ROOFING TERMINOLOGY

Know of a particular roofing term you may need some help understanding? We’ll here is a comprehensive list of as many as we can think of!

Know of a particular roofing term you may need some help understanding? We’ll here is a comprehensive list of as many as we can think of!
Know of a particular roofing term you may need some help understanding? We’ll here is a comprehensive list of as many as we can think of!

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W |

A Algae discoloration
A type of roof discoloration caused by algae. Commonly called fungus growth.

American method
Application of giant individual shingles with the long dimension parallel to the rake. Shingles are applied with a 3/4-inch space between adjacent shingles in a course.

Asphalt
A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing.

Asphalt plastic roofing cement
An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials. Also known as flashing cement or mastic; should conform to ASTM D-4586.

ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials. A voluntary organization concerned with development of consensus standards, testing procedures and specifications.

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B Back Surfacing
Fine mineral matter applied to the back side of shingles to keep them from sticking.

Base flashing
That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.

Blisters
Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing after installation.

Brands
Airborne burning embers released from a fire.

Bridging
A method of reroofing with metric-sized shingles.

Built-up roof
A flat or low-sloped roof consisting of multiple layers of asphalt and ply sheets.

Bundle
A package of shingles. There are 3, 4 or 5 bundles per square.

Butt edge
The lower edge of the shingle tabs.

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C Caulk
To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt cement to prevent leaks.

Cement
See Asphalt plastic roofing cement.

Chalk line
A line made on the roof by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Used for alignment purposes.

Class "A"
The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing as per ASTM E-108. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class "B"
Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class "C"
Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Closed cut valley
A method of valley treatment in which shingles from one side of the valley extend across the valley while shingles from the other side are trimmed two inches from the valley centerline. The valley flashing is not exposed.

Coating
A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded.

Collar
Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.

Concealed nail method
Application of roll roofing in which all nails are driven into the underlying course of roofing and covered by a cemented, overlapping course. Nails are not exposed to the weather.

Condensation
The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.

Counter flashing
That portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing.

Course
A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.

Coverage
Amount of weather protection provided by the roofing material. Depends on number of layers of material between the exposed surface of the roofing and the deck; i.e., single coverage, double coverage, etc.

Cricket
A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney to prevent accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water around the chimney.

Cutout
The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.

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D Deck
The surface installed over the supporting framing members to which the roofing is applied.

Dormer
A framed window unit projecting through the sloping plane of a roof.

Double coverage
Application of asphalt roofing such that the lapped portion is at least two inches wider than the exposed portion, resulting in two layers of roofing material over the deck.

Downspout
A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a leader.

Drip edge
A non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the eaves and rakes to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying construction.

Dutch lap method
Application of giant individual shingles with the long dimension parallel to the eaves. Shingles are applied to overlap adjacent shingles in each course as well as the course below.

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E Eaves
The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof.

Eaves flashing
Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water back-up.

Edging strips
Boards nailed along eaves and rakes after cutting back existing wood shingles to provide secure edges for reroofing with asphalt shingles.

Ell
An extension of a building at right angles to its length.

Exposed nail method
Application of roll roofing in which all nails are driven into the cemented, overlapping course of roofing. Nails are exposed to the weather.

Exposure I grade plywood
Type of plywood approved by the American Plywood Association for exterior use.

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F Feathering strips
Tapered wood filler strips placed along the butts of old wood shingles to create a level surface when reroofing over existing wood shingle roofs. Also called horsefeathers.

Felt
Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.

Fiber glass mat
An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from glass fibers.

Flashing
Pieces of metal or roll roofing used to prevent seepage of water into a building around any intersection or projection in a roof such as vent pipes, chimneys, adjoining walls, dormers and valleys. Galvanized metal flashing should be minimum 26-gauge.

Flashing Cement
See asphalt plastic roofing cement.

FM
Factory Mutual Research Corp.

Free-tab shingles
Shingles that do not contain factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.

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G Gable
The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.

Gable roof
A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each side of the ridge. Contains a gable at each end.

Gambrel roof
A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each side of the ridge. The lower plane has a steeper slope than the upper. Contains a gable at each end.

Granules
Ceramic-coated colored crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products.

Gutter
The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.

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H Head lap
Shortest distance from the butt edge of an overlapping shingle to the upper edge of a shingle in the second course below. The triple coverage portion of the top lap of strip shingles.

HEX shingles
Shingles that have the appearance of a hexagon after installation.

Hip
The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.

Hip roof
A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides. Contains no gables.

Hip shingles
Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Horsefeathers
See feathering strips.

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I Ice dam
Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing and re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can force water up and under shingles, causing leaks.

Interlocking shingles
Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to provide wind resistance.

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L Laminated shingles
Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. Also called three-dimensional shingles.

