payments. Under RCV coverage depreciation is withheld and returned when work is complete. Under ACV it is deducted permanently.
Drip Edge
A metal strip installed at the eaves and rakes of a roof to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutter. Many updated building codes require drip edge. Its absence from an insurance estimate when replacement is required is a common supplement item.
E
Eave
The lower edge of the roof slope that overhangs the exterior wall. Ice and water shield is typically required at eaves in climates with freeze-thaw cycles.
F
Flashing
Metal components used to seal transitions between the roof surface and vertical structures like chimneys, walls, vents, skylights, and valleys. Damaged or improperly installed flashing is a primary source of water infiltration and a common wind damage finding.
G
Granules
The mineral coating bonded to the surface of asphalt shingles. Granules protect the underlying mat from UV degradation. Hail impacts displace granules, exposing the mat. Granule loss is visible in gutters and downspouts after a significant hail event.
H
HAAG Certification
Certification issued by HAAG Engineering, an independent engineering firm, to inspectors trained in storm damage identification methodology. HAAG certified inspections are built to engineering standards recognized by insurance companies in claims and disputes.
Full HAAG certification explanation.Hail Alley
The informal name for the storm corridor extending from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, and into Missouri that produces the highest concentration of significant hail events in the United States. KC Northland sits at the eastern edge of this corridor.
I
Ice and Water Shield
A self-adhering waterproof membrane installed at eaves, valleys, and roof penetrations beneath the shingles. Provides protection against water infiltration from ice dams and wind-driven rain. Required at eaves by most updated building codes in Missouri.
L
Loss of Use
A provision in some homeowner policies that covers additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable due to covered damage. Relevant primarily for severe structural damage not typically applicable to standard roof claims.
M
Mortgage Company
If your home has a mortgage your insurance check may be issued jointly to you and your mortgage lender. The lender has an interest in ensuring repair work is completed. We help homeowners navigate the mortgage company endorsement process when this applies.
O
Overhead and Profit (O&P)
General contractor overhead and profit margin built into insurance estimates for projects requiring coordination across multiple trades. Often excluded on single-trade jobs and included when roofing, siding, and gutters are all part of the same claim scope. A common supplement item on multi-trade claims.
P
Proof of Loss
A formal statement submitted to your insurance company documenting the details of your claim. Some policies require a signed proof of loss within a specific time period. We help you understand whether this applies to your claim and what it requires.
Public Adjuster
A licensed professional who represents the homeowner in the insurance claims process. Paid as a percentage of the claim settlement, typically ten to fifteen percent. RSG Construction manages the same functions as part of our roofing service at no additional charge.
R
Rake
The sloped edges of a roof at the gable ends, the sides rather than the bottom edge. Drip edge is installed at rakes as well as eaves.
Replacement Cost Value (RCV)
The full cost to replace damaged property at current market prices without deduction for depreciation. Under an RCV policy the insurance company withholds depreciation from the first check and releases it as a second check when work is complete and documented.
See the full ACV vs RCV explanation.Ridge
The horizontal peak at the top of a roof slope where two opposing slopes meet. Ridge cap shingles cover this joint and are among the most exposed components to wind damage.
Ridge Cap
The shingles installed along the ridge of a roof. More exposed to wind lift than field shingles. Missing ridge cap is visible from the ground and indicates a significant wind event.
S
Seal Strip
The adhesive strip on the underside of each shingle that bonds it to the shingle below when activated by heat after installation. Wind can break seal strips without visibly lifting the shingle. Broken seal strips are not detectable from the ground or by drone, only by manual testing on the roof surface.
Soft Metal
Metal components on and around a roof that record hail impacts clearly. Gutters, gutter guards, vents, pipe boots, AC fins, and window screens. Soft metal documentation is the most reliable indicator of hail size and density in a HAAG certified inspection.
Square
A unit of roofing measurement equal to 100 square feet of roof surface area. A 2,000 square foot home may have 20 to 30 squares of actual roof area depending on pitch and complexity. Insurance estimates price shingle removal and replacement per square.
Supplement
An additional claim filed when the original insurance estimate does not fully cover the scope of required work. Filed when items are missing, pricing is outdated, or additional damage is found during installation.
Full supplement process explanation.U
Underlayment
The water-resistant layer installed directly on the roof decking beneath the shingles. Felt paper or synthetic underlayment provides secondary water protection if shingles are breached. Ice and water shield is a specialized underlayment used at vulnerable areas.
V
Valley
The V-shaped channel formed where two roof slopes meet. Valleys concentrate water flow and are high-vulnerability areas for both storm damage and installation quality. Ice and water shield is required in valleys under most current codes.
X
Xactimate
The industry-standard estimating software used by insurance companies and adjusters to produce itemized damage estimates. Understanding how Xactimate estimates are structured helps homeowners identify missing line items and scope gaps.
How to read a roof insurance estimate.Have a term we did not cover?
Call us. We explain the process in plain English every time.
No obligation. No pressure. Just straight answers from a contractor who has been on both sides of this process.
(816) 866-4235 · Smithville, Missouri · Missouri Licensed and Insured