EVERY WORDTHEY'LL USE ON YOU.
Contractors, adjusters and contracts all have their own vocabulary. Here it is in plain English, A to Z.
- TERMS
- 195
#
- 3-tab shingleMaterials
- A flat, single-layer asphalt shingle with cutouts that make each piece look like three separate tabs. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
A
- Actual cash valueInsurance Claims
- What damaged property was worth at the time of loss: the cost to replace it minus depreciation for age and wear. Often shortened to ACV. Read: ACV vs RCV Roof Coverage in Alberta →
- Addressable LEDRoofline Lighting
- An LED, or small group of LEDs, with its own control chip, so a controller can set its colour and brightness individually. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- AdjusterInsurance Claims
- The person who investigates an insurance claim and assesses the damage and the amount of the loss. They may work for the insurer or for an independent firm. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
- Air sealingInstallation
- Closing gaps between the living space and the attic, such as around light fixtures and hatches, so warm, moist air stays out of the attic. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Algae-resistant shingleMaterials
- An asphalt shingle with treated granules that hold back the algae behind the dark streaks on some roofs. Often marked AR. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Aluminum fascia coverEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- Pre-finished aluminum bent over a wood fascia board to protect it. It's a cover, not structure, so the wood behind it still needs to be sound. Read: Soffit and fascia explained →
- Appraisal clauseInsurance Claims
- A policy provision for settling a disagreement over the amount of a covered loss using appraisers and an umpire. It doesn't decide whether something is covered in the first place. Read: The Appraisal Clause: Disputing a Roof Claim in Alberta →
- Architectural shingleMaterials
- An asphalt shingle made from two or more bonded layers, giving a thicker, dimensional look. Also called a laminated or dimensional shingle. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Asphalt shingleMaterials
- A roofing shingle made of a fibreglass mat coated in asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Assignment of benefitsInsurance Claims
- An agreement that hands some of your insurance claim rights or payments to someone else, such as a contractor. Read one carefully before signing. Read: Storm Chasers After Calgary Hail →
- ASTM D3161Materials
- A shingle wind test that blows air across a test deck for two hours. Class A passes at 60 mph, Class D at 90 mph and Class F, the top class, at 110 mph. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- ASTM D7158Materials
- A shingle wind test that measures the force needed to break the sealant bond and compares it to calculated uplift. Class H is its top classification. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- AtticRoofing 101
- The space between the top-floor ceiling and the underside of the roof. In most houses it's meant to stay cold and ventilated in winter, close to the outdoor temperature. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Attic frostRepairs & Maintenance
- Frost that builds up on the underside of the roof deck when warm, moist household air reaches a cold attic. It can melt and drip like a leak when the weather warms. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Attic ventilationInstallation
- The system of intake and exhaust vents that moves outside air through the attic. It helps control heat and moisture and keeps the roof deck cold in winter. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
B
- BaffleInstallation
- A channel fitted between rafters or trusses at the eave that holds insulation back so air from the soffit vents can flow into the attic. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Balanced ventilationInstallation
- Attic ventilation with intake and exhaust split evenly between the eaves and the upper roof. Shingle warranties often expect it. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Box ventInstallation
- A static exhaust vent, also called a roof louvre, set into the roof near the ridge. Box vents work when there are enough of them, and they shouldn't share an attic with a ridge vent. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Builders' lienLegal & Permits
- A claim registered against a property's title by a contractor, subcontractor or supplier who says they haven't been paid for work or materials. Check for liens before you make a final payment. Read: Builders' liens in Alberta: how a lien can land on your home, and how to protect it →
- Building envelopeSiding
- The parts of a house that separate inside from outside: roof, walls, windows, doors and foundation, along with their air, vapour and water barriers. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- Building permitLegal & Permits
- Municipal approval required before certain construction work starts, usually followed by inspections. Whether roofing or siding work needs one depends on the municipality and the scope. Read: Do you need a permit to replace a roof or siding in Calgary? →
- Built-up roofingRoofing 101
- A flat-roof system made of alternating layers of asphalt and reinforcing felts built up on the roof, often surfaced with gravel. Often shortened to BUR. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Business licenceLegal & Permits
- A municipal licence to operate a business. The City of Calgary requires contractor businesses working in the city, including those based elsewhere, to hold one. Read: How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Calgary →
