Hail and weather terms

MESH (Maximum Estimated Size of Hail): A NOAA radar product that estimates the largest hail diameter at each location from storm reflectivity above the freezing level. Hail Pro's hail maps are built on it. See what MESH hail size means.
Hail swath: The path on the ground where a storm dropped hail, usually long and narrow, drawn on hail maps as bands of estimated size.
Hail map: A map of where hail fell and how large it was for a storm or date range. See hail maps.
Storm report: A ground observation of hail, wind or a tornado sent to the National Weather Service, compiled daily by the Storm Prediction Center.
Severe hail: Hail 1 inch in diameter (quarter size) or larger, the National Weather Service threshold for a severe thunderstorm.
Convective day: The 24 hours from 12:00 UTC to 12:00 UTC the next day that storm statistics use, so an evening storm is not split across two calendar dates.
Wind-driven hail: Hail falling at an angle in strong wind, which hits siding, windows and one side of a roof harder.

Roofing terms

Square: Roofing's unit of area: 100 square feet of roof surface.
Pitch (slope): How steep a roof is, written as rise over 12 inches of run, e.g. 6/12.
Re-roof: Replacing the roof covering. Usually needs a building permit. See do you need a permit to replace a roof.
Tear-off: Removing the existing roof covering down to the deck before installing a new one.
Roof-over (recover): Installing new shingles over an existing layer instead of tearing off; building codes limit when this is allowed.
Class 4 shingles: Shingles that pass the highest impact rating in UL 2218, tested with a 2-inch steel ball. Some insurers discount premiums for them.
Bruise: A soft spot where hail fractured a shingle's mat without breaking the surface; a key sign of functional hail damage.
Granule loss: Missing mineral granules on asphalt shingles. Hail knocks granules off in spots; uniform loss is usually age.
Soft metals: Vents, gutters, downspouts, flashing and other metal surfaces whose dents help estimate hail size on a property.
Drip edge: Metal flashing along roof edges that directs water into the gutter; often a code requirement and a common supplement item.
Ice and water shield: Self-adhering waterproof underlayment required at eaves in cold climates by many codes.
Starter strip: The first course of shingles at the eave, with sealant to hold the first row down.

RCV (replacement cost value): What it costs to replace the damaged roof with a new one of like kind and quality, without deducting for age.
ACV (actual cash value): Replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear. ACV policies pay this amount.
Recoverable depreciation: Depreciation an RCV policy holds back until the work is completed, then pays.
Wind/hail deductible: A separate deductible for wind and hail claims, often a percentage of the home's insured value rather than a flat amount.
Adjuster: The person who inspects the damage and writes the insurer's estimate.
Supplement: A request for additional payment for items or quantities missing from the adjuster's estimate. See roofing insurance supplements.
Xactimate: The estimating software most US property insurers and restoration contractors use to price claims line by line.
O&P (overhead and profit): A general contractor's overhead and profit, commonly 10% plus 10%, sometimes added when a job needs multiple trades.
Test square: A 10-by-10-foot area marked on each roof slope where hail hits are counted to document damage.
Date of loss: The date the storm caused the damage; the claim is tied to it.