Roofing Glossary

• Asphalt – an organic bituminous mixture used in the production of 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 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 – the process of replacing parts of the roof where the new shingles match the previous roof’s form.

• Butt- is the Shingle’s piece 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 water flow by overlapping 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 shingles 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 to provide two total layers of material.

• Dormer – a window unit 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 roof’s edge.

• Eave – the roof’s edge that projects over the outer wall.

• Exposure – the side of the Shingle 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 – implementing shingles on slopes between 2 and four inches per foot.

• Mansard Roof – a good 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 feet to ensure 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 of 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 the material seems exclusively applied when installed.

• 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.