Roofing Terms To Help Our Clients . . . We understand that roofing terms can be confusing to those who are not in the industry. This information sheet provides roofing terms to help you make an educated decision about your roofing needs. Collar: Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve. Counter flashing:The portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing. Course: A row of shingles running the length of the roof. Cricket: A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney Overhang: That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond to prevent accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water the exterior walls of a building. around the chimney. Pitch: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, Deck: The surface installed over the supporting framing mem- in feet, to the span, in feet. bers to which the roofing is applied. Rafter: The supporting framing member immediately beneath Dormer: A framed window unit projecting through the sloping the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate. plane of a roof. Rake: The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall. Downspout: A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a leader. Ridge: The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Drip edge: A non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the eaves and rakes to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying Ridge shingles or ridge cap: Shingles used to cover the horizon- construction. tal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Eaves: The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof. Rise: The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge. Eave flashing: Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water back-up. Roll roofing: Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form. Felt: Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an Roofing tape: An asphalt-saturated tape used with asphalt underlayment or sheathing paper. Organic felt is an asphalt cement for flashing and patching asphalt roofing. roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers. Run: The horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directly Flashing: Pieces of galvanized metal (usually aluminum or cop- under the ridge. One half the span. per) or roll roofing used to prevent seepage of water into a build- Slope: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, ing around any intersection or projection in a roof such as vent in inches, to the run, in feet. pipes, chimneys, adjoining walls, dormers and valleys. Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves. Gable: The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular Soil stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof. point at the ridge of a sloping roof. Span: The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves. Gutter: The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts. Square: A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet. A roof with a field area of 2,500 square feet would be called a 25 square roof. Hip: The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves. Starter strip: Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provide protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of Hip shingles: Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle the first course of shingles. formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Step flashing: Flashing application method used where a vertical Ice dam: Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing surface meets a sloping roof plane. and re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can force water up and under shingles, causing leaks. Tab: The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts. Interlocking shingles: Individual shingles that mechanically Underlayment: Asphalt saturated felt used beneath roofing to fasten to each other to provide wind resistance. provide additional protection for the deck. Laminated shingles: Asphalt strip shingles containing more than Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. They are also called sloping roof planes. Three-dimensional shingles or Architectural shingles. Vapor retarder: Any material used to prevent the passage of Open valley: Method of valley construction in which shingles on water vapor. both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line snapped Vent: Any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such on each side of the valley. Shingles do not extend across the as a pipe or stack. Any device installed on the roof, gable or soffit valley. Valley flashing is exposed. for the purpose of ventilating the underside of the roof deck. Popham Construction n (812) 479-5850 n www.pophamconstruction.com