Every Roofing Term, Defined

The system of intake and exhaust vents that circulate air through the attic space.

A small peaked structure built on the uphill side of a chimney to divert water.

The lower horizontal edge of a roof that overhangs the exterior wall.

The vertical trim board attached to the ends of the roof rafters at the eave.

The triangular wall section at the end of a pitched roof.

The external angle where two roof planes meet, sloping down from the ridge.

The structural framing members that support the roof deck from the wall top plate to the ridge.

The sloped edge of a gable roof that runs from the eave to the ridge.

The structural layer of plywood or OSB that shingles are installed on.

The steepness of a roof expressed as a ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run.

The horizontal underside of the roof overhang, between the fascia and the exterior wall.

The internal angle where two roof planes meet and water flows toward the eave.

The traditional single-layer asphalt shingle with three tabs per piece.

A multi-layer, dimensional asphalt shingle that mimics the look of wood shake or slate.

The flashing system that seals around a chimney where it penetrates the roof.

A metal flashing installed at the edges of a roof to direct water away from the fascia.

Metal sheeting installed at roof transitions and penetrations to prevent water infiltration.

A self-adhering waterproof membrane installed in areas prone to ice dams and leaks.

A flashing assembly that seals around a vent pipe penetrating the roof.

Specialized shingles or metal that cover the peak of a roof.

Continuous ventilation installed along the ridge of a roof to exhaust hot attic air.

A water-resistant layer installed between the roof deck and the shingles.

The individual roofing unit that covers the roof surface and sheds water.

A packaged stack of shingles. Most standard shingles come 3 bundles per roofing square.

L-shaped metal flashing pieces installed where a roof meets a vertical wall.

A ridge of ice that forms at the eave of a roof, preventing melting snow from draining.

The process of removing the existing roofing before installing new shingles.

The factor used to convert roof footprint to actual surface area based on pitch.

A unit of measurement equal to 100 square feet of roof surface.

The percentage of extra material added to an order to account for cuts, overlaps, and mistakes.