Here Are Some Roofing Terms You Should Know
As a licensed roofing contractor and President of Joel's Roofing & Rain Gutter Co Inc., Joel Grusinski feels strongly in the importance of making an educated decision when it comes to repairing or replacing your roof. The following is a comprehensive list of roofing terms posted for your knowledge and benefit. Below are common terms, phrases and definitions associated with residential and commercial roofing. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Deck/sheathing:
The surface, usually plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), to which roofing materials are applied.
Dormer:
A small structure projecting from a sloped roof, usually with a window.
Drip edge:
An L-shaped strip (usually metal) installed along roof edges to allow water run off to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding
Eave:
The horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof.
Fascia:
A flat board, band or face located at a cornice’s outer edge.
Felt/underlayment:
A sheet of asphalt-saturated material (often called tar paper) used as a secondary layer of protection for the roof deck.
Fire rating:
System for classifying the fire resistances of various materials. Roofing materials are rated Class A, B or C, with Class A materials having the highest resistance to fire originating outside the structure.
Flashing:
Pieces of metal used to prevent the seepage of water around any intersection or projection in a roof system, such as vent pipes, chimneys, valleys and joints at vertical walls.
Louvers:
Slatted devices installed in a gable or soffit (the underside of eaves) to ventilate the space below a roof deck and equalize air temperature and moisture. Oriented strand board (OSB): Roof deck panels (4 by 8 feet) made of narrow bits of wood, installed lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and held together with a resin glue. OSB often is used as a substitute for plywood sheets.
Penetrations:
Vents, pipes, stacks, chimneys-anything that penetrates a roof deck.
Rake:
The inclined edge of a roof over a wall.
Sheathing:
The boards or sheet materials that are fastened to rafters to cover a house or building.
Slope:
Measured by rise in inches for each 12 inches of horizontal run: A roof with a 4-in-12 slope rises 4 inches for every foot of horizontal distance.
Square:
The common measurement for roof area. One square is 100 square feet (10 by 10 feet).
Truss:
Engineered components that supplement rafters in many newer homes and buildings. Trusses are designed for specific applications and cannot be cut or altered.
Valley:
The angle formed at the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces.
Vapor retarder:
A material designed to restrict the passage of water vapor through a roof system or wall.
As a licensed contractor and President of Joel's Roofing & Rain Gutter Co Inc., Joel Grusinski wants you to be knowledgeable and informed about the type of roof you have and the type of roof that you may want or need. Our friendly, knowledgeable and courteous staff is here to assist you with making the most informed decision about your roofing needs. call Joel's Roofing & Rain Gutter Co Inc. today at (805) 563-8970 or fill out our estimate request form to schedule a free roof inspection and to get a free estimate and consultation for your roof!