C
- Cancellation rightsLegal & Permits
- Your right under Alberta's Consumer Protection Act to cancel a direct sales contract, such as one made at your home, for any reason until 10 days after you receive a copy of the written contract. In some situations the right extends to one year. Read: Cancelling a contractor contract in Alberta: the 10-day and one-year rules →
- Cedar shakeMaterials
- A thick roofing piece split or sawn from cedar that weathers to grey over time. Untreated shakes have no fire rating, while fire-retardant-treated products can reach Class A, B or C. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Certificate of insuranceHiring & Costs
- A document from a contractor's insurer confirming their liability coverage and its limits. Ask for one instead of accepting a verbal yes. Read: What belongs in a roofing contract →
- Certificate of lis pendensLegal & Permits
- A notice registered at Land Titles that a lawsuit about the land is under way. Under Alberta's Builders' Lien Act, a registered lien ends unless the lienholder starts a court action and registers one within 180 days. Read: Builders' liens in Alberta: how a lien can land on your home, and how to protect it →
- Certificate of substantial performanceLegal & Permits
- A document a contractor can issue when, in its opinion, the contract is substantially performed. If one is issued, the holdback period under Alberta's Builders' Lien Act runs from its date. Read: Builders' liens in Alberta: how a lien can land on your home, and how to protect it →
- Change orderHiring & Costs
- A written, signed amendment to a contract that changes the scope or price, such as replacing rotten decking found after tear-off. It should be approved before the extra work is done. Read: What belongs in a roofing contract →
- ChinookWeather & Hail
- A warm, dry westerly wind that comes down the eastern slopes of the Rockies and can raise winter temperatures in southern Alberta quickly. The thaw and refreeze that follows is hard on roofs and eaves. Read: Chinooks, freeze-thaw and your roof →
- Class 2 circuitRoofline Lighting
- A Canadian Electrical Code category for circuits limited in voltage and power, treated as a lower shock and fire risk. The power supply feeding one still connects to regular household wiring. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Class 4Materials
- The highest impact rating under UL 2218, meaning the product withstood the largest steel ball in the test without cracking. It means better impact resistance in the test, not a hail-proof roof. Read: Class 4 Impact Shingles & Alberta Insurance Discounts →
- Class A fire ratingMaterials
- The highest fire-resistance rating for roof coverings under standards such as ASTM E108 and UL 790. A manufacturer may require a full layer of underlayment for its shingles to qualify.
- Collateral damageInsurance Claims
- In a hail claim, dents and marks on soft metals and other items around the property, such as eavestroughs, vents and fence caps, that help show hail size and direction. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
- Consumer Protection ActLegal & Permits
- Alberta's main consumer protection law. Among other things, it sets rules for direct sales, prepaid contracting and business licensing. Read: Alberta's prepaid contractor licence: who needs one and how to check →
- Control zoneLegal & Permits
- Under Alberta's OHS Code, a marked area at least 2 metres wide along the unguarded edge of a surface sloped no more than 4 degrees, such as a flat roof. Workers who stay farther from the edge than the zone's width don't need another fall protection system. Read: Fall protection rules for roofers in Alberta: what homeowners should know →
- Cooling-off periodLegal & Permits
- A period set by law during which a consumer can cancel certain contracts. In Alberta the rules depend on the type of contract and how it was sold. Read: Cancelling a contractor contract in Alberta: the 10-day and one-year rules →
- Cosmetic damageInsurance Claims
- Marks or dents that change how something looks without affecting how it performs. Some policies exclude it. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
- Cosmetic damage exclusionInsurance Claims
- Policy wording that excludes damage affecting only appearance, such as hail dents in metal roofing that don't let water in. Whether it applies depends on the insurer and the policy. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Creased shingleRepairs & Maintenance
- A shingle with a line across it where wind lifted and bent it. The crease weakens the shingle, which may not lie flat or shed water as well afterward. Read: Wind damage to shingles: what it looks like and what it means →
- CricketRoofing 101
- A small raised ridge built on a roof to divert water around a chimney, rooftop equipment or another obstacle. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
D
- Date of lossInsurance Claims
- The date the damage happened, as recorded on an insurance claim. When several storms could have caused damage, establishing the date can matter a great deal. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- DeckingRoofing 101
- Another name for the roof deck, the panels or boards the roofing is nailed to. Damaged decking is usually found only after tear-off. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Decking allowanceHiring & Costs
- A set amount of replacement decking included in a roofing quote, with a stated per-sheet rate for anything beyond it. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Declarations pageInsurance Claims
