Common Roofing Terms

If you’re getting your roof repaired or replaced for the first time, it can be difficult to keep track of all the roofing terms. We’ve compiled a list of common roofing terms that you should know if you are doing roof repair or roof replacement in your home.

Asphalt – an organic bituminous mixture used in the production of production shingles.

Asphalt Roofing Cement – used to connect roofing elements, also known as flashing cement or mastic.

Base Flashing – the element of the flashing that joins to the roof deck.

Blend– mixtures of different colored granules on the exterior of shingles.

Blind Nailing – nails pushed until the ends are hidden by succeeding layers of roofing materials.

Blisters – are bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing.

Bridging is a process of replacing parts of the roof where the new shingles match the previous roof’s form.

Butt- is the Shingle’s piece that is revealed to the climate, also known as the “tab” of the Shingle.

Cant Strip – a 45 degree beveled lumber, fiberboard, or metal bands at the junction of the roof and a perpendicular surface used to break a right angle and fundamentally used in low sloped roofing.

Cap Flashing – flashing on a perpendicular cover to stop the flow of water by overlaps the base flashing. This flashing is generally not altered when a roof is replaced.

Caulk – a substance for filling a joint or void.

Cement – a material, when cured, binds to surfaces together.

Class “A” – the most distinguished fire-resistant roofing material as per ASTM E-108. These Shingle withstand exposure to fire compared to other classes of shingles.

Closed Valley – roofing materials that cover the entire Valley. 

Coating – a layer of asphalt used on shingles in which granules are set.

Collars – pre-formed flange set over a vent. 

Counter Flashing – Cap Flashing.

Course – a horizontal section of roofing running the width of the roof.

Cricket – a small peaked saddle built on the tip of the first roof and behind the chimney. Cricket is usually not required.

Cupola – a structure extending above the roof. It is usually used for air-conditioning.

Dead Level – section of the roof that is flat at any angle.

Deck – the material fitted over the framing of a structure on which shingles are installed. 

Double Coverage – a means of applying roof shingles so that two full layers of material are provided.

Dormer – a window unit is extending through the sloped level of the roof.

Drip Edge – metal strip used on eaves and rakes to provide for runoff without harming underlying elements

Drip Course – the first row of shingles that somewhat projects over the edge of the roof.

Eave – the edge of a roof that projects over the outer wall.

Exposure – the side of the Shingle that is exposed to the climate. 

Lap – the overlap of the surface of one roofing material to another.

Laminated Shingles – shingles that include more than one layer of tabs, making them thicker.

Lock Shingles – shingles with a fixed locking characteristic. These are uncommon shingles.

Low Slope Application – the process of implementing shingles on slopes between 2 and four inches per foot.

Mansard Roof – an upright part of the roof.

Mastic – asphalt roof sealant.

Modified Bitumen – Roller roofing layer with a polymer-modified asphalt. The role will usually have a fiberglass or polyester mesh for reinforcement.

Nesting – bridging.

Standard Slope Application – the process of installing shingles with dimensions that are between 4 and 21 inches per foot.

Open Valley – the metal valley where roofing material does not cover the whole valley area as in a Closed Valley.

Saturant – asphalt used to soak felt to ensure that the felt is waterproof and robust.

Seal Down – a factory-applied asphalt band used to bond a shingle to the one above. Produce wind resistance.

Sheathing – Standard beams used for a roof deck.

Skirt Flashing – A large piece flashing, usually located at the base of a dormer or extension.

Slope – the degree of angle of a roof plane.

Soffit – the finished bottom of an eave.

Soffit Vent – An opening used for intake of outside air. These are not part of a standard roof but are sometimes needed for proper attic air-conditioning.

Soil Stack – a vent that is placed on the roof.

Span – the horizontal distance from eave to eave.

Square – a division of roof measurement covering 100 square feet.

Square Butt Shingles – generally three-tab 20-year-laminated shingles.

Starter Course – the first area of shingles installed on your roof. It will be under the first visible row. Often these shingles are 20 years three-tab shingles. To avoid bumps, they are usually heavier layered shingles installed.

Tab – the portion of strip shingles surrounded by cut-outs or slots, so when installed, the material seems to be exclusively applied.

Underlayments – An asphalt-saturated felt fitted over the roof level and below the roofing material. There is a wide range of quality and value in underlayments.

Valley – the junction of roof slopes.

Vent – an opening for air.

Weathering – shifts in color, texture, or efficiency caused by exposure to the daily climate.