Roofing Glossary

Roofing Information, Roofing Terms and Roofing Descriptions written and compiled by Top Cat Roofing.

A

Aggregate: A surface covering or ballast for a roof system. Can be rock, stone,crushed stone, gravel, or other stone medium.

Algae discoloration: A type of roof discoloration caused by algae. Commonly called fungus growth.

Alligatoring: The cracking of a roof surface that resembles alligator skin.

Apron Flashing: The piece of flashing located a the bottom, or low end of a penetration.

Architectural shingle: see dimensional shingle.

ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials. A voluntary organization concerned with development of consensus standards, testing procedures and specifications.

Asphalt: A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing. a substance left as residue after processing petroleum products.

Asphalt roofing cement: Also know as tar. An asphalt-based cement used to bond roofing materials. Also known as flashing cement, bull, blackjack, masticor others. should conform to ASTM D4586.

B

Base flashing: That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.

Base sheet: Underlayment. Sometimes used as the dry in. Meant to have other roofing products installed over it.

Base ply: The first layer of roofing in a multi layer system.

Back Nailing: Method of fastening the upper portion of a material so thet the nails are covered by the following course or ply.

Ballast: A loose laid material installed over roof membranes to hold it in place. Usually some sort of rock or gravel.

Batten: A strip of wood, Typically 1"x 2", attached to the roof deck to hold the Primary roof covering. Commonly used in tile roofing.

Blind nailing: A method of nailing roofing products so that the nail is not exposed to the weather. See back nail.

Blisters: Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing after installation. Usually associated with flat roofing where air is trapped under roofing, In extreme cases, blisters can be filled with water.

Brands: Airborne burning embers released from a fire.

Built-up roof: A flat or low-slope roof consisting of multiple layers of hot tar & tar paper (asphalt and ply sheets).

BUR: means Built Up Roof.

Bundle: A package of shingles. There are 3, 4 or 5 bundles per square.

Butt edge: The lower edge of the shingle.

Butt Joint: Where two shingles or other adjacent roof material abut. Side joint.

Butt Up Method: Or The Butt Up Method. The proper way to shingle over existing shingles. The new shingles are laid in a way that the top of the new shingles butts up against the bottom of the old ones. By doing so, the shingles lay flat with no air gaps below. Shingles must be of the same size as the old ones, as the old pattern determines the new one.

Bond line: 2 lines marked vertically on the roof deck 6" apart that mark the side of three tab shingles. It is the pattern to which the shingles are laid. Has nothing to do with dimensional shingles.

Boot: Or Pipe Boot, is a prefabricated piece of flashing used around a pipe that penetrates the roof deck. Usually lead, but can be rubber, neoprene or other flexible material.

Boston hip: Or boston Gable. A type of hip roof with a small gable in it. Contains both hip & gable elements.

C

Cap: Shingles (or other material) used to cover ridges or hips. On shingle roofs, caps typically are made of three tab shingles that are cut into 3 pieces with each piece or "tab" being a single cap, but some manufacturers make dedicated cap shingles. Every type of roof material has it's own caps. Cement tile has dedicated caps that are usually mortored in place (may also be nailed to a ridge board), metal roofs use long sections of metal bent to the proper pitch, wood uses field shingles with the seams alternated, slate has dedicated caps installed like wood shingle cap.

Cap sheet: Roofing material, usually roll roofing that is exposed to the weather. Top ply of a multi ply system.

Cap flashing: Top piece of flashing. coping.

Cat: A piece of wood framing between 2 rafters or trusses. Also can mean a cool guy or a great roofer (as in Top Cat).

Cat walk: A narrow walk board usually made of wood or metal. More than just a plank. Typical wood construction would be a plywood top 9" -12" wide with 2"x framing below and cats between every 2' or so.

California cut: A method of valley treatment. The shingles on one side of the valley are run past the valley center line, shingles from the other side are laid on top and then cut along the valley line. Flashing is not exposed.

Cant: A piece of material used to "Soften" the transition between wall & Deck. Creates a 45 degree angle so roofing material can run up the wall. Used in Flat roof applications.

Caulk: To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt cement to help prevent leaks.

Cement: in the roofing world usually means tar (or a type of tar), but can refer to actual cement (most roof tiles are made of cement).

Chalk line: A string in a reel container filled with chaulk. String or cord dusted with chalk that can be snapped on the roof to create a line. Used as a guide or for alignment purposes.