- The summary page of an insurance policy listing who and what is insured, the coverage limits, the deductibles and the policy period. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- DeductibleInsurance Claims
- The part of a covered loss you pay yourself before insurance pays. It's usually subtracted from the claim payment. Read: Hail deductibles in Alberta: flat, percentage and why they've gone up →
- DepositHiring & Costs
- Money paid before work starts. In Alberta, a business that sells away from its own premises and takes payment before the work is finished needs a prepaid contracting licence. Read: Alberta's prepaid contractor licence: who needs one and how to check →
- DepreciationInsurance Claims
- The reduction in value an insurer applies for the age and wear of damaged property. Read: ACV vs RCV Roof Coverage in Alberta →
- Designer shingleMaterials
- A laminated asphalt shingle made to imitate slate or shake. It's chosen for appearance first. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Development permitLegal & Permits
- A permit under Calgary's Land Use Bylaw that deals with how a property looks and is used, separate from a building permit. Many exterior alterations to single detached and semi-detached houses are exempt, unless the house is on the City's inventory of evaluated historic resources. Read: Do you need a permit to replace a roof or siding in Calgary? →
- Direct sales contractLegal & Permits
- A consumer contract negotiated or concluded somewhere other than the seller's place of business, such as at your home. Alberta's Consumer Protection Act gives buyers specific cancellation rights on these contracts. Read: Cancelling a contractor contract in Alberta: the 10-day and one-year rules →
- Discontinued shingleRoofing 101
- A shingle line or colour the manufacturer no longer makes. It can be hard to match in a repair, and warranties such as IKO's don't cover colour or shade variation. Read: Repair or replace your roof? A decision framework →
- DownspoutEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- The vertical pipe that carries water from the eavestrough down to the ground and away from the foundation. Read: How eavestroughs work →
- Drainage planeSiding
- The water-repellent layer behind siding, such as building paper, house wrap or a sheet membrane, built to drain away water that gets past the cladding. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- Drip edgeInstallation
- A metal edge installed along the eaves and rakes that directs water off the roof deck and into the eavestrough and protects the edge of the deck. Read: Underlayment and ice and water shield →
- Dwelling limitInsurance Claims
- The most your home policy will pay for the house itself, shown on your declarations page and sometimes called Coverage A. It isn't your home's market value, and a percentage deductible is usually calculated from it. Read: Hail deductibles in Alberta: flat, percentage and why they've gone up →
E
- EaveRoofing 101
- The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall. It's where water leaves the roof, the eavestrough hangs and ice dams tend to form. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
- Eave protectionInstallation
- Membrane or underlayment along the eaves that protects against water backing up under shingles. Building codes and manufacturer instructions set how far up the roof it must extend. Read: Underlayment and ice and water shield →
- EavestroughEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- The channel along the eave that collects water off the roof and carries it to the downspouts. Also called a gutter. Read: How eavestroughs work →
- Electrical permitLegal & Permits
- Approval required under Alberta's Safety Codes Act before certain electrical work, such as adding new wiring. Check with your municipality whether your project needs one. Read: Roofline lighting and your roof: mounting it without damage →
- EndorsementInsurance Claims
- A written change attached to an insurance policy that adds, limits or removes coverage. A roof and siding endorsement, for example, can age-adjust what's paid for hail-damaged shingles or siding. Read: Hail damage to siding, and the matching problem →
- Engineered woodSiding
- Siding made from wood strands or fibres bonded with resin and factory-finished, such as LP SmartSide. It's tougher and more flexible than rigid materials, which helps it in hail. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- EPDMRoofing 101
- Ethylene propylene diene monomer, a synthetic rubber single-ply membrane for flat and low-slope roofs. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
F
- Fall protection planLegal & Permits
- A written plan describing the fall hazards on a job site and how workers will be protected from them. Alberta's workplace safety rules require one in certain situations. Read: Fall protection rules for roofers in Alberta: what homeowners should know →
- FasciaEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- The vertical board along the roof edge, below the drip edge. It closes off the ends of the roof framing and is what the eavestrough hangs from. Read: Soffit and fascia explained →
- Fibre cementSiding
- Siding made from cement, sand and cellulose fibres, formed into planks or panels. It's heavier and more rigid than vinyl. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- Fibreglass matMaterials
- The reinforcing core inside a modern asphalt shingle. Impact tests such as UL 2218 check the shingle for cracks after each impact. Read: Impact ratings explained: UL 2218 and FM 4473 →
- FlashingInstallation
- Thin metal or membrane that directs water away from the joints where a roof meets a wall, chimney, skylight or another roof plane.
