Roofing Terms Glossary
Plain-language definitions for 30 roofing terms used across Coastal Georgia. Materials, installation methods, building codes, insurance mechanics, and diagnostic signs — curated by Samed Güvenç, owner of Talya Roofing.
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Materials
Shingle types, coatings, and underlayment used on Coastal Georgia roofs.
3-Tab Shingle
- A flat, single-layer asphalt shingle with three uniform tabs along the lower edge. Builder-grade and the cheapest option (typically rated 60-70 mph wind), 3-tabs were standard on Savannah-area subdivisions through the early 2000s and now make up the bulk of the local reroof market as they hit their 15-20 year end-of-life. Read full guide
Architectural Shingle
- Also called "dimensional" or "laminate" shingles, these multi-layer asphalt shingles produce a thicker, shadowed appearance and carry wind ratings of 110-130+ mph. Architectural shingles are the standard upgrade we install when reroofing Savannah homes off builder-grade 3-tabs. Read full guide
Galvalume
- A steel sheet coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy (typically 55% aluminum / 43.5% zinc / 1.5% silicon). Galvalume is the standard substrate for metal roofing in coastal Georgia because the aluminum content resists salt-air corrosion better than plain galvanized steel. Read full guide
Standing Seam Metal Roof
- A metal roofing system where vertical seams between panels are raised above the flat panel surface and crimped together, hiding the fasteners. Talya Roofing installs 26-gauge Benton standing seam with Kynar 500 paint finish for Coastal Georgia's 140+ mph wind and salt exposure. Read full guide
Scotchgard™ Shingles
- Atlas Roofing's proprietary algae-resistant shingle technology using 3M Scotchgard copper-granule treatment. Unlike CertainTeed's 15-year algae warranty, Atlas Pinnacle Pristine with Scotchgard carries a lifetime algae warranty — the strongest available for Savannah's humidity-driven streaking problem. Read full guide
Kynar 500
- A PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) resin paint finish from Arkema used on premium metal roofing. Kynar 500 carries 30+ year color and chalk warranties and resists fading from salt air and UV — essential for Tybee Island and Wilmington Island standing-seam installs.
Installation
Methods, patterns, and best practices that meet 130 mph wind code.
6-Nail Wind Pattern
- A shingle nailing pattern using six nails per shingle instead of the older 4-nail spec. Required to achieve the 130 mph ultimate wind speed Chatham County's building code calls for under ASCE 7-16. The 4-nail patterns common on 1990s-2000s Pooler and Richmond Hill builder-grade roofs do not meet current code.
Ring-Shank Nail
- A roofing nail with ridged rings along its shank that grip the deck wood from multiple angles, resisting pull-out under repeated wind uplift far better than smooth-shank nails. Standard on every Talya Roofing install across the Pooler open-field wind corridor.
Ice & Water Shield
- A self-adhered waterproof membrane installed in roof valleys, around penetrations (pipe boots, skylights), and at eaves before shingles go down. Critical for Coastal Georgia's wind-driven rain events — we install it in every valley and around every penetration as standard, not an upcharge.
Starter Strip
- A specially-designed shingle row installed first along eaves and rakes before the field shingles. Reinforced starter strips with a pre-applied adhesive bead are critical for wind resistance — the #1 failure point we see on aging Pooler and Richmond Hill builder-grade roofs is starter strip blow-off in summer thunderstorm downdrafts.
Underlayment
- The waterproof layer installed over the roof deck and under the shingles. Synthetic underlayment (e.g., GAF Deck-Armor) is now standard on every Coastal Georgia reroof, replacing old #15 or #30 felt. We install synthetic underlayment across the entire roof, plus ice & water shield in valleys and around penetrations.
Drip Edge
- A bent metal flashing installed along eaves and rakes to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutter. Missing or misaligned drip edge is the most common builder defect we find on Pooler and Richmond Hill new construction before the one-year warranty expires.
Codes & Compliance
Building codes, certifications, and Georgia-specific regulations.
FORTIFIED Roof Certification
- An IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety) certification for hurricane-resistant roof systems. Georgia Act 476 requires insurers to discount FORTIFIED-certified roofs by 5-20% annually. FORTIFIED Roof™, FORTIFIED Silver, and FORTIFIED Gold are the three tiers — Coastal Georgia homeowners typically pursue the entry-level FORTIFIED Roof for the insurance discount. Read full guide
IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety)
- A non-profit research organization funded by property insurers that develops the FORTIFIED certification standards. IBHS testing in their South Carolina wind tunnel underpins the wind-uplift requirements that Coastal Georgia building codes reference for hurricane-zone roofs.