Class "A": The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing as per ASTM E108. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class "B": Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class "C": Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Clipped gabe: A gable that is cut back at the ridge to form a small hip.

Closed cut valley: A method of valley treatment in which shingles from one side of the valley extend across the valley, while shingles from the other side lap over them. The top layer is trimmed along the valley centerline. Also know as a "California cut:" The valley flashing is not exposed.

Collar: Form of counter flashing associated with flu's or pipes. Pre-formed flange placed over a vent or flu pipe to seal the roof around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.

Cold Process: or cold process built up roof, is a roof consisting of multiple plies of roof felts or roll roofing laminated together with adhesives that usually come right out of a can or barrel and require no heating. Alternative to Hot Tar roofing.

Concealed nail method: Application of roofing in which all nails hidden from view. Nails are driven into the underlying course of roofing and covered by overlapping course. Nails are not exposed to the weather.

Continuous flashing: Method of flashing a vertical surface that meets a sloping roof plane by using long lengths of "L" flashing. Requires tar to seal the shingles to the flashing. Usually not recommended unless applied in the horizontal. Step flashing is preferred.

Coping: piece of material or flashing used to cover the top of a wall. Can be made of various materials.

Cornice: A bit of a catch all term to describe the more ornamental aspects of fascia or trim, as opposed to the functional parts. Usually exterior. For example, some houses with wood fascia have a triangular piece attached at the bottom end of a gable fascia, sometimes with curves or angles particular to that house that were created by the original carpenter.

Counter flashing: Flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from getting behind the base flashing.

Course: A horizontal row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.

Coverage: Usually means the square footage a given material covers.

Cricket: several meanings in Florida: 1- A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney to deflect water around the chimney. 2- A triangular shaped piece of wood installed at the bottom of a dead valley to create a slight pitch.

Cutout: Commonly known as Keyways. The open portions of a 3 tab (strip) shingle between the tabs.

Crows' foot: A reference mark in the shape of a "V", The point of which is the exact spot to be referenced.

Curb: A frame used to mount rooftop components or equipment such as skylights, exhaust fans, vents, and A/c units. Can be pre-fabbed, or built on site.

D

Damper: An adjustable plate for controlling draft.

Deck: The substrate the shingles are nailed to (or roofing is applied to). The surface installed over the trusses or rafters. Usually (but limited to) plywood, OSB, Tongue & groove boards, or planks.

Delamination: Separation of laminated layers.

Dimensional shingle: Or Architectural shingles. Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs laminated together to create extra thickness.

Disappearing course: A mistake. Situation where a shingle course is off pattern or not parallel to the ridge, and ends, or disappears mid course. Usually but not always at the ridge. Probably will function fine, just looks bad.

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.

Downspout: A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a leader.

Drip edge: Also known as Eave Drip. A material (usually metal) used along the edge of the roof to allow water runoff to drip clear of underlying construction.

Dry in: refers to the application of felt, tar paper or other base sheet to the roof deck to keep it weather tight after stripping it. The first step in the re-roof process after removing the old roof.

Dry rot: Rot caused by certain fungi. If the water source continues, the rot will spread.

valley that has no pitch. Created at the bottom of two parallel roof planes that intersect. Typically, a cricket is installed in a dead valley to create pitch & drain water in the desired direction.

Double duce: Method of nailing a small shingle (usually 4"- 6") along a gable end in which 4 nails are used. 2 high, 2 low.

Dutch hip: A type of hip roof with a small gable in it similar to a boston hip, but the top of the gable end sticks out further than the lower end.

E

Eaves: The horizontal, lowest edge of a sloped roof. Usually extends beyond the exterior wall creating an overhang.

Eave closure: Metal strip, similar to drip edge, that closes the openings in the first course of a tile roof. Can be used to lift the first course so it sits at the same angle as the other courses.

Elastomer: A material which after being stretched, will return to it's original shape.

Elastomeric coating: A coating that will stretch to twice it's dimensions, and return to it's original size when tension is released.

Especiale: A very nice gift given to a roofing contractor by a roofing supply company or one of it's employees.

Exposure: Part of the shingle or roof material that is exposed to the weather.

Exposed nail method: Application of roll roofing in which all nails are driven into the cemented, overlapping course of roofing. Nails are exposed to the weather.

Exposure I grade plywood: Type of plywood approved by the American Plywood Association for exterior use.