Lap
To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.

Lap cement
An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing.

Low slope application
Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between two and four inches per foot.

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M Mansard roof
A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides. The lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, often approaching vertical. Contains no gables.

Masonry primer
An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces for bonding with other asphalt products.

Mastic
See asphalt plastic roofing cement.

Mineral stabilizers
Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials added to asphalt coatings for durability and increased resistance to fire and weathering.

Mineral-surfaced roofing
Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are covered with granules.

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N Nesting
A method of reroofing with new asphalt shingles over old shingles in which the top edge of the new shingle is butted against the bottom edge of the existing shingle tab.

No-cutout shingles
Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no cutouts.

Non-veneer panel
Any wood based panel that does not contain veneer and carries an APA span rating, such as wafer board or oriented strand board.

Normal slope application
Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot.

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O Open valley
Method of valley construction in which shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line snapped on each side of the valley. Shingles do not extend across the valley. Valley flashing is exposed.

Organic felt
An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers.

Overhang
That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.

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P Pallets
Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles.

Pitch
The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in feet, to the span, in feet.

Plastic Cement
A compound used to seal flashings and in some cases to seal down shingles as well as for other small waterproofing jobs. Where plastic cement is required for sealing down shingles, use a dab about the size of a quarter unless otherwise specified.

Ply
The number of layers of roofing: i.e. one-ply, two-ply.

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Q Quick-setting cement
An asphalt-based cement used to adhere tabs of strip shingles to the course below. Also used to adhere roll roofing laps applied by the concealed nail method.

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R Racking
Roofing application method in which shingle courses are applied vertically up the roof rather than across and up. Not a recommended procedure.

Rafter
The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate.

Rake
The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall from the eave to the ridge.

Random-tab shingles
Shingles on which tabs vary in size and exposure.

Release tape
A plastic or paper strip that is applied to the back of self-sealing shingles. This strip prevents the shingles from sticking together in the bundles, and need not be removed for application.

Ridge
The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Ridge shingles
Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Rise
The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.

Roll roofing
Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form.

Roofing tape
An asphalt-saturated tape used with asphalt cements for flashing and patching asphalt roofing.

Run
The horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directly under the ridge. One half the span.

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S Saturant
Asphalt used to impregnate an organic felt base material.

Saturated felt
An asphalt-impregnated felt used as an underlayment between the deck and the roofing material.

Self-sealing cement
A thermal-sealing tab cement built into the shingle to firmly cement the shingles together automatically after they have been applied properly and exposed to warm sun temperatures. In warm seasons, the seal will be complete in a matter of days. In colder seasons, sealing time depends on the temperature and amount of direct sunlight hitting the shingles. Hand sealing with plastic cement should be done to ensure sealing in winter.

Self-sealing shingles
Shingles containing factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.

Self-sealing strip or spot
Factory-applied adhesive that bonds shingle courses together when exposed to the heat of the sun after application.

Selvage
That portion of roll roofing overlapped by the succeeding course to obtain double coverage.

Shading
Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.

Sheathing
Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material.

Shed roof
A roof containing only one sloping plane. Has no hips, ridges, valleys or gables.

Single coverage
Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck.

Slope
The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in inches, to the run, in feet.

Smooth-surfaced roofing
Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules (coated).

Soffit
The finished underside of the eaves.

Soil stack
A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Span
The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

Specialty eaves flashing membrane
A self-adhering, waterproofing shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due to ice dams or wind driven rain.

Square
A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.

Square-tab shingles
Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.

Starter strip
Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the first course of shingles.

Steep slope application
Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot.

Step flashing
Flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane.

Strip shingles
Asphalt shingles that are approximately three times as long as they are wide.

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T Tab
The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.

Talc
See back surfacing.

Telegraphing
A shingle distortion that may arise when a new roof is applied over an uneven surface.

Three-dimensional shingles
See laminated shingles.

Three-tab shingle
The most popular type of asphalt shingle usually 12" x 36" in size with three tabs.

Top lap
That portion of the roofing covered by the succeeding course after installation.

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U UL
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

UL label
Label displayed on packaging to indicate the level of fire and/or wind resistance of asphalt roofing.

Underlayment
A layer of asphalt saturated (sometimes referred to as tar paper) which is laid down on a bare deck before shingles are installed to provide additional protection for the deck.

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V Valley
The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes to provide water runoff.

Vapor retarder
Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor.

Vent
Any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such as a pipe or stack. Any device installed on the roof, gable or soffit for the purpose of ventilating the underside of the roof deck.

Vent sleeve
See collar.

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W Woven Valley
Method of valley construction in which shingles from both sides of the valley extend across the valley and are woven together by overlapping alternate courses as they are applied. The valley flashing is not exposed.

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