Roofing is a world of it’s own and is not without it’s own library of terms. That’s why we’ve compiled a roofing glossary of words that are commonly used in the roofing industry. Whether you want to brush up on your lingo as a roofing professional or you’re looking to better understand roofing for a DIY project, you’ll find every roofing term we could think of and then some. Be sure and let us know if we left something out!
Quick-jump to our lists of roofing terms:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ bg_image_quality=”” video_on_mobile=”No”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_quality=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_image_position=”” bg_image_repeat=””][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Default” title=”A”][vc_column_text]Algae
Rooftop fungus that can leave dark stains on roofing.
Angled Fasteners
Roofing nails and staples driven into decks at angles not parallel to the deck.
Apron Flashing
Metal flashing used at chimney fronts.
ARMA
Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Organization of roofing manufacturers.
Asphalt
A bituminous waterproofing agent used in various types of roofing materials.
Asphalt Concrete Primer
Asphalt based primer used to prepare concrete and metal for asphalt sealant.
Asphalt Plastic Cement
Asphalt based sealant material, meeting ASTM D4586 Type I or II. Used to seal and adhere roofing materials. Also called mastic, blackjack, roof tar, bull.
ASTM
The American Society for Testing and Materials. Organization that sets standards for a wide variety of materials, including roofing.
Granular material added to shingle’s back to assist in keeping separate during delivery and storage.
Base flashing
That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.
Blistering
Bubbles or pimples in roofing materials. Usually moisture related. In shingles blisters are caused by either moisture under the material or moisture trapped inside the material.
Blow-Offs
When shingles are subjected to high winds, and are forced off a roof deck.
Buckling
When a wrinkle or ripple affects shingles or their underlayments.
Built-up
A roof consisting of multiple layers of asphalt and ply sheets, typically flat or low slope.
Butt Edge
The bottom edge of a shingle’s tabs.
A shingle valley installation method where one roof plane’s shingles completely cover the other’s. The top layer is cut to match the valley lines.
Coating
A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded.
Cobra
GAFMC’s respected brand name for ventilation products.
Collar
A pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.
Counter Flashing
The metal or siding material that is installed over roof-top base flashing systems.
Country Mansion
GAFMC’s limited lifetime warranty shingle.
Course
A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.
Crickets
A peaked water diverter installed behind chimneys and other large roof projections. Effectively diverts water around projections.
Cupping
When shingles are improperly installed over an existing roof or are over-exposed, they may form a curl or cup. May also be due to a manufacturing defect.
Cutout
The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”D”][vc_column_text]Deck
The substrate over which roofing is applied. Usually plywood, wood boards, or planks.
Deck Armor
Deck Armor – premium breathable roof deck protection. It provides a critical extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck — to help prevent wind-driven rain (or water from other sources) from infiltrating under your shingles and causing damage to your roof structure or to the inside of your home.
Dormer
A raised roof extending out of a larger roof plane.
Downspout
A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a leader.
Drip Edge
An installed lip that keeps shingles up off the deck at edges, and extends shingles out over eaves and gutters, and prevents
Dubl-Coverage® Mineral Guard
Roll roofing material with 19″ selvage edge for double coverage over roof deck.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”E”][vc_column_text]Eaves
The roof edge from the fascia to the structure’s outside wall. In general terms, the first three feet across a roof is termed the eave.
Eave Flashing
Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water back-up.
Edging Strips
Boards nailed along eaves and rakes after cutting back existing wood shingles to provide secure edges for re-roofing with asphalt shingles.
End Laps
When installing rolled products in roofing, the area where a roll ends on a roof, and is overlapped by the next section of rolled material.
EWA
Engineered Wood Association. Tests and sets standards for all varieties of plywood used in the U.S.
Exposure
The area on any roofing material that is left exposed to the elements.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”F”][vc_column_text]Fasteners
Nails or staples used to secure roofing to the deck.
Feathering Strips
Tapered wood filler strips placed along the butts of old wood shingles to create a level surface when reroofing over existing wood shingle roofs.
Felt
Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.
FHA
The Federal Housing Authority sets construction standards throughout the U.S.
Fiberglass Mat
Fibers condensed into strong, resilient mats for use in roofing materials.
