Exterior Echelon
Plain-English definitions for roofing, siding, gutters, windows, insurance claims, and exterior remodeling language.
Use this glossary to understand exterior remodeling language before planning an inspection, repair, replacement, or insurance claim conversation.
Exterior remodeling terms across roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and related project planning.
14 terms
Gutter and drainage terms for protecting roof edges, fascia, foundations, and exterior systems.
6 terms
Insurance claim terms homeowners may encounter after storm, wind, hail, or exterior damage.
16 terms
Roofing terms for materials, roof components, damage, installation details, and repair conversations.
82 terms
Siding terms for exterior cladding, trim, weather barriers, and replacement projects.
25 terms
Soffit and fascia terms for roof edges, ventilation, trim, and exterior protection.
5 terms
Window terms for replacement, performance, installation, and exterior trim details.
10 terms
Search or browse definitions alphabetically.
Insurance & Claims
Actual Cash Value, or ACV, is an insurance valuation that generally reflects replacement cost minus depreciation.
Exterior Weather Barriers
An air barrier is a material or system intended to limit uncontrolled air movement through a building assembly.
Siding Materials
Aluminum siding is a metal siding material that was commonly used on older homes and can still be found on many exteriors.
Roofing Materials
An architectural shingle is a laminated asphalt shingle designed to create a dimensional roof appearance and stronger performance than basic 3-tab shingles.
Roofing Materials
Asphalt shingles are overlapping roof coverings made with asphalt, protective granules, and a reinforcing mat.
Ventilation
Attic ventilation is the movement of outside air through the attic to help manage heat and moisture.
Windows
An awning window is a hinged window that opens outward from the bottom, with the hinge at the top.
Ventilation
Balanced ventilation means attic intake and exhaust work together so air can enter low and exit high.
Roofing Problems & Damage
A blow-off is when roofing material is lifted or torn away by wind.
Siding Profiles
Board and batten siding is a vertical siding style with wide boards and narrow battens covering the seams.
Ventilation
A box vent is a square static exhaust vent installed near the upper part of a roof to help release warm, moist attic air.
Exterior Construction
The building envelope is the collection of exterior systems that separate the inside of a home from outdoor weather.
Roof Components
A California valley is a closed roof valley method where shingles are run through the valley and another shingle course is installed along the adjoining roof plane.
Windows
A casement window is a hinged window that opens outward, usually with a crank handle.
Siding Materials
Cedar siding is a natural wood siding material known for its appearance, texture, and maintenance needs.
Siding Profiles
Channel lock siding refers to siding panels designed with interlocking edges or channels that help panels connect and stay aligned.
Flashing
Chimney flashing is the metal and waterproofing detail used where a chimney passes through the roof.
Asphalt Shingle Technology
Class 3 impact resistance is a common standard asphalt shingle impact rating based on standardized testing for simulated hail impact.
Asphalt Shingle Technology
Class 4 impact resistance is the highest common asphalt shingle impact rating under standardized hail-impact testing.
Roof Components
A closed valley is a roof valley where shingles cover the valley area rather than leaving metal exposed.
Insurance Claims
A code upgrade is work required to bring a repair or replacement into compliance with current building code requirements.
Roof Components
Coping metal is the metal cap installed over the top of a parapet wall to protect the wall and roof edge from water.
Roof Components
Counter flashing covers the top edge of base flashing to help keep water from getting behind roof-to-wall or chimney flashing.
Roof Structure
A cricket is a small peaked roof structure that diverts water around a chimney or other wide roof obstruction.
Roof Ventilation
A damper vent is an exhaust vent cap with a one-way flap that lets bathroom or kitchen fan air leave the home while helping reduce backdrafts.
Insurance Claims
A deductible is the portion of an insurance claim the homeowner is responsible for paying before insurance benefits apply.
Windows
A double hung window is a window with both an upper sash and lower sash that can move for ventilation.
Gutters
A downspout, sometimes called a leader, is the vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter down to the ground or drainage area.
Roof Components
Drip edge is metal flashing installed along roof edges to help protect the roof edge and bridge the transition from the roof deck to the fascia.
Construction Conditions
Drywall nail pops are small raised spots, cracks, or loosened compound on interior walls or ceilings where drywall fasteners or mud have moved.
Siding Profiles
Dutch lap siding is a horizontal siding profile with a recessed shadow line that creates a more dimensional look than standard lap siding.
Roof Components
An eave is the lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall and often includes fascia, soffit, drip edge, and gutter details.
Siding Materials
Engineered wood siding is a manufactured siding product made from wood fibers or strands combined with binders and protective treatments.
Roofing Materials
EPDM roofing is a rubber membrane roofing system commonly used on flat and low-slope roofs.
Exterior Construction
EPS insulation is expanded polystyrene rigid foam insulation used in some wall, roof, and exterior assemblies.
Exterior Remodeling
An estimate is a written breakdown of proposed work, materials, quantities, assumptions, and expected pricing for a project.
Roof Ventilation
Exhaust ventilation allows warm, humid attic air to leave the roof system through ridge vents, box vents, or other high vents.
