FL Roofing Contractor key terms

The money a contractor has available for day-to-day operations, calculated as current assets minus current liabilities. It must cover payroll, materials, and bills while the company waits for progress payments.

A legal claim recorded against a property by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier who was not paid for labor or materials furnished to improve it. Florida sets strict deadlines and notice requirements for enforcing it.

A written notice that a subcontractor or material supplier must serve on the property owner, generally within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials, to preserve the right to file a construction lien in Florida.

A percentage of each progress payment that the owner withholds until the project is substantially or finally complete. It protects the owner and gives the contractor an incentive to finish and clear all claims.

Indirect costs of running the business that cannot be assigned to one specific project, such as office rent, insurance, vehicles, and office salaries. Overhead must be recovered through markup on every job.

The amount a contractor adds to estimated direct job costs to cover overhead and profit, usually stated as a percentage of cost. It differs from margin, which is figured as a percentage of the selling price.

Recording the actual labor, material, equipment, and subcontract costs of each project and comparing them with the estimate, so the contractor can see the real profit or loss and bid more accurately next time.

A surety bond that guarantees a contractor's subcontractors and suppliers will be paid on a bonded project. It gives them a way to recover money when lien rights are not available, as on public work.

A surety bond that guarantees the contractor will complete the work according to the contract. If the contractor defaults, the surety must finish the job or pay the owner up to the bond amount.

Insurance that pays medical bills and lost wages for employees injured on the job. Florida roofing contractors must carry it, or hold a valid exemption, to keep a license.

A document the owner records and posts on the job before work starts, naming the owner, contractor, surety, and lender. It starts the deadline for subcontractors and suppliers to serve Notices to Owner.

A written amendment, signed by the owner and contractor, that changes the contract's scope, price, or schedule. It should be approved before the changed work is performed.

The part of the contract that describes exactly what the contractor will and will not provide, including materials, quantities, and exclusions, and that defines what the contract price covers.

The point at which the work is complete enough for the owner to use it for its intended purpose, even though minor items remain. It usually starts warranty periods and releases part of retainage.

A written list of minor incomplete or defective items found during the final walkthrough. The contractor must correct them before final completion, final payment, and release of remaining retainage.

An itemized breakdown of the contract sum, assigning a dollar value to each portion of the work. Progress payments are based on the percentage of each line item completed.

A fixed amount of money stated in the contract that the contractor owes the owner for each day the project is late, agreed in advance as a reasonable estimate of the owner's loss.

A formal written question from the contractor to the designer asking for clarification or interpretation of the plans or specifications. The answer becomes part of the contract documents.

A written guarantee for a roof. The manufacturer's warranty covers defects in materials and may be prorated, while the contractor's warranty covers workmanship and installation errors.

A sheet material such as felt, synthetic fabric, or self-adhered membrane laid over the roof deck under the main covering. It sheds water that gets past the covering and is required by code for most roof types.

Metal or membrane material used to seal watertight the joints where the roof meets walls, valleys, edges, drains, and penetrations, so water is directed back onto the roof surface.

The upper piece of flashing, attached to a wall, chimney, or curb, that overlaps the base flashing below it. It keeps water from getting behind the base flashing at the top edge.

A metal strip installed along the eaves and rakes of a roof. It lets water drip clear of the fascia and deck edge and stiffens the edge of the roof covering.

The structural surface the roof system is fastened to, such as plywood, oriented strand board, or wood plank. Its thickness and fastening affect wind uplift and load capacity.

The rise of the roof measured over a horizontal run, usually written as inches per foot, such as 4:12. The code uses slope to decide which coverings and underlayments are allowed.

A roof with a slope of two units vertical to twelve horizontal or less. It is usually covered with membranes such as single-ply, modified bitumen, or built-up roofing rather than shingles.

A factory-made roofing sheet, usually of TPO, PVC, or EPDM, installed in one layer over low-slope roofs. It is fastened mechanically, bonded with adhesive, or held down with ballast.

A rolled roofing sheet made of asphalt blended with a rubber or plastic polymer on a reinforcing mat. It is applied to low-slope roofs with hot asphalt, torching, or cold adhesive.

The ability of a roof assembly to resist the suction force wind creates as it passes over a building. It is proven by testing and must meet the design pressure for the building's location.

Intake and exhaust openings that let air move through the attic or roof assembly. The code requires a minimum amount of vent area relative to the roof area to control heat and moisture.

The statewide construction code adopted under Florida law that sets requirements for roof systems, materials, and installation. Local governments may amend it only in limited ways.

The area made up of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, where the Florida Building Code applies its strictest wind, product approval, and inspection rules for roof coverings and fastening.

Florida's system for evaluating and listing construction products, including roof coverings and attachments, with a number that shows they meet the code for stated conditions such as design wind speed.

The average height of the roof above grade, taken as the average of the eave and ridge heights. It is used with exposure and risk category to calculate design wind pressure.

A drawing that shows the roof as seen from above, including ridges, valleys, slopes, drains, scuppers, penetrations, and the direction water drains. It is the main sheet for laying out roofing work.

The equipment and procedures used to keep workers from falling when they are exposed to a drop of six feet or more, or to any fall into a hazardous area.

A harness, connecting lanyard, and anchor that stops a worker during a fall. The anchor must support at least 5,000 pounds per worker unless a qualified person designs otherwise.

A worker who can recognize existing and predictable hazards at the site and has authority to stop work and take prompt corrective action. OSHA requires one for fall protection and several other tasks.

The rules for using ladders safely, including setting extension ladders at a 4-to-1 angle, extending them three feet above the landing, securing them, and keeping three points of contact.

The required distance between workers, ladders, and conductive equipment and overhead electrical lines, generally at least ten feet, with more for higher voltages. Lines are assumed to be energized.