Flange
Metal pan extending up or down a roof slope around flashing pieces. Usually at chimneys and plumbing vents
Flashing
Materials used to waterproof a roof around any projections
Flashing Cement
Sealant designed for use around flashing areas, typically thicker than plastic cement.
Free-Tab Shingles
Shingles that do not contain factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”G”][vc_column_text]Gable
The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.
Gable Roof
Traditional roof style; two peaked roof planes meeting at a ridge line of equal size.
GAFCant
GAFMC cant strips for deflecting water away from flashing areas. Typically used on low slope roofs.
Gambrel Roof
A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each side of the ridge. The lower plane has a steeper slope than the upper. Contains a gable at each end.
Golden Pledge
GAFMC’s strongest limited warranty for shingles. America’s strongest steep slope warranty.
Grand Sequoia
GAFMC shingle with wood shake appearance.
Grand Slate
GAFMC shingle with slate appearance.
Granules
Crushed rock that is coated with a ceramic coating and fired, used as top surface on shingles.
Gutter
The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”H”][vc_column_text]Hand-Sealing
The method to assure sealing of shingles on very steep slopes, in high wind areas, and when installing in cold weather.
High Nailing
When shingles are nailed or fastened above the manufacturer’s specified nail location.
Hip
The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.
Hip Legs
The down-slope ridges on hip roofs.
Hip Roof
A roof with four roof planes coming together at a peak and four separate hip legs.
Hip Shingles
Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”I”][vc_column_text]Ice Dam
When a snow load melts on a roof and re-freezes at the eave areas. Ice dams force water to “back-up” under shingles and cause leakage.
Interlocking Shingles
Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to provide wind resistance.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”L”][vc_column_text]“L” Flashing
Continuous metal flashing consisting of several feet of metal. Used at horizontal walls, bent to resemble an “L”.
Laminated Shingles
Shingles made from two separate pieces that are laminated together. Such as GAFMC Timberline®Series, Country Mansion® and Grand Sequoia®Shingles. Also called dimensional shingles and architectural shingles.
Laps
The area where roll roofing or rolled underlayments overlap one another during application (see also side laps and end laps).
Lap Cement
An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing.
Liberty
Self-adhering low slope roofing. Liberty™ systems are applied without torches, open flames, hot asphalt, or messy solvent-based adhesives.
Low Slopes
Roof pitches less than 4/12 are considered low sloped roofs. Special installation practices must be used on roofs sloped 2/12-4/12. Shingles can not be installed at slopes less than 2/12.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][/toggles][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_quality=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_image_position=”” bg_image_repeat=””][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Default” title=”M”][vc_column_text]Mansard
A roof design with a nearly vertical roof plane that ties into a roof plane of less slope at its peak.
Masonry Primer
An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces for bonding with other asphalt products.
Mats
The general term for the base material of shingles and certain rolled products.
Modified bitumen
Rolled roofing membrane with polymer modified asphalt and either polyester or fiberglass reinforcement.
Mortar
Mixture of sand, mortar, limestone and water used in bonding a chimney’s bricks together.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”N”][vc_column_text]Nail Guide Line
Painted line on laminated shingles, to aid in the proper placement of fasteners.
Nail-Pop
When a nail is not fully driven, it sits up off the roof deck.
Nesting
Installing a second layer of shingles aligning courses with the original roof to avoid shingle cupping.
No-cutout Shingles
Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no cutouts.
NRCA
The National Roofing Contractors Association. Respected national organization of roofing contractors.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”O”][vc_column_text]Open Valley
Valley installation using metal down the valley center.
Organic Mat
Material made from recycled wood pulp and paper.
Organic Shingles
Shingles made from organic (paper) mats.
OSB
Oriented Strand Board. A decking made from wood chips and lamination glues.
Overdriven
The term used for fasteners driven through roofing material with too much force, breaking the material.
Overexposed
Installing shingle courses higher than their intended exposure.
Overhang
That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”Q”][vc_column_text]
Quarter Sized
Term for the size of hand sealant dabs, size of a U.S. 25¢ piece.
Method of installing shingles in a straight up the roof manner.
Rafter
The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate.
