Glossary of Roofing Terms
Pacific Roofing Systems takes pride in helping homeowners and businesses like you fully understand their roofing projects for the best possible outcome.
You’ll hear new terms if you’re about to start a roofing project, do research, or already talking to a roofing contractor. The problem is that there’s not much elaboration in articles or even when talking to someone in the roofing industry. Instead of looking up every term you read or hear, we’ve put the most commonly used roofing terms and their definitions here in this glossary.
Glossary of Roofing Terms - System Components
3-tab shingle: An asphalt shingle comprised of a single layer with the exposed area separated by cut-outs into three tabs that are approximately 12 to 13 inches.
Architectural shingle: An asphalt shingle made up of multiple layers. The tabs on these shingles are cut into different sizes and shapes to give the roof a more three-dimensional appearance and are also called dimensional or laminated shingles.
Asphalt shingle: A shingle created by covering a fiberglass mat with an asphalt-based coating, then adding mineral granules to the surface. One of the most common residential roofing materials, it is known for its durability and ease of installation.
Cool roof shingle: Shingles that are specially designed to remain at lower temperatures than traditional, non-reflective shingles when exposed to the sun’s rays may reduce attic temperature and help save on cooling costs.
Cricket: A device that helps divert water around or away from chimneys and other large roof projections.
Designer shingle: Asphalt roofing shingles with the highest-end multidimensional designs made to appear similar to and often called “premium” or “luxury” shingles.
Dimensional shingle: Another name for an architectural shingle.
Drip edge: Rigid material installed at the roof’s edge to keep shingles off the deck, extending them out over eaves and gutters. This helps control the direction of dripping water that could damage underlying components.
Flashing: A material installed around a roof penetration or along an edge to help keep moisture from seeping into the layers below. It can be found along the roof’s perimeter or at penetrations, walls, expansion joints, valleys, drains, and other places where the roofing is interrupted or terminated.
Laminate shingle: Another name for an architectural shingle.
Ridge cap shingles: Material specifically made to cover the peak ridge or hips of the roof.
Roof deck protection: Also known as underlayment, these GAF products are often synthetic or fiberglass-reinforced felts. They provide a water-shedding secondary layer of protection under the final roof covering.
Roof ridge vent: An air slot cut into the roof deck at the highest point on the roof. The vent construction protects the inside from the weather while allowing air to flow freely through the attic.
Roofing felt: A material laid on top of the roof decking to protect the structure underneath is typically made of asphalt-saturated paper or synthetic materials. Similar to the underlayment.
Roofing underlayment: Asphaltic saturated organic or synthetic-based rolled materials are designed to be installed under the primary roofing materials to help shed water and resist weather infiltration. Sometimes referred to as felt.
Shingle: A small roofing material designed to be installed in overlapping rows or courses.
Slope: The steepness of the roof is expressed as a ratio. For example, a 4:12 pitch means a 4″ vertical rise for every 12″ horizontal length.
Solar panels: Racked solar panels (aka modules), which are separate from and on top of your roof, with the panels attached by dozens of roof penetrations
Solar roofing: A roofing system in which the solar is integrated into your home’s roof materials.
Square: A measurement of roof area equal to 100 square feet or enough roofing material to cover 100 square feet of a roof deck.
Starter strip: The first row of roofing is installed at the edge of the eave. They are also installed along the rakes to improve the roof’s wind resistance.
Steep Slope: Roofing consisting of pitches above either 2:12 or 3:12 and higher. This means that for every 12 horizontal inches, the steep-slope rise is three vertical inches or greater.
Tab: The bottom portion of a shingle, where the shingle cut-outs separate the material.
Valley is where two downward-sloping roof sections join, creating a “V” shaped depression.
Vapor retarder: A material used to impede the passage or movement of water vapor and is usually included as a layer during roofing installation.
Glossary of Roofing Terms - Building Components
Attic vent: An opening that allows air, heat, and water vapor to escape from the attic. This helps prevent damage to roofing materials caused by overheating.
Decking: The structural material over which roofing is applied—usually plywood, boards, or planks.
Dormer: A small, raised roof area protruding from the roof plane, usually housing a window.
Eave: The edge of a roof that overhangs the wall.
Fascia: The wood trim around the perimeter of a building, just under the roofing. Often nailed to the ends of trusses or rafters and used to hang gutters.
Gable roof: A traditional roof style in which two roof planes meet at the ridge line.
Hip roof: A roof with four roof planes coming together at a peak and four separate hip legs.
Sheathing: The structural material over which roofing is applied—usually plywood, boards, or planks.
Soffit: The exposed area under a roof eave or overhang.
Vent: An opening that allows air, heat, and water vapor inside a building to escape outside.
Glossary of Roofing Terms - Other
High nailing: When shingles are fastened above the manufacturer’s suggested nailing location.
Ice dam: A mass of ice formed at the roof edge, caused by the refreezing of snow. It can cause ice and water to back up under roofing materials and waterproofing, leading to water damage.
Penetration: Any construction passing through the roofing system, such as vent piping, conduits, and HVAC equipment supports.
Shiner: When shingles are fastened below the manufacturer’s suggested nailing location. This can cause the nail to rust out, leading to water intrusion.
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