A Glossary Of Common Roofing Terms

Every industry has its language and terms. These words and phrases can be confusing to anyone who is not part of the daily operations of a specific sector, and the roofing business is no exception.  There are countless roofing terms related to types of roofing, roofing services, measurements, and much more.

To help you understand the roofing terms, acronyms, and phrases regularly used during roof installations and repair, Stonehaven Roofing has created this handy reference guide of roofing terms and industry jargon. Here you’ll find valuable information allowing you to comprehend and communicate your roofing needs effectively.

Built-up roofing
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association defines a built-up roofing system as a roof where multiple layers of asphalt alternated with ply sheets (felts) are applied over the roof deck and most often over the insulation attached to the roof decking.

Roof cricket
A roof cricket is a second roof built on top of the primary roof to increase the slope of the roof or valley. It is generally a saddle-shaped, double triangle structure built behind a chimney to divert water around it properly.

Deck or sheathing
A roof’s sheathing is simply a board that is nailed to rafters, trusses, or roofing joists, covering them from the elements. It can also be fiber materials applied to the outer studs, joists, and rafters to strengthen the structure and serve as a base for exterior weatherproof cladding.

Drip edge
This is a type of metal flashing installed at the roof’s edges to keep water away from your fascia and from getting underneath roofing components. If your roof doesn’t have a drip edge, water gets behind your gutters and rots out the entire thing.

Eave
An eave is the border or edge of a roof that overhangs the face of a wall. This is the portion of the roof that protrudes beyond the side of a house or building.

Fascia
The fascia is the attractive board along the side of the overhang and the roof that helps your roof appear finished.

Flashing
Flashing is a thin sheet or strip of water-resistant material that’s installed at roof intersections and projections. It is to prevent the passage of water around objects.

Gable
The gable is the generally triangular portion or A-shaped sidewall of the home that forms the roof’s peak.

Rake
Rake is a term that describes the slope of the roof at the end of a gable.

Ridge
The ridge is the upper horizontal line of the roof that joins at the junction of the upper edge of two sloping roof surfaces.

Pitch
Pitch is the number of inches of vertical rise in a roof per twelve inches of horizontal distance.

Soffit
Soffit refers to the underside of an architectural structure such as an arch, a balcony, or overhanging eaves.

Square
Roof surfaces are measured in “squares.” A roofing square is equal to one hundred square feet of the roof.

Valley
The valley is the area of the roof where two sloping roof sections meet.

Underlayment
Roofing underlayment lies between the shingles and the roof sheathing, or roof deck, which is typically either plywood or OSB. Its purpose is to provide a secondary layer of protection from the elements, including rain, snow, and wind.

We hope that this list of roofing terms and definitions was helpful to you.  If you’re looking for a residential or commercial roofing company in Orlando, Florida, reach out to the experts at Stonehaven Roofing. We’re confident in our skills to handle any project, and it is our goal to help you feel the same. Your commercial project or home is vital to us, and so we make sure to deliver exceptional services from beginning to end. Our roofing services are available to clients across Orlando, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Cape Canaveral, West Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Malabar, Port Saint John, Indian Harbour Beach, Brevard County, and the surrounding areas.

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