Welcome to our roofing terms and roofing pictures page
This page has a bunch of pictures of roofing projects that help my customers. Here you can see the meaning of some of the common but maybe strange roofing terms we roofers use.
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Dormer
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Dutch Gable
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Hip
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Ridge
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Barge Rafter 
Typically a 2x6 or larger dimension board used at the edge of a roof. The wood used is usually Hem Fir or Spruce.
BLEEDER 
A strip of asphalt material along the rake.
BURNOUT
The term where felt {tar paper} has had UV rays of the sun deteriorate the material and actually burn a hole through it. This is seen on cedar shake roofs allot when a cedar shake has split or crack near a key way leaving the felt exposed.
COMPO
A composition shingle made of asphalt and fiberglass mat with ceramic coated granules embedded on the surface. Superior products have reinforcement weave also in the asphalt too insure a high performance shingle.
CLASS A, B, or C
A classification given by laboratories that test roofing products for fire ratings. All roofs being applied must meet a minimum class C fire rating in California. Most asphalt shingles and tile roofs are rated at A. Metal roofs can achieve a A, or a B rating and Cedar Shakes can be A, B and most commonly Class C ratings.
CRICKET
An area behind a chimney or wall that has a slope designed to move water away and down the roof.
DIVERTER
This metal strip serves as a water diversion, to move the water on the roof away from a opening where gutters cannot or were not installed.
DOUBLE FELT
Double felting a deck is done typically on low sloped roofs under 4 and 12 pitch where shingles are to be applied.
DOWNSPOUT
The vertical trough connected to the gutter to remove water from it.
DORMER
A small gable or shed roof in the middle of a larger roof {see #1}
DORMER VENT
A sheet metal exhaust vent installed on top of the roof to ventilate the attic.
DEFLECTION
Sagging of the roof framing members
DRY ROT
Deterioration of wood fibers caused by moisture intrusion for a long period of time. Many times dry rot on the roof can go undiscovered for years. That is why roof tear offs are so important to do and not a recover.
DUTCH GABLE
A combination of a hip style roof and a gable. {see 2}
EAVE
The area of roof that overhangs the lower edge.
EAVE VENTS
Small screens under the eave that allow fresh air to enter the atic.
EXPOSURE
This term is used for the area of roofing material that is exposed to the weather.
FELT
This is some times call "tar paper" and is a moisture barrier to protect the roof deck. This is used in most roofing systems.
FLASHING
A corrosion resistant metal designed to terminate roofing at walls, chimney's or penetrations through the roof. The bare metal before painting would glare in the eyes of a roofer and flashes of sunlight originates this name.
FASCIA
{Fay-sha} The horizontal board attached to the eaves rafter tails.
FIBER CEMENT SHAKES
A class A roofing material designed to look like shakes made with portland light weight cement and wood fibers.
GUTTERS
Rain gutters are attached to the eave of the roof and catch rain water, controling the roof drainage run off.
GABLE
The triangular roof shape at the end of a building {see#3}
HIGH DEFINITION RIDGE
A fiberglass roofing product made for hips and ridges on asphalt shingled roofs
HIP
The convex junction of two adjacent roof plains. {see # 3}
JOIST
A ceiling is nailed to this framing members. These are also used to tie walls together.
LOADING
Delivering the roofing material from the street to the rooftop.
MODIFIED BITUMEN
Low pitch roofing product sold in rolls usually applied with a torch
NOSING or DRIP EDGE
The pre-fold edge metal installed along the eaves and rakes of the roof.
OUTRIGGER
2" x 4" framing to support a barge rafter.
OSB
An alternative to plywood used for roof decking. Oriented Strand Board is made from wood chips oriented and gued in layers. It is heavier than plywood becuase there are no voids. This makes a great roof deck because of it's density and shear value.
PITCH
The slope of a roof. The term four and twelve means four inches of rise in a twelve inch span.
PURLIN
A brace placed in the attic to support the rafters.
PLYWOOD
Sheets of thin flat wood laminated together into four by eight foot sheets used for roof decking.
RAKE
The edge of a gable.
RAFTER
The framework the the roof decking is nailed to.
RIDGE
The top or peak of the roof. {see #4}
ROOF JACK
A corrosion resistant metal covering that seals penetration on roof such as exhaust fans, gas water heater pipes and plumbing venting through the roof.
SOLAR BRACKETS
This term is a homemade term of mine for a hidden bracket that is attached to the roof without holes in your new roofing system.
SOLID SHEETING
This term is for discribing a solid deck that has plywood or OSB on it.
SIDEWALL
Shinglers use this word for a wall with cedar shingles applied to it.
SKIP SHEETING
Typically 1 x 4's spaced ace the roof deck. This sheeting is used when cedar shakes and shingles are installed.
SQUARE
The term square is used as a measurement. 100 sq.ft or ten by ten.
STEP SHINGLES
A corrosion resistant peice of metal that is bent to a 90 degree angle weaved into the shingles at walls, skylights and chimney's.
TAR and GRAVEL
3-plies of roofing material hot mopped in layers to the roof deck primarily on low sloped roofs below 2 and 12. This is covered with gravel to protect the roof material from UV sun rays
TILE
A concrete roofing system with my styles and color.
TUBULAR SKYLIGHT
A natural light system using a reflective tube to carry the light into the home.
TURBINE
This is some times called a whirly-bird and is used to exhaust hot attic air.
UNDERLAYMENT
A deck protection under most roofing systems.
VALLEY
A juction where to roof plains meet and water flows too. {see #5}
VENTILATION
The term is used to discribe the system to provide movement of fresh air into and out the attic.
Z-BAR
This is a termination bar that step shingles are designed to slip under.
Roofing in Sacramento, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Orangevale, Elk Grove, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado Counties.
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