Roofing Glossary

Architectural shingles:  Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. Also called three-dimensional shingles or laminated shingles. they are composed of a heavy fiberglass mat base and ceramic-coated mineral granules that are tightly embedded in carefully refined, water-resistant asphalt.

Asphalt shingle: A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing.  Also known as composition shingles (or composite shingles)

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

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

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

Composite Shingles:  a composite product made from either fiberglass or cellulose mat, asphalt, and mineral granules.

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

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

Deck: The surface installed over the supporting framing members to which a roofing material is applied.

Dimensional Shingles:  also known as architectural or laminate shingles, dimensional shingles are the most prevalent asphalt shingles.  These products are manufactured with two or more layers of asphalt that are fused together for a thicker and richer multi-dimensional appearance, and are engineers to replicate the wood shake and natural slate roofing aesthetics.  Dimensional shingles are typically heavier than strip shingles, and have improved warranty protection.

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

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.

Eaves: The horizontal, lower edges of a sloped roof.

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

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

Fiberglass Shingles: Fiberglass shingles are a type of asphalt shingle, often compared to an organic mat asphalt shingle. Fiberglass shingles are different because they have a fiberglass mat while organic asphalt shingles use paper as the base. Fiberglass shingles are more water resistant, fire resistant, and work well in hot climates and are often more expensive.

Flashing: Pieces of galvanized metal (usually aluminum or copper) 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.

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

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, with 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.

Gutter Guards:  devices that prevent leaves, pine needles, twigs, and other debris from entering the gutter and interfering with water flow to keep gutters working smoothly.

Hip roof: A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides.

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

Ice dam: Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing and re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. This can force water up and under shingles, resulting in leaks.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Ridge cap: Specially formed 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.

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

Saltbox roof: a gable roof with asymmetrical planes, one long and one short side. The short side typically has a low slope, while the long side has a steep slope.

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.

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.

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

Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves.

Stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Span: The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

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.

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

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

Three Dimensional Shingles:  Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. Also called laminated shingles or architectural shingles.

Underlayment: Asphalt saturated felt used beneath roofing to provide additional protection for the deck.

Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

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.