Soffit & Fascia
Fascia is the vertical trim board along the roof edge that helps support gutters and finish the roofline.
Roofing Materials
Felt underlayment is a traditional asphalt-saturated layer installed between the roof deck and roof covering.
Siding Materials
Fiber cement siding is a durable exterior siding material made from cement, sand, cellulose fibers, and other additives.
Exterior Construction
Fiberglass insulation is a common insulation material made from fine glass fibers and used in attics, walls, and other building cavities.
Exterior Remodeling
Flashing tape is a self-adhering tape used to help seal and protect joints, window openings, door openings, and wall transitions.
Ventilation
A gable vent is a vent installed in the triangular gable wall of an attic to help attic air move in or out.
Roof Design & Geometry
A gambrel roof is a roof shape with two slopes on each side, often associated with barn-style rooflines.
Roof Damage
Granule loss is the wearing away or displacement of protective granules from asphalt shingles.
Roof Components
A gravel stop is a metal roof edge detail used on some flat and low-slope roofs to terminate the roof system and help contain surfacing.
Gutters
A gutter apron is a metal roof-edge flashing that helps guide water from the roof into the gutter.
Gutters
A gutter guard is a cover or screen designed to reduce debris entering the gutter while still allowing water to flow in.
Gutters
Gutter pitch is the slight slope that helps water flow through the gutter toward the downspout.
Roof Damage
Hail damage is impact damage caused by hailstones striking roofing, siding, gutters, vents, or other exterior materials.
Flashing
Headwall flashing is metal flashing installed where the top of a sloped roof meets a vertical wall.
Siding
House wrap is a weather-resistive barrier installed behind siding to help manage air and water that gets behind the exterior cladding.
Roof Components
Ice and water shield is a self-adhering waterproof underlayment used in vulnerable roof areas such as eaves, valleys, and penetrations.
Roof Damage
An ice dam is a ridge of ice near a roof edge that can prevent melting snow from draining properly.
Siding Materials
Insulated siding is siding with a foam backing designed to add support, improve impact resistance, and modestly improve thermal performance.
Insurance Claims
An insurance supplement is a request for additional claim funds when approved scope, pricing, code items, or hidden damage need correction.
Roof Ventilation
Intake ventilation allows fresh air to enter the attic, usually through soffits or low roof-edge vents.
Industry Standards
The IRC, or International Residential Code, is a model building code used by many jurisdictions for one- and two-family residential construction.
Roof Design & Geometry
A mansard roof is a roof style with a steep lower slope on all sides and a flatter upper roof area.
Industry Standards
Manufacturer specifications are the written product requirements that explain how materials should be installed and used.
Insurance & Claims
A matching endorsement is policy language that may address how undamaged materials are handled when matching damaged materials is difficult.
Roof Ventilation
A mushroom vent is a static roof exhaust vent, often used as another name for a square box-style roof vent.
Roof Damage
Nail pops are raised or backed-out roofing nails that can lift shingles and create potential leak points.
Roof Ventilation
Net Free Vent Area, or NFVA, is the open area of a vent that allows air to move through the attic ventilation system.
Insurance & Claims
Non-recoverable depreciation is depreciation that is not paid back to the policyholder after repairs are completed.
Roof Components
An open valley is a roof valley where metal flashing, often W-valley metal, remains visible between shingle edges to help carry water off the roof.
Insurance Claims
Ordinance or law coverage is insurance coverage that may help pay for required code upgrades after a covered loss.
Insurance & Claims
Overhead and Profit, or O&P, is an insurance estimate line item sometimes included when a project requires general contractor coordination.
Windows
A picture window is a fixed window that does not open and is often used for larger views and natural light.
Roof Components
A pipe boot is a flashing component that seals around a plumbing vent pipe where it passes through the roof.
Exterior Construction
Polyiso insulation is a rigid foam insulation board commonly used in commercial and low-slope roofing assemblies.
Ventilation
A powered fan is a mechanical attic ventilation fan that uses electricity or solar power to help move hot or humid air out of an attic.
Roof Structure
A rafter is a sloped structural framing member that helps form the roof shape and supports the roof decking.
Roof Components
A rake edge is the sloped edge of a gable roof, where shingles, drip edge, starter shingles, and trim details meet.
Insurance & Claims
Recoverable depreciation is money an insurance company may release after approved repairs or replacement work is completed.
Insurance & Claims
Replacement Cost Value, or RCV, is the estimated cost to replace damaged property with comparable new materials before depreciation is applied.
Roof Components
A ridge cap is the finishing shingle or cap material installed along the peak where two roof planes meet.
Roof Ventilation
A ridge vent is an exhaust vent installed along the roof peak to help warm, humid attic air escape.
Roof Design & Geometry
Rise and run describe roof pitch by comparing how many inches a roof rises vertically for every 12 inches of horizontal run.
Roof Structure
A roof curb is a raised framed or manufactured base used to support certain skylights, vents, hatches, or rooftop equipment.
Roof Structure
Roof decking, sometimes called the roof deck, is the sheathing or board material that forms the base layer of the roof system.
Roofing Problems & Damage
A roof leak is water entering the home through a roof system, flashing detail, penetration, or related exterior assembly.
