Glossary

A

Algae Discoloration: A type of roof discoloration caused by algae or fungus.
Aluminum: Rust proof metal used for metal roofs or in the fabrication of gutters and flashings.
Asphalt: A bituminous waterproofing agent that is applied to various types of roofing materials.

B

Back Surfacing: Granular mineral matter applied to the back side of shingles to keep them from sticking during shipping and storage.

Base flashing: The portion of the roof membrane material that is attached to or resting on the deck; used to seal a roof at intersections and direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.

Blisters: Bubbles caused by moisture under or inside the material and appear on the surface of asphalt roofing.

Buckling: Wrinkles or ripples that may affect your shingles.

Built-up roof: A flat or low-sloped roof that is horizontal or nearly horizontal and consisting of multiple layers of asphalt and ply sheets bonded together.

C

Caulk: To fill and seal a joint with a waterproof filler such as mastic or asphalt cement.

Cement: A building material such as asphalt that is used to seal and adhere roofs and roofing materials.

Class "A": The highest fire-resistance rating indicating the roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to external fire sources.

Class"B": A fire-resistance rating indicating the roofing materials are able to withstand moderate exposure to external fire sources.

Class"C": A fire-resistance rating indicating roofing materials are able to withstand light exposure to external fire sources.

Closed cut valley: A method of valley application where shingles from one plane of the roof completely covers the other.

Coating: A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded.

Collar: A vent sleeve placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening.

Concealed nail method: All nails are driven into the underlying layer of roofing and covered by an overlapping layer of roofing.

Counter flashing: The portion of the flashing that is embedded or attached at the top of a wall or other vertical surface to prevent water from leaking in behind the base flashing.

Coverage: A reference to the number of layers of roofing material that provides weather protection.

Cutout: The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.

D

Double coverage: Applying two complete layers of shingles to a roof.

Downspout: The pipe that drains water from roof gutters.

Drip edge: A strip of non-corrosive, non-staining material (usually metal) that is used along the eaves and rakes to guide water away from the building.

E

Eaves: The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof

Eaves flashing: Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water back-up.

Exposed nail method: All nails are driven into the cemented, overlapping layer of roofing and exposed to the weather.

F
Felt: Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.

Fibreglass roof: Translucent roofs that can also prevent heat loss and are made of high strength glass fibers that last for 30 or more years.

Flashing: Thin pieces of metal or roll roofing installed to prevent the seepage of water into a structure from an intersection, angle, or joint.

G
Gable: The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.

Gable roof: A double sloping roof with a ridge and gables at each end.

Gambrel roof: A type of roof design containing two sloping planes on each side of the ridge and gables at each end.

Granules: Ceramic-coated colored crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products.

Gutter: The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.

H
Hip roof: A type of roof where all four sides slope downwards to the walls at the same pitch.
I
Ice dam: A condition when ice builds up at the lower roof edge or eaves, forcing water up and under shingles that can cause leaks.

Interlocking shingles: Individual shingles that mechanically attach to each other.

L
Laminated shingles: Extra thick strip shingles that contain more than one layer of tabs.

Lap: To cover the surface of one shingles or roll with another.

Lap cement: Asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing.

Low slope application: Asphalt shingles installed on roof slopes between two and four inches per foot.

M
Mansard roof: A style of roof having two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides.

N
Nesting: Reroofing with new asphalt shingles over old shingles where the top edge of the new shingle is pushed up against the bottom edge of the existing shingle tab.

No-cutout shingles: Shingles that have only a single, solid tab with no cutouts.

Normal slope application: Asphalt shingles installed on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot.

O
Open valley: A style of valley construction where shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed back so the metal flashing or other waterproof material is exposed.

P
Pitch: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise vs. the span.

Ply: The number of layers of roofing.

Q
Quick-setting cement: Used to adhere tabs of strip shingles or roll roofing.

R
Rake: The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall.

Random-tab shingles: Shingles with tabs that vary in size and exposure.

Ridge: The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Ridge shingles: Shingles that are used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Rise: The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.

Roll roofing: Asphalt roofing manufactured in roll form.

S
Self-sealing shingles: Shingles with factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.

Selvage: The portion of roll roofing that is overlapped by the next layer to obtain double coverage.

Sheathing: Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material.

Shed roof: A roof that has only one sloping plane.

Single coverage: Only one layer of asphalt roofing over the deck.

Smooth-surfaced roofing: Roll roofing that is coated with ground talc or mica.

Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves.

Soil stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Specialty eaves flashing membrane: Designed especially for your eaves, these self-adhering, waterproofing shingle underlayments protect eaves against water infiltration as a result of ice dams or wind driven rain.

Square: A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.

Square-tab shingles: Shingles with tabs that are all the same size and exposure.

Steep slope application: Asphalt shingles installed on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot.

Strip shingles Asphalt shingles that are approximately three times as long as they are wide.

Tab: The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.

T
Top lap: That portion of the roofing covered by the succeeding course after installation.

Torch-on/Torch-down roofing: A form of roofing that is made from a combination of asphalt and resin, and when welded to your rooftop it is extremely resistant to weather and damage lasting 20 or more years.

U
UL label: A packaging label on asphalt roofing that indicates its level of fire and/or wind resistance.

Underlayment: The material (usually asphalt saturated felt) laid beneath roofing before shingles are applied.

V
Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Vent: Any device installed through the roof that provides an outlet and ventilation of air from the underside of the roof deck.

W
Woven Valley: A style of valley construction whereby shingles from both sides of the valley extend across the valley and are interwoven together.

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