F

Fascia: Horizontal material at the bottom end of rafters or trusses. Forms bottom the edge of the roof. Can be thought of creating the "facing" of the roof edge. Can be wood, or wood covered with metal, or other material. The framing under the fascia is called the Sub Fascia.

Fastener: Usually refers to nail or screw used to attach or "Fasten" roof material, but there are many types of fasteners.

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

Feilak Factor: Refers to doubling the estimated time to complete a job when working for a "very involved" customer.

Field: Refers to the main area of a roof as opposed to edges or ends. "in the Field", Field shingles vs. cap shingles.

Fiberglass mat: An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from glass fibers.

Fishmouth: An opening along the exposed edge of roll roofing caused by lack of adhesion . Edge wrinkle. Can be thought of as half a blister.

Flash: Or to flash. To install flashing.

Flashing: Material used to prevent seepage of water into a building around any intersection, projection or penetration in a roof such as vent pipes, chimneys, skylights, adjoining walls, dormers and valleys. Usually refers to metal bent in an "L" shape, but can be flat or other materials such as roll roofing used as valley flashing, or neoprene used around vent pipes.

Flashing cement: Tar. Also see "asphalt roofing cement".

Free-tab shingles: You probably mean "Three tab shingles", but the obsolete meaning is shingles that do not contain factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive. Not allowed in Florida, probably not even manufactured anymore (as of 2013).

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 a sloping plane on each side of a single ridge with 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. Features a gable at each end. Commonly seen on barns.

Granules: Ceramic-coated colored crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of shingles or other asphalt roofing products. Purpose is to protect the roofing material from the sun.

Granule loss: As you would expect, refers to the loss of granules from shingles or roofing products. Under normal circumstances happens with age, but can be resulting damage from such things as tree branches rubbing, aggressive power washing, foot traffic etc.

Gravel stop: A certain kind of drip edge with a raised edge to keep the gravel on built up roofs.

Gravity hater's club: Club in which any roofer (or other tradesman) is automatically enrolled in after falling off a roof.

Gutter: The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts. Installed over the fascia, & under drip edge if possible.

H

Head lap: Or Top Lap. Top of shingle. Top portion that gets covered by the shingle on top of it. Distance from the butt edge of an overlapping shingle to the upper edge of a shingle in the course below. The triple coverage portion of the top lap of strip shingles. Can also refer to same lappage of other shingles.

Half Lap: when a material is lapped halfway onto the previous course, creating a double layer of material. Usually refers to a roll roofing application. EG: on low slope roofs, tar paper must be "half lapped", creating a lap of approximately 18" vs. the normal lap of 2'-3".

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 or section of roof that has hips at its ends instead of gables. In this case, instead of a gable end, the end wall of the house has a roof plane that slopes back toward the ridge like the others creating a pyramid like shape. In fact, a square house with a hip roof would create a 4 sided pyramid. Hips are typically the same pitch, but do not have to be. Roofs may contain Hips & gables, as well as other styles.

Hip Rafter:Framing member that forms the hip line. Goes from wall corner (outside corner) to ridge. When viewed from above, a hip roof forms a triangle. The actual hip line (or hip rafter) is the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Hip caps: Same as caps, or ridge caps. Shingles used to cover the hip line, or "The Hip" as it is referred to by roofers.

Hot: Roofer slang for Hot tar.

HVAC: Acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

I

Ice dam: Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing and refreezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can force water up and under shingles, causing leaks. Not really applicable in Florida.

Interlocking shingles: Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to each other to provide wind resistance.

Interlocking shingles: See T Lock.

J

J channel: Or simply "J". Material, usually metal, formed into a channel or "C" shape that holds the soffit material, creating a secure, finished edge.

Jack: See Roof Jack.

Joist: Framing member for floors or ceilings.

K

Key To Great Roof: Hire Top Cat Roofing and Enjoy!

Keyway: The cutouts in 3 tab shingles. When installed, all the keyways should line up perfectly, and be parallel to any gable ends.

Knop: A small knob or round protuberance. Sometimes used on the caps of tile roofs. Ornamental.

L

"L" flashing: Metal flashing bent in an "L" shape to flash any wall or other vertical surface that meets the roof. Typically 4" x 5" and come in 10 lengths, but dimensions vary. Can also be made on site. "L" flashing is cut into 7" or 8" pieces When used for step flashing (depending on shingle used).

Laced: also known a "Weaved". Woven or lapped back and forth.

Ladder jack: Metal bracket that attaches to a ladders rungs and supports a plank or walk board.

