Roofing Glossary: Roof Terms in Plain English

Roofing has its own language, and you shouldn't need a dictionary to read your estimate. Here are 51 terms you'll hear from roofers, adjusters and HOA boards in Middle Tennessee, explained in plain English by the crew at Roof Troops.

See a word on your estimate that isn't here? Call us and ask. We'll explain it, no strings attached.

Jump to: A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · L · M · N · P · R · S · T · U · V · W

A

Algae streaks: Dark streaks on a shingle roof caused by blue-green algae (Gloeocapsa magma), common on north facing slopes in humid Middle Tennessee. Cosmetic, not rot. Algae resistant shingles use copper granules to slow it down.
Architectural shingles: Also called dimensional or laminated shingles. Two layers bonded together for a thicker, shadowed look. The standard choice on most Middle Tennessee homes today.
Asphalt shingles: The most common roofing material in the country: a fiberglass mat coated in asphalt and topped with mineral granules.
Attic ventilation: The balance of air coming in low (intake) and leaving high (exhaust). Poor ventilation cooks shingles from below, raises cooling bills, and can void a shingle warranty.

B

Box vent: A square, static exhaust vent near the ridge. Also called a turtle vent or louver.
Bundle: How shingles are packaged. For most architectural shingles, three bundles cover one square (100 square feet).

C

Class 4 shingles: Shingles that passed the UL 2218 impact test, the highest rating, by surviving a two inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet. Some insurers offer a premium credit for them.
Counter flashing: The piece of metal set into or against a wall or chimney that laps over the step or base flashing, so water can't run behind it.
Cricket: A small peaked structure built on the high side of a chimney to split water around it. Also called a saddle.

D

Decking: The plywood or OSB boards nailed to the rafters. Shingles are fastened to the decking. Soft or rotted decking gets replaced during a reroof.
Deductible: The part of an insurance claim you pay yourself. Your roofer should never offer to waive, cover or absorb it.
Depreciation: On an insurance claim, the amount your insurer holds back for the age of the roof. With a replacement cost policy, part of it may be paid after the work is done.
Drip edge: An L shaped metal strip along the eaves and rakes. It directs water into the gutter and protects the edge of the decking.

E

Eave: The lower edge of the roof that hangs past the wall, where gutters attach.
Exposure: The part of each shingle you can see once it's installed. Every other part is covered by the course above.

F

Fascia: The board running along the eave that the gutter is fastened to.
Flashing: Metal pieces that seal joints where the roof meets something else: walls, chimneys, skylights, valleys. Most leaks start at flashing, not shingles.

G

Granules: The colored mineral chips on top of asphalt shingles. They shield the asphalt from the sun. Piles of granules in your gutters can mean the roof is wearing out or took hail.
Gutter guards: Covers or screens that keep leaves out of gutters. They cut down on cleaning, but no guard is truly maintenance free.

H

Hail damage: Bruises, cracks or missing granules left by hail. On shingles it often looks like dark spots that feel soft when pressed.
Hip: The outside angle where two roof slopes meet, running from the ridge down to a corner.
Hip and ridge shingles: Thicker, pre-bent shingles made to cap hips and ridges.
HOA approval: Many subdivision homeowners associations require written approval of shingle style and color before a new roof goes on. Get it in writing before materials are ordered.

I

Ice and water shield: A self sealing waterproof membrane installed in valleys, around penetrations and along eaves. It seals around nails, so water can't get through.
Impact resistant: See Class 4 shingles. A shingle built to take hail better than a standard shingle.

L

Lifetime warranty: On shingles, usually means coverage for as long as the original owner owns a single family home, with full coverage only during the non-prorated period.

M

Metal roofing: Steel or aluminum roofing, most often standing seam or exposed fastener panels. Lasts much longer than asphalt but costs more up front.
Moss: Green growth that holds moisture against shingles and lifts them. More harmful than algae. Most shingle warranties don't cover it.

N

Nail pop: A roofing nail that backs out and lifts the shingle above it, leaving a path for water.
Non-prorated period: The early years of a shingle warranty when the manufacturer pays the full cost of covered material, and sometimes labor, without reducing it for age.

P

Pipe boot: The rubber and metal collar that seals around a plumbing vent pipe. Rubber boots crack in the sun and are one of the most common leak sources we find.
Pitch: How steep a roof is, written as rise over 12 inches of run. A 6/12 roof rises 6 inches for every foot.
Power washing: Spraying a roof with high pressure water. It strips granules and is excluded by several shingle warranties. Algae should be cleaned with a low pressure wash instead.
Prorated: After the non-prorated period, warranty coverage that shrinks each year based on how long the roof has been on.

R

Rake: The sloped edge of a gable roof, running from the eave up to the ridge.
Ridge: The peak of the roof where two slopes meet at the top.
Ridge vent: A continuous exhaust vent cut along the ridge and covered with ridge cap shingles.
Roof inspection: A look at the whole roof system: shingles, flashing, vents, gutters and attic signs of leaks. Ours are free and come with photos.
Roof replacement: Tearing off the old roof down to the decking and installing a new one. For our crews, it takes about 1 day on average.

S

Soffit: The underside of the eave overhang. Soffit vents let fresh air into the attic.
Square: The unit roofers use to measure a roof: 100 square feet of roof surface.
Starter strip: A row of adhesive strip shingles along the eaves and rakes that seals down the first course and helps resist wind uplift.
Step flashing: L shaped pieces of metal woven in with each course of shingles where a roof meets a wall.
Storm chaser: A roofing crew that follows storms from town to town, signs jobs quickly, and leaves. Ask for a local address and Tennessee license.
Synthetic underlayment: A woven polymer sheet installed over the decking under the shingles. Lighter and tougher than old felt paper.

T

Tear off: Removing the old shingles and underlayment before a new roof goes on.
Three tab shingles: Older, flat, single layer shingles with three tabs per strip. Less wind and impact resistant than architectural shingles.

U

Underlayment: The layer between the decking and the shingles that acts as a backup barrier against water.

V

Valley: The inside angle where two roof slopes meet and water runs together. Valleys handle more water than any other part of the roof.

W

Wind rating: The wind speed a shingle is warranted to resist, such as 110 or 130 mph. Higher ratings usually require extra nails and matching starter and ridge products.
Workmanship warranty: The roofer's own promise covering installation errors. It's separate from the manufacturer's shingle warranty. Ours is a lifetime workmanship warranty, in writing.

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