- FM 4473Materials
- FM Approvals' impact test for rigid roofing such as tile and slate, which fires ice balls at the product. Like UL 2218, it rates products in Class 1 to 4. Read: Impact ratings explained: UL 2218 and FM 4473 →
- Freeze-thaw cycleWeather & Hail
- One round of water freezing and then thawing. Water expands as it freezes, so repeated cycles pry at cracks, seals and joints. Read: Chinooks, freeze-thaw and your roof →
- Functional damageInsurance Claims
- Damage that shortens the life or impairs the performance of a roofing material, such as a fractured shingle mat. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
G
- General Insurance OmbudServiceInsurance Claims
- An independent Canadian service that helps resolve complaints between consumers and their home, auto or business insurers after the insurer's own complaint process is finished. Read: Where to Complain About a Roof Claim in Alberta →
- Granule lossRepairs & Maintenance
- Shingles shedding their surface granules, seen as bare patches or granules collecting in the eavestrough. Some loss is normal with age; heavy or patchy loss can point to wear or hail damage. Read: How long does a roof last in Calgary? →
- GranulesMaterials
- The coloured mineral chips on the surface of an asphalt shingle. They give it colour and shield the asphalt from sunlight, and heavy loss of them is a sign of wear or damage. Read: How long does a roof last in Calgary? →
- Ground snow loadWeather & Hail
- The snow load on the ground that the building code starts from when working out roof snow loads, based on the snowpack expected to be exceeded only once in 50 years on average. It's written Ss and measured in kilopascals. Read: Snow load and wind on Calgary roofs →
- Gutter guardEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- A screen or cover over an eavestrough meant to keep debris out while letting water in. Read: How eavestroughs work →
H
- HAAG reportInsurance Claims
- A damage-assessment report prepared using the storm-damage inspection methods taught by Haag, a forensic engineering and consulting firm that trains and certifies roof and wind damage inspectors. Read: What a HAAG Inspection Report Contains →
- Hail AlleyWeather & Hail
- Hailstorm Alley, the stretch of Alberta from around High River north toward Red Deer, one of the most active hail zones in Canada. Read: Calgary hail season explained →
- Hail bruiseInsurance Claims
- Damage where a hailstone has fractured the mat of an asphalt shingle under the surface. It can feel soft to the touch even where the granules look intact. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
- Hail spatterSiding
- Clean spots left where hail knocked dirt, oxidation or algae off a surface. It shows where and how hard hail hit, but isn't damage by itself. Read: Hail damage to siding, and the matching problem →
- Head flashingSiding
- Flashing above a window or door that slopes to the outside and extends past the opening on both sides. The siding above should never rest on it. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- Heat cableRepairs & Maintenance
- An electric resistance cable clipped along the eaves in a zigzag, often run down the eavestroughs and downspouts. It can relieve ice dam problem spots, but it treats the symptom, not the cause. Read: Ice dams in Calgary: why they form and how to stop them →
- High-wind nailingInstallation
- An installation pattern that uses extra nails per shingle, often six instead of four, for windy areas or steep slopes. Some manufacturers also require hand-sealing for their higher wind warranty. Read: Wind damage to shingles: what it looks like and what it means →
- HipRoofing 101
- The sloped ridge where two roof planes meet at an outside corner, running from the ridge down to the eaves. Like edges and ridges, hips are more exposed to wind lifting shingles. Read: Wind damage to shingles: what it looks like and what it means →
- HoldbackLegal & Permits
- A portion of the contract price that the owner keeps back for a period after the work is done, so unpaid subcontractors and suppliers have money to claim against. Alberta's lien law sets the amount and timing. Read: Builders' liens in Alberta: how a lien can land on your home, and how to protect it →
- Homeowner permitLegal & Permits
- A permit a homeowner takes out to do regulated work on their own home themselves. Check your municipality's rules on who can apply and when a contractor must take out the permit instead. Read: Do you need a permit to replace a roof or siding in Calgary? →
- House wrapSiding
- A breathable sheet membrane installed over wall sheathing under the siding. It sheds water that gets past the siding while letting water vapour escape. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
I
- Ice and water shieldInstallation
- A self-adhering rubberized membrane installed at eaves, valleys and around penetrations, where ice dams and wind-driven rain can push water under shingles. Read: Underlayment and ice and water shield →
- Ice damRepairs & Maintenance
- A ridge of ice at the eave that forms when heat melts snow higher on the roof and the water refreezes at the cold overhang. Water can back up behind it and under the shingles. Read: Ice dams in Calgary: why they form and how to stop them →
- Impact ratingWeather & Hail
- A class showing how a roofing product performed in a standard lab impact test, such as UL 2218 Class 1 to 4. It describes a test result, not a promise the roof won't be damaged by hail. Read: Calgary hail season explained →
- Impact resistanceMaterials
- How well a roofing material stands up to being struck, such as by hail, without cracking or opening. Tests like UL 2218 and FM 4473 measure it, and no rating makes a roof hail-proof. Read: Impact ratings explained: UL 2218 and FM 4473 →