Rake Edge
The vertical edge of gable style roof planes.
Release Film
The plastic sheet installed on the back of Weather Watch® and StormGuard underlayments. Used for packaging and handling. Remove before installation.
RidgeThe uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Ridge cap (Ridge Shingles)
Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Rigid Vent
Hard plastic ridge vent material.
Rise
The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.
Roll Roofing
Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form.
Roofing Tape
An asphalt-saturated tape used with asphalt cements for flashing and patching asphalt roofing.
Roof Louvers
Rooftop rectangular shaped roof vents. Also called box vents, mushroom vents, airhawks, soldier vents.
Roof Plane
A roofing area defined by having four separate edges. One side of a gable, hip or mansard roof.
Run
The horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directly under the ridge. One half the span.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”S”][vc_column_text]Saturant
Asphalt used to impregnate an organic felt base material.
Saturated Felt
An asphalt-impregnated felt used as an underlayment between the deck and the roofing material.
Sawteeth
The exposed section of double thickness on Timberline Series shingles – also called dragon teeth. Shaped to imitate wood shake look on the roof.
Self-Sealant
Sealant installed on shingles. After installation, heat and sun will activate sealant to seal the shingles to each other.
Self-Sealing Shingles
Shingles containing factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.
Self-Sealing Strip (or Spot)
Factory-applied adhesive that bonds shingle courses together when exposed to the heat of the sun after application.
Selvage
The non exposed area on rolled roofing. Area without granules. Designed for nail placement and sealant.
Shading
Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.
Sheathing
Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material.
Shed Roof
Roof design of a single roof plane. Area does not tie into any other roofs.
Shingle-Mate
GAFMC’s shingle underlayment. Breather type with fiberglass backing to reduce wrinkles and buckles.
Side Laps
The area on rolled material where one roll overlaps the rolled material beneath it. Also called selvage edge on rolled roofing.
Side Walls
Where a vertical roof plane meets a vertical wall. The sides of dormers etc.
Slope
The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in inches, to the run, in feet.
Soffit Ventilation
Intake ventilation installed under the eaves, or at the roof edge.
Smart Choice Limited Warranty
GAFMC’s standard shingle limited warranty.
Smart Choice® System Plus Limited Warranty
GAFMC’s next grade of enhanced warranty. Extended coverage for owners.
Smooth-Surfaced Roofing
Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules (coated).
Soffit
The finished underside of the eaves.
Soil Stack
A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.
Span
The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Square
A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet. A roof with a field area of 2,500 square feet would be called a 25 square roof.
Starter Strip
The first course of roofing installed. Usually trimmed from main roof material.
Steep Slope Roofing
Generally all slopes higher than 4/12 are considered steep slopes.
Stepflashing
Metal flashing pieces installed at sidewalls and chimneys for weatherproofing.
StormGuard®
GAFMC waterproof underlayment. Film surfaced rolled underlayment, 1.5 squares coverage per roll.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”T”][vc_column_text]Tab
The bottom portion of traditional shingle separated by the shingle cut-outs.
Tear-Off
Removal of existing roofing materials down to the roof deck.
Telegraphing
When shingles reflect the uneven surface beneath them. Ex: Shingles installed over buckled shingles may show some buckles.
Timberline Series
GAFMC’s trademark name for laminated wood shake style shingles.
TIMBERTEX
GAFMC enhanced Hip and Ridge Shingles.
Top Lap
That portion of the roofing covered by the succeeding course after installation.
Transitions
When a roof plane ties into another roof plane that has a different pitch or slope.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”U”][vc_column_text]Underdriven
Term used to describe a fastener not fully driven flush to the shingles surface.
Underlayments
Asphalt based rolled materials designed to be installed under main roofing material to serve as added protection.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”V”][vc_column_text]Valley
Area where two adjoining sloped roof planes intersect on a roof creating a “V” shaped depression.
Vapor
Term used to describe moisture laden air.
Vapor Retarder
Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor.
Vent
Any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such as a pipe or stack. Any device installed on the roof, gable or soffit for the purpose of ventilating the underside of the roof deck.[/vc_column_text][/toggle][/toggles][/vc_column][/vc_row]