Laminated shingles: Dimensional or Architectural shingles. Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs laminated together to create extra thickness.

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

Lap cement: An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of roll roofing. Tar.

Low slope: Roofs with pitches of 4/12 or less (4 inches of rise in 12" of run).

Low slope application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4/12 & 2/12 (two and four inches per foot).

Louver: A slanted opening for ventilation.

M

Mansard roof: A type of roof with a flat (or near flat) top & steeply pitched sides (usually much smaller than the top), often approaching vertical. Includes no gables.

Masonry primer: An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces for bonding with other asphalt products.

Mastic: See asphalt plastic roofing cement.

Mechanic: Refers to a tradesman who really knows his craft.

Mechanically fastened membrane: A roof membrane that is attached to the deck with some kind of fastener (like nails).

Milk Man: A guy who "Milks" or takes a long time doing a specific task or job.

Mineral stabilizers: Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials added to asphalt coatings for durability and increased resistance to fire and weathering.

Mineral-surfaced roofing: Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are covered with granules.

Metal valley: Valley flashing. Can be flat (bent to fit on site), or "W" shaped (usually used on tile roofs).

Metal edging: Drip edge. Mechanical damage: Damage to a roof by means of puncture or impact.

Membrane: A thin pliable sheet. A ply of roofing material.

Modified bitumen: A bitumen modified by one or more polymers to achieve certain properties.

Mop: Mopping. to apply hot liquid tar with a mop.

Mop and flop: A roofers term where the backside of a roofing material is mopped, then flipped over and into place.

N

Nail pattern: Refers to the pattern in which nails are applied to roofing materials.

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: Properly known as "The Butt Up Method". 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.

Net Free Vent Area (NFVA): Area unobstructed by screens, louvers or other materials.

No-cutout shingles: Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no cutouts. Also known as strip shingles.

Non-veneer panel: Any wood-based panel that does not contain veneer and carries an APA span rating, such as wafer board or oriented strand board.

Normal-slope application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot.

O

Open valley: Method of valley construction in which shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line snapped on each side of the valley. Shingles do not extend across the valley. Valley flashing is exposed.

Organic felt: An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from cellulose fibers. Old version of tar paper.

Overhang: That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.

P

Pattern: The designed formed by the shingles when properly installed.

Pattern lines: Lines used as a guide when installing shingles or other roofing.

Pythagorean theorem: Formula for finding properties of a right triangle. a2 + b2 = c2, "c" being the hypotenuse. Very useful in construction & estimating.

Pallets: Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles or other materials.

Parapet Wall: The portion of a perimeter wall that extends above the surface of the roof.

Penetration: Any object that pierces the roof deck.

Peel and Stick: A roll roofing product with a removable backing that will stick to the deck. Comes in base and cap sheets.

Pitch: Two meanings in roofing: 1- The amount of rise in a level unit of run. For example, a 5 in 12 pitch roof will rise 5 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal distance (or "run"). this would be spoken as a 5/12 pitch. A 6 in 12 pitch roof would rise 6 inches for every foot of run, and be referred to as a 6/12 pitch. 2- Short for Coal tar pitch. Used in hot tar roofing. a form of tar.

Pitch pocket: Or Pitch Pan is flanged flashing installed around a roof penetration that is then filled with pitch (coal tar pitch, a form of tar) to seal the penetration from moisture or water leakage. Can be problematic, but good for irregular shapes. Usually used on flat roofing applications.

Pipe Boot: A prefabricated piece of flashing used around a pipe that penetrates the roof deck. Usually lead, but can be rubber, neoprene or other flexible material.

Ply: The numbers of layers or plies of roofing, EG: one ply, two ply, three ply.

Purlin: Horizontal framing installed on top of rafters or trusses to support roofing. usually used in wood or metal roofing, but also used for tile, slate and others. Used in a situation where there is no solid rood deck. Generally an old school application.

Ponding: The accumulation of water in low lying areas of a flat roof.

Positive drainage: The drainage condition of a roof where all water is gone from the roof surface within 48 hours after precipitation during normal drying conditions.

PVC: polyvinyl chloride.

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. used in application of 3 tab shingles. Not a recommended procedure for dimensional shingles.

Rafter: The framing member that supports the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate. Part of the structures' skeleton.

Rag: Roofer slang for membrane, an asphalt saturated cloth used to give strength to tar or plastic cement when waterproofing a joint or edge. Referred to as "Tar and Rag". Similar to using tape on a drywall joint.