Insurance & Claims
A Roof Payment Schedule, or RPS, is insurance policy language that can permanently prorate roof coverage based on roof age or other policy terms.
Roof Design & Geometry
Roof pitch describes how steep a roof is, usually shown as how many inches the roof rises for every 12 inches it runs horizontally.
Roof Design & Geometry
A roof plane is one flat or sloped surface section of a roof.
Roof Installation
A roof recover, overlay, or shingle over is installing a new roof covering over an existing roof covering instead of tearing the old materials off.
Roof Installation
Roof replacement, sometimes casually called a re-roof, is the process of removing and replacing the roof system so hidden details can be inspected and updated.
Roof Design & Geometry
Roof slope describes the steepness of a roof surface and affects drainage, material choice, and installation requirements.
Roofing Measurements
A roof square is a roofing measurement equal to 100 square feet of roof area.
Flashing Systems
Roof-to-wall flashing protects the joint where a roof meets a vertical wall.
Roofing Materials
SBS peel and stick roofing is a self-adhered modified bitumen roofing material often used on low-slope roof areas.
Asphalt Shingle Technology
SBS shingles are asphalt shingles modified with a rubber-like polymer that can improve flexibility and impact resistance.
Insurance & Claims
Scope of loss describes the damaged items and repair or replacement work identified in an insurance claim.
Siding Profiles
Shingle siding is an exterior siding style made of small overlapping shingle-shaped pieces or panels.
Siding Profiles
Shiplap siding is a siding profile where boards fit together with overlapping rabbeted edges.
Windows
A single hung window is a window with a lower sash that moves up and down while the upper sash stays fixed.
Roof Components
A skylight is a roof-mounted window or daylight opening that brings natural light into the home.
Roof Ventilation
A slant-back vent, sometimes called a turtle vent, is a roof exhaust vent with a low-profile sloped cover.
Windows
A sliding glass door is a large glass patio door with one or more panels that slide horizontally along a track.
Windows
A sliding window is a window with one or more sashes that move horizontally along a track.
Soffit & Fascia
Soffit is the finished underside of a roof overhang and may include vents that support attic intake ventilation.
Ventilation
A soffit vent is an intake vent installed under the roof overhang to help bring fresh air into the attic.
Roof Structure
Spaced decking is an older roof deck style made from boards installed with gaps between them.
Roof Components
A speed valley is an informal roofing term often used for a fast closed-valley shingle method that may not be appropriate for every roof system.
Gutters
A splash block is a small drainage piece placed under a downspout to help direct water away from the home.
Roofing Materials
Standing seam metal roofing is a metal roof system with raised vertical seams that connect panels and help shed water.
Roof Components
A starter strip is the first row of roofing material installed at roof edges to help seal and secure the first shingle course.
Siding Materials
Steel siding is a durable metal siding material used on some residential and light commercial exteriors.
Flashing Systems
Step flashing is a series of small metal flashing pieces installed where shingles meet a vertical wall.
Roofing Problems & Damage
Storm damage is exterior damage caused by weather events such as hail, wind, fallen debris, or severe rain.
Roofing Materials
Synthetic underlayment is a modern roofing underlayment made from engineered materials rather than traditional felt.
Siding Materials
T1-11 siding is a plywood or engineered wood panel siding product with vertical grooves.
Exterior Construction
Tapered insulation is sloped insulation used on low-slope or flat roofs to help direct water toward drains, scuppers, gutters, or roof edges.
Roof Installation
A tear-off is the removal of existing roofing materials before installing a new roof system.
Roof Damage
Thermal cracking is cracking caused or worsened by temperature movement, expansion, contraction, and material aging.
Roofing Materials
Torch down modified roofing is a modified bitumen roof system applied with heat, commonly used on low-slope roof areas.
Roofing Materials
TPO roofing is a single-ply membrane roofing system commonly used on flat and low-slope roofs.
Roof Structure
A truss is an engineered roof framing assembly made from connected members that work together to support the roof.
Flashing
Tuckpointing is the process of repairing deteriorated mortar joints in brick or masonry.
Roof Components
Valley metal is flashing installed in a roof valley to help direct high volumes of water down the roof. A W-valley is one common valley metal profile.
Exterior Weather Barriers
A vapor barrier is a material intended to limit water vapor movement through a building assembly.
Siding Materials
Vinyl siding is a lightweight plastic exterior siding material commonly used on residential homes.
Exterior Weather Barriers
A water-resistive barrier, or WRB, is a layer behind siding that helps resist water that gets past the exterior cladding.
Roof Damage
Wind damage is damage caused when strong wind lifts, creases, tears, loosens, or removes roofing or exterior materials.
Asphalt Shingle Technology
A wind rating describes the wind-resistance performance a roofing product is tested or warranted to meet under specific conditions.
Windows
Window flashing is the water-management detail around a window opening that helps direct water away from the wall assembly.
Roofing Materials
Wood fiber insulation recovery board is a rigid board product used in some low-slope roofing assemblies as a recover board, insulation layer, or substrate.
Exterior Echelon can inspect your roof, explain what we find, and help you understand your repair or replacement options.