Georgia Act 476
- Georgia state legislation that requires property insurers to provide a discount of 5-20% annually to homeowners whose roofs carry a FORTIFIED certification from IBHS. Active as of 2026, this is the single largest insurance-premium lever available to Coastal Georgia homeowners. Read full guide
ASCE 7-16
- The American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 7, 2016 edition — the engineering standard the 2018 Georgia Building Code references for wind-load design. Under ASCE 7-16, Chatham County and Bryan County are in a 130 mph ultimate design wind speed zone, which dictates the 6-nail roofing pattern and reinforced starter strip requirements.
Insurance
Policy mechanics that determine post-storm roof claim payouts.
Georgia Act 277
- Georgia state legislation establishing rules for roof insurance claim handling, including timelines for adjuster inspections, supplements, and claim denials. Critical for Coastal Georgia homeowners filing post-storm claims after named-storm events. Read full guide
ACV vs RCV (Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Cost Value)
- Two methods insurers use to value roof claims. RCV pays the full cost to replace the damaged roof. ACV depreciates the payout based on the roof's age and condition — a 15-year-old roof might receive only 30-50% of replacement cost under ACV. The 2026 FHFA rule change is shifting more Georgia policies to ACV, materially reducing post-storm payouts. Read full guide
Named-Storm Deductible
- A separate, percentage-based deductible that applies to roof damage from any storm given a name by the National Hurricane Center. Typically 2-5% of the dwelling coverage amount in Coastal Georgia — meaning a $400,000 home with a 5% named-storm deductible pays $20,000 out of pocket before insurance covers anything. Read full guide
Supplement (Insurance Claim)
- An addendum to an open roof insurance claim that requests additional payment for damage or code-upgrade work the original adjuster did not include. Common supplements in Coastal Georgia: full decking replacement when rot is found under shingles, drip edge code upgrade, and ice & water shield in valleys.
Diagnosis
Signs and symptoms of common roof problems in our climate.
Wind Uplift
- The lifting force that wind exerts on a roof surface as it flows over it. Wind uplift damage shows up as raised, curled, or missing shingles — most commonly along eaves and ridges where Bernoulli pressure differential is highest. The standard culprit on pre-2010 builder-grade roofs across Pooler and Richmond Hill.
Granule Loss
- The progressive shedding of the protective ceramic granules from the surface of asphalt shingles. Granule loss accelerates after hail strikes and during the final 3-5 years of a shingle's lifespan. Heavy granule accumulation in gutters is the most reliable visible sign a Savannah roof is approaching end of life. Read full guide
Algae Streaking
- Black or dark-green streaks running down the slope of an asphalt roof, caused by Gloeocapsa magma algae. Coastal Georgia's humidity and Belfast/Ogeechee river fog make algae streaking the #1 cosmetic complaint on aging roofs. Copper- or zinc-treated shingles (Atlas Scotchgard, GAF StainGuard Plus, CertainTeed StreakFighter) prevent it.
Soft Deck
- Wood roof decking that has rotted or delaminated due to water intrusion. Soft deck is identified during tear-off and must be replaced before new shingles go on. Common in Coastal Georgia's humidity belt — especially under failed pipe boots and around chimneys where water has wicked in over multiple seasons.
Components
The parts that make up a complete residential or commercial roof.
Pipe Boot (Vent Boot)
- A rubber or lead flashing that seals around the plumbing vent pipes penetrating a roof. Pipe boots are the most common single leak source on Coastal Georgia roofs — UV exposure cracks the rubber within 8-12 years, and the leak shows up as a stain on the ceiling directly below the pipe. Read full guide
Flashing
- Metal sheeting installed at roof transitions — around chimneys, against walls, in valleys, and around skylights — to direct water away from joints where shingles alone can't seal. Step flashing (vertical wall transitions) and counter flashing (chimney sides) are the most failure-prone types in older Savannah homes.
Ridge Vent
- A continuous vent installed along the peak (ridge) of a roof that allows hot attic air to escape. Properly balanced ridge and soffit ventilation is essential in Coastal Georgia — without it, summer attic temperatures exceed 140°F and asphalt shingles age 2-3× faster. Read full guide
Soffit
- The horizontal underside of a roof overhang, typically perforated or vented to allow cool intake air into the attic. Damaged or painted-over soffit vents are the #2 ventilation problem we find on Savannah historic-district homes (after a missing ridge vent).
Fascia
- The vertical trim board running along the eaves where the gutter mounts. Fascia damage from water-overflowing gutters is the most common siding-adjacent roof failure we repair across Coastal Georgia's humidity belt — soft fascia hides rotted decking behind it.
Roof Decking (Sheathing)
- The structural wood layer (typically 5/8" or 1/2" plywood or OSB) installed over the rafters/trusses, onto which the underlayment and shingles attach. Damaged decking must be replaced during reroofing — we deck-check every job before laying new shingles.
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