- Insulated vinyl sidingSiding
- Vinyl siding with a rigid foam backing, usually expanded polystyrene. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- Insurance fraudInsurance Claims
- Deceiving an insurer to get a payment, such as inflating the scope of damage to cover a waived deductible. Under Alberta's statutory conditions, fraud or a wilfully false statement in a proof of loss invalidates the claim of the person who made it. Read: Hail deductibles in Alberta: flat, percentage and why they've gone up →
- Insured lossWeather & Hail
- The part of the damage from an event that insurers pay on policies. Published storm totals, such as IBC's, count insured damage only, not uninsured losses. Read: Calgary hail season explained →
- Iron Clad protectionMaterials
- IKO's name for the initial period of its shingle warranty, when material coverage is full rather than prorated. How long it runs depends on the product. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Itemized quoteHiring & Costs
- A quote that lists each part of the job separately instead of giving one lump sum. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
K
- K-style eavestroughEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- A common eavestrough profile named for its shape, which looks a bit like crown moulding from the side. Read: How eavestroughs work →
- Kick-out flashingSiding
- A small angled flashing where a lower roof meets a wall, which directs roof water into the eavestrough instead of down the wall. Without one, water can run behind the siding and quietly rot the wall. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- KilopascalWeather & Hail
- A unit of pressure, written kPa, that building codes use for snow and wind loads. One kilopascal is about 102 kilograms spread over each square metre, or roughly 21 pounds per square foot. Read: Snow load and wind on Calgary roofs →
L
- Liability insuranceHiring & Costs
- Insurance that covers a contractor's legal responsibility for damage to your property or injury to others caused by their work. Read: How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Calgary →
- Lighting channelRoofline Lighting
- The slim extrusion, usually aluminum, that holds permanent LED lights along the roofline and hides the wiring. Also called track. Read: Roofline lighting and your roof: mounting it without damage →
- Lighting controllerRoofline Lighting
- The device that sends data to addressable lights and connects to an app, storing colours, scenes and schedules. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Lighting zoneRoofline Lighting
- A section of a lighting run that can be controlled separately from the rest. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Like-for-like replacementLegal & Permits
- Replacing a roof or siding with the same or a similar material that performs as well or better. Alberta's Permit Regulation exempts like-for-like re-roofing and re-siding from a building permit. Read: Do you need a permit to replace a roof or siding in Calgary? →
- Limited lifetime warrantyRoofing 101
- A manufacturer warranty that covers manufacturing defects, with full coverage for an initial period and prorated coverage after that. It isn't a guarantee of how long the roof will last, and it excludes weather like hail. Read: How long does a roof last in Calgary? →
- Lot gradingEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- The slope of the ground around a house, which should fall away from the foundation so runoff drains toward the street, lane or a swale. Without it, downspout extensions only move the puddle. Read: How eavestroughs work →
- Low voltageRoofline Lighting
- In lighting, a system that runs on low-voltage DC, commonly 5 or 12 volts for addressable LEDs, supplied by a power supply connected to household power. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Low-slope roofRoofing 101
- A roof with very little pitch. Shingle makers set a minimum slope and extra underlayment rules for these roofs, and flatter roofs need membrane roofing instead of shingles. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Lumen depreciationRoofline Lighting
- The gradual loss of light output from an LED over its life. Useful life is often stated as L70, the point where output has fallen to 70 percent of the original. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
M
- Magnet sweepInstallation
- Rolling a large magnet over lawns, garden beds and driveways after a roofing job to pick up dropped nails. Read: Preparing your home for a roof replacement →
- Manufacturer warrantyMaterials
- The product maker's warranty on the materials, usually covering manufacturing defects. It typically excludes problems caused by improper installation. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- MatchingSiding
- In an insurance claim, the question of whether undamaged siding or roofing must also be replaced so repairs match the rest of the house. The answer depends on your policy wording. Read: Hail damage to siding, and the matching problem →
- Membrane roofingMaterials
- Roofing for flat and low-slope roofs made from continuous sheets, such as modified bitumen, EPDM or TPO, joined at sealed seams. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Metal roofingMaterials
- Roofing made from steel or aluminum panels or shingles. It's durable and light, though hail can dent it. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Modified bitumenRoofing 101
- A flat-roof membrane of asphalt modified with SBS or APP polymers, supplied in rolls and built up in layers. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
N
- Nail lineInstallation
- The marked strip on a shingle where nails are meant to go. Nailing above it weakens wind resistance and can void a manufacturer's warranty.
