Glossary
Glossary
A
Algae discoloration
A type of roof discoloration caused by algae. Commonly called fungus growth.
Asphalt
A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing.
Asphalt plastic roofing cement
An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials. Also known as flashing cement or mastic; should conform to ASTM D-4586.
B
Back Surfacing
Fine mineral matter applied to the back side of shingles to keep them from sticking.
Balanced system
A ventilation system where 50% of the required ventilating area is provided by vents located in the upper portion of the roof with the balance provided by undereave or soffit vents.
Base flashing
That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.
Blisters
Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing after installation.
Brands
Airborne burning embers released from a fire.
Bridging
A method of reroofing with metric-sized shingles.
Built-up roof
A flat or low-sloped roof consisting of multiple layers of asphalt and ply sheets.
Bundle
A package of shingles. There are 3, 4 or 5 bundles per square.
Butt edge
The lower edge of the shingle tabs.
C
Caulk
To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt cement to prevent leaks.
Cement
See Asphalt plastic roofing cement.
Chalk line
A line made on the roof by snapping a taut string or cord dusted with chalk. Used for alignment purposes.
Coating
A layer of viscous asphalt applied to the base material into which granules or other surfacing is embedded.
Collar
Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.
Condensation
The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.
D
Damper
An adjustable plate for controlling draft.
Deck
The surface installed over the supporting framing members to which the roofing is applied.
Dormer
A framed window unit projecting through the sloping plane of a roof.
Double coverage
Application of asphalt roofing such that the lapped portion is at least two inches wider than the exposed portion, resulting in two layers of roofing material over the deck.
E
Eaves
The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof.
Edging strips
Boards nailed along eaves and rakes after cutting back existing wood shingles to provide secure edges for reroofing with asphalt shingles.
F
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. Also called horsefeathers.
Felt
Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.
Fiber glass mat
An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from glass fibers.
G
Gable
The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.
Gable roof
A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each side of the ridge. Contains a gable at each end.
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.
Gutter
The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.
H
Head lap
Shortest distance from the butt edge of an overlapping shingle to the upper edge of a shingle in the second course below. The triple coverage portion of the top lap of strip shingles.
Hip
The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.
Hip roof
A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides. Contains no gables.
I
Interlocking shingles
Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to provide wind resistance.
M
Mastic
See asphalt plastic roofing cement.
Mineral stabilizers
Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials added to asphalt coatings for durability and increased resistance to fire and weathering.
N
Natural ventilation
A ventilation system utilizing ventilators installed in openings in the attic and properly positioned to take advantage of natural air flow to draw hot summer or moist winter air out and replace it with fresh outside air.
Nesting
A method of reroofing with new asphalt shingles over old shingles in which the top edge of the new shingle is butted against the bottom edge of the existing shingle tab.
O
Organic felt
An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers.
Overhang
That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.
P
Pallets
Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles.
Ply
The number of layers of roofing: i.e. one-ply, two-ply.
Q
Quick-setting cement
An asphalt-based cement used to adhere tabs of strip shingles to the course below. Also used to adhere roll roofing laps applied by the concealed nail method.
R
Racking
Roofing application method in which shingle courses are applied vertically up the roof rather than across and up. Not a recommended procedure.
Rafter
The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate.
Rake
The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall from the eave to the ridge.
Ridge
The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Rise
The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.
S
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.
Shading
Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.
Shed roof
A roof containing only one sloping plane. Has no hips, ridges, valleys or gables.
Single coverage
Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck.
Slope
The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in inches, to the run, in feet.
Soffit
The finished underside of the eaves.
Soil stack
A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.
Span
The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
T
Tab
The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.
Top lap
That portion of the roofing covered by the succeeding course after installation.
U
Underlayment
A layer of asphalt saturated (sometimes referred to as tar paper) which is laid down on a bare deck before shingles are installed to provide additional protection for the deck.
V
Valley
The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes to provide water runoff.
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.
Ventilators
Devices that eject stale air and circulates fresh air (i.e., ridge, roof, gable, undereave, foundation or rafter vents and vented soffit panels.)
W
Woven Valley
Method of valley construction in which shingles from both sides of the valley extend across the valley and are woven together by overlapping alternate courses as they are applied. The valley flashing is not exposed.