- Nail popRepairs & Maintenance
- A roofing nail that has backed out and lifted the shingle above it, creating a spot where water can get in. Read: Finding a roof leak: where the water is really coming from →
- Net free areaInstallation
- The actual open area a vent lets air through, after screens and louvres. Vent products are rated by it, and an attic's total net free area is what has to meet the code ratio. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- New home warrantyLegal & Permits
- Warranty coverage that Alberta law requires on most newly built homes, with separate coverage periods for different parts of the house, including the building envelope. Read: Alberta's new home warranty: what's covered, for how long, and your roof →
O
- Open valleyInstallation
- A valley lined with metal that stays exposed, with the shingles trimmed back on each side. It's one of several valley methods described in shingle installation instructions.
- OSBRoofing 101
- Oriented strand board, the chip-looking panels of wood strands pressed with resin that are often used for roof decking. Wet OSB swells and softens, and nails stop gripping it. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
P
- Percentage deductibleInsurance Claims
- A deductible set as a percentage of a coverage limit, usually the dwelling limit, instead of a flat dollar amount. The dollar amount follows the limit, not the size of the claim. Read: Hail deductibles in Alberta: flat, percentage and why they've gone up →
- Permanent roofline lightingRoofline Lighting
- LED lighting installed along the roof edge in a mounting channel and left up year-round, controlled from an app. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Personal fall arrest systemLegal & Permits
- A system that catches a worker after a fall starts: a full body harness, a lanyard with a shock absorber or similar device, and an anchor. Alberta's OHS Code puts it after guardrails and travel restraint. Read: Fall protection rules for roofers in Alberta: what homeowners should know →
- Pipe bootInstallation
- A flashing collar with a rubber seal that fits around a plumbing vent pipe where it comes through the roof. The seal ages and cracks, so boots are usually replaced during a re-roof. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Plank deckingRoofing 101
- Roof decking made of individual boards rather than panels, found on many older houses. Some shingle makers, such as IKO, don't recommend installing shingles directly over board decks because they can buckle. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Ponding waterRoofing 101
- Water that stays on a roof 48 hours or longer, as ARMA defines it. It's a sign the roof isn't draining properly, and it shortens a flat roof's life. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Power injectionRoofline Lighting
- Feeding extra power into an LED run at points along its length to make up for voltage drop. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Power supplyRoofline Lighting
- A device that converts household AC power into the low-voltage DC that LED lights run on. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
- Prepaid contractLegal & Permits
- A contract where you pay some or all of the price before the work is finished. In Alberta, businesses that sell these away from their own place of business must hold a prepaid contracting licence. Read: Alberta's prepaid contractor licence: who needs one and how to check →
- Prepaid contracting licenceLegal & Permits
- A Government of Alberta licence for businesses that take payment before work is complete and solicit, negotiate or conclude those contracts away from their own premises, such as at your home. Read: Alberta's prepaid contractor licence: who needs one and how to check →
- Prepaid contractorLegal & Permits
- A business that sells home improvement work in person away from its own place of business and takes all or part of the price before the work is done. In Alberta it must hold a prepaid contracting licence under the Consumer Protection Act. Read: Alberta's prepaid contractor licence: who needs one and how to check →
- Progress paymentHiring & Costs
- A payment made partway through a job when a stated stage is reached, as set out in the contract's payment schedule. Read: What belongs in a roofing contract →
- Proof of lossInsurance Claims
- A formal, signed statement to your insurer setting out what you're claiming. Policies set when it's due. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- Prorated warrantyMaterials
- A warranty whose coverage shrinks over time, so a claim late in the term pays only part of the cost.
- PVC membraneRoofing 101
- A single-ply flat-roof membrane made of PVC, installed as factory-made sheets with sealed seams. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
R
- RafterRoofing 101
- One of the individual sloped boards that frame a roof, common on older homes. Newer houses usually use trusses instead. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
- Rain loadWeather & Hail
- The extra weight from rain soaking into snow on a roof, written Sr in the building code and added to the snow load. Read: Snow load and wind on Calgary roofs →
- RainscreenSiding
- A wall design with a small air gap between the siding and the water-resistive barrier, so water can drain and the wall can dry. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- RakeRoofing 101
- The sloped edge of a roof at the end of a gable, running from the eave up to the ridge.
- Recoverable depreciationInsurance Claims
- On a replacement-cost policy, the depreciation held back from the first payment and paid once the work is completed and documented. Many policies set a deadline for claiming it. Read: ACV vs RCV Roof Coverage in Alberta →
- Replacement cost valueInsurance Claims
- The cost to replace damaged property with new material of like kind and quality, without subtracting depreciation. Often shortened to RCV. Read: ACV vs RCV Roof Coverage in Alberta →
- RidgeRoofing 101
- The horizontal peak where two roof slopes meet at the top.
- Ridge capInstallation
- Shingles made to bend over the ridge and hips and cover the joint at the top of the roof. Manufacturers often require their matching hip and ridge product for warranty coverage. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Ridge ventInstallation
- A continuous vent along the ridge that lets warm, moist air out of the top of the attic. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Roof deckRoofing 101
- The structural surface of plywood, OSB or boards that the underlayment and shingles are fastened to. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
- Roof penetrationRoofing 101
- Anything that passes through the roof surface, such as a plumbing vent, chimney, skylight or fastener. Each one needs flashing or sealing to stay watertight. Read: Roofline lighting and your roof: mounting it without damage →
- Roof pitchRoofing 101
- How steep a roof is, written as rise over run, such as 6:12 (6 inches of rise for every 12 inches across). Pitch affects which materials can be used and how the work is done. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
- Roof-overInstallation
- Installing new shingles over an existing layer instead of tearing it off. It hides the condition of the deck and adds weight to the structure. Read: Repair or replace your roof? A decision framework →
S
- Safety Codes ActLegal & Permits
- The Alberta law that sets requirements, including permits and inspections, for building, electrical, gas, plumbing and other regulated work. Read: Do you need a permit to replace a roof or siding in Calgary? →
- SBS-modified asphaltMaterials
- Asphalt mixed with styrene-butadiene-styrene, a synthetic rubber polymer, to make shingles more flexible. Not every SBS shingle is Class 4, and not every Class 4 shingle uses SBS. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Scope of lossInsurance Claims
- The insurer's itemized list of the damage and the repair work it considers covered. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- Scope of workHiring & Costs
- The detailed list of what a contractor will do and with which materials. It's the part of a quote or contract that makes two prices comparable. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- ScupperRoofing 101
- An opening through a parapet wall at the edge of a flat roof that lets water drain off. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Sealant stripMaterials
- The factory-applied band of adhesive on a shingle that bonds it to the course below once warmed by the sun. Shingles installed in cold weather may not seal until warmer weather arrives.
- Seamless eavestroughEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- Eavestrough formed on site from a continuous coil of metal, so the only joints are at corners and outlets. Read: Eavestrough Cost Calgary →
- SheathingRoofing 101
- Structural panels, usually plywood or OSB, fastened over roof framing or wall studs. On a roof it forms the deck; on a wall it sits behind the siding.
- Snow loadWeather & Hail
- The weight of snow and ice on a roof. Building codes set the loads a roof must be designed to carry, based on local climate. Read: Snow load and wind on Calgary roofs →
- SoffitEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- The underside of a roof overhang, between the fascia and the house wall. Vented soffit panels are usually where the attic draws in outside air. Read: Soffit and fascia explained →
- Soffit ventEavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
- A vented section of soffit that lets outside air into the attic. It's the intake half of most attic ventilation systems and shouldn't be blocked. Read: Attic ventilation explained →
- Soft metalsWeather & Hail
- Thin metal items around a house that dent easily in hail, such as roof vents, chimney caps, meter covers, air conditioner fins and mailboxes. Photos of them help document a storm. Read: The first 48 hours after a hailstorm →
- SquareHiring & Costs
- The roofing unit of area: 100 square feet of roof. Quotes and material orders are often worked out in squares. Read: Roof Replacement Cost Calgary 2026 →
- Standing seamMaterials
- A metal roof of long panels joined by raised, interlocking seams, with the fasteners hidden under the seams. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Starter stripInstallation
- A row of starter shingles installed along the eaves, and often the rakes, before the first course. Its adhesive helps hold the edge of the first course down in wind. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →
- Statutory conditionsInsurance Claims
- Terms that Alberta's Insurance Act makes part of certain insurance contracts, including many property policies, covering matters such as notice of loss, proof of loss and dispute resolution. Read: The Appraisal Clause: Disputing a Roof Claim in Alberta →
- Statutory declarationLegal & Permits
- A written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true in front of an authorized official, such as a commissioner for oaths. Insurers and some legal processes ask for one.
- Step flashingInstallation
- Individual L-shaped pieces of flashing woven in with each course of shingles where a sloped roof meets a wall.
- Stone veneerSiding
- A thin layer of natural or manufactured stone attached to a wall as cladding, often on the lower part of a house. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- Stone-coated steelMaterials
- Steel roofing panels coated with stone granules, often shaped to look like shingles, shakes or tile. Some products, such as DECRA, list UL 2218 Class 4 ratings. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Storm chaserHiring & Costs
- A contractor who follows major storms from town to town, often knocking on doors. Some do good work, but a contractor who has left town can be hard to reach if warranty problems show up later. Read: Storm Chasers After Calgary Hail →
- StuccoSiding
- A cement-based wall coating applied over lath and building paper. It needs a way for water to drain behind it, and most stucco failures are water problems. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- SubcontractorHiring & Costs
- A separate company or tradesperson hired by your contractor to do part of the job. A contract should say whether any work will be subcontracted. Read: What belongs in a roofing contract →
- SupplementInsurance Claims
- A request to add items or costs to an insurance claim after the first estimate, backed by new documentation. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- Synthetic roofingMaterials
- Roofing made from polymers or rubber composites, often moulded to look like slate or shake. It's a newer category, so lifespan figures lean on manufacturer warranties. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- Synthetic underlaymentMaterials
- Underlayment made from woven or spun plastic rather than asphalt-saturated felt. Read: Underlayment and ice and water shield →
T
- Tapered insulationRoofing 101
- Rigid insulation cut with a built-in slope, installed on a flat roof to move water toward drains and edges. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Tear-offInstallation
- Removing the existing roofing down to the deck before the new roof goes on. It lets the crew inspect and repair the deck. Read: Roof replacement, day by day →
- Technical data sheetMaterials
- The document a manufacturer publishes for each product, listing its specifications, test ratings and warranty terms. Often shortened to TDS. Read: Asphalt shingle types, explained →
- Test squareInsurance Claims
- A marked sample area on a roof slope where an inspector counts hail impacts to judge how damaged that slope is. Read: How Insurance Adjusters Assess Hail Damage →
- Thermal cyclingWeather & Hail
- The repeated expanding and shrinking of building materials as temperatures change. Because metal, wood, asphalt and caulking move by different amounts, it strains flashing and sealants over time. Read: Chinooks, freeze-thaw and your roof →
- TPORoofing 101
- Thermoplastic polyolefin, a single-ply membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, installed as factory-made sheets with sealed seams. Read: Flat and low-slope roofs, explained →
- Travel restraint systemLegal & Permits
- A fall protection system that stops a worker from reaching an unguarded edge at all. Alberta's OHS Code calls for it when guardrails aren't reasonably practicable. Read: Fall protection rules for roofers in Alberta: what homeowners should know →
- TrussRoofing 101
- A factory-built triangle of lumber joined with metal plates that frames a roof, common on newer houses. Cutting or altering one can weaken the roof. Read: How a roof works, layer by layer →
U
- UL 2218Materials
- A laboratory impact test for roofing that drops steel balls of increasing size onto the material. Products are rated Class 1 to Class 4, with Class 4 the highest. Read: Impact ratings explained: UL 2218 and FM 4473 →
- UL 790Materials
- The fire test for roof coverings, equivalent to ASTM E108, which rates them Class A, B or C, with Class A the most resistant. Read: Roofing materials compared for Calgary →
- UmpireInsurance Claims
- The neutral third person chosen by the two appraisers under an appraisal clause. A written decision by any two of the three settles the amount of the loss. Read: The roof insurance claim, step by step →
- UnderlaymentInstallation
- A water-resistant layer, synthetic or felt, installed over the roof deck under the shingles as a second line of defence. Read: Underlayment and ice and water shield →
V
- ValleyRoofing 101
- The inside corner where two roof slopes meet and funnel water together. Valleys carry a lot of water and get extra membrane and flashing.
- Vinyl sidingSiding
- Siding made from PVC panels. It's light and low-maintenance, but some products can crack or break when struck, including by hail. Read: Siding materials compared for Calgary homes →
- Voltage dropRoofline Lighting
- The loss of voltage along a length of wire. On long LED runs it can make the far end dimmer or shift its colour. Read: How permanent roofline lighting works →
W
- Water-resistive barrierSiding
- The general term for the water-shedding layer behind siding, such as house wrap or building paper. Read: What's behind your siding, and why walls really fail →
- Wind ratingWeather & Hail
- A class showing how a shingle performed in a standard wind test, such as ASTM D3161 or ASTM D7158. It describes a correctly installed, fully sealed shingle, so real roofs can lose shingles in gusts below it. Read: Snow load and wind on Calgary roofs →
- Wind upliftWeather & Hail
- The upward pull wind creates along a roof's edges and corners, which can lift and tear off shingles. Read: Wind damage to shingles: what it looks like and what it means →
- Workmanship warrantyHiring & Costs
- The contractor's warranty on the installation itself. It's separate from the manufacturer's warranty on the materials and covers different failures. Read: How to read a roofing quote, line by line →