Rake: The end of a gable roof slope. The outer edge of the first or last rafter.

Rake caps: Caps used in a tile roof that are specifically designed to be installed on the rakes.

Rain turtle: is a line drawing of a turtle drawn on the ground or deck. When a certain number of rain drops fall inside the turtle, it is time to stop working.

Random-tab shingles: Shingles on which tabs vary in size and exposure.

Release tape: A plastic or paper strip that is applied to the back of self-sealing shingles. This strip prevents the shingles from sticking together in the bundles and need not be removed for application.

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

Ridge shingles: Or ridge caps. Shingles used to cover the ridge.

Ridge vent: A vent at the ridge, or peak of the roof. Typically passive (no motor or fan) that works in conjunction with vented soffits.

Rick: A term reserved for a roofer of extraordinary talent, as in "A Rick in time saves nine", "Time to Rick and Roll", "That's some Tricky Ricky Roofin!! " or "Get a Rick, and get it done."

Rise: Vertical distance in a system or formula. When calculating pitch, the rise refers to how many inches the roof rises in a 12" horizontal distance (or foot of run). Can also be the distance from the eaves line to the ridge or any other vertical measurement.

Roll roofing: Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form.

Roofing cement: Tar. A compound used to seal flashings, seal down shingles and for other small waterproofing jobs. Where cement is required for sealing down shingles, use a dab about the size of a quarter unless otherwise specified.

Roofing tape: See "Rag" Can laso be a relatively thin peel and stick product, usually 4"-6".

Roof tile: Tiles used as a roofing material over a roll roof base. Commonly cement, but come in many materials such as clay, plastic, or metal.

Rub damage: Damage to shingles or roof material due to being rubbed. Usually by tree branches.

Run: A horizontal distance in a system or formula. Also course of shingles (or other roofing). When calculating pitch, the run is always 12". How many inches the pitch rises in that 12" is the pitch (4" in 12", 5' in 12" etc...). When referring to the entire roof, it is the distance from the eaves to a point directly under the ridge. One half the span. Can also be an individual horizontal course of shingles or other roofing.

Roof slope: See Pitch.

Roof Jack: A steel bracket that is fastened to the roof to support cat walks, planks or toe boards. Usually used in steep roofing.

S

Saddle: See cricket.

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.

Self-sealing cement: Also known as a Sealing Strip. A thermal-sealing tab cement built into the shingle to firmly cement the shingles together automatically after they have been applied properly and exposed to warm sun temperatures. In warm seasons, the seal will be complete in a matter of days. In colder seasons, sealing time depends on the temperature and amount of direct sunlight hitting the shingles. Hand sealing with cement should be done to ensure sealing in winter.

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: Or Selvage lap. That portion of roll roofing overlapped by the succeeding course to obtain double coverage.

Self adhering Membrane: Also known as Peel & Stick. A material (usually roll type) whose bottom layer will stick to the roof deck by means of a removable backing.

Shading: Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result of normal manufacturing operations.

Shadow line: Intentional color variation intended to give the illusion of depth or greater texture to dimensional shingles.

Sheathing: Exterior-grade boards used as a roof deck material. Can be plywood, OSB, tongue and groove, 1"x planks, or other material.

Shed roof: A roof containing only one sloping plane. Has no hips, And usually has no valleys.

Skylight: A window in the roof.

Shiner: Term used to describe an exposed nail in a hidden or blind nail application like shingles. Also known as a low nail.

Single coverage: Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing material over the deck.

Side lap: Refers to the amount a given material laps the material to it's side, right or left. (lap onto adjacent material).

Sill Flashing: Flashing used to waterproof under a door or window. Sometimes bent into a seamless pan.

Single ply roofing: Roof covering where the roof consists of one layer of material.

Slope: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the vertical rise, in inches, to the horizontal run, in inches.

Slating hook: A hook shaped device used to secure roofing slate.

Smooth-surfaced roofing: Roof material that has no granules or aggregate to protect it from the sun. Usually requires painting. Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc or mica instead of granules (coated).

Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves / overhangs. Can be wood, aluminum, vinyl, or other material.

Soffit vent: or vented soffit. Soffit that lets air pass through it by means of perforations, slots or screens. Works in conjunction with ridge vents, gable vents, other passive roof vents, or power roof vents.

Soil stack: Also known as soil pipe. A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

Span: The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

Spud: Process by which the gravel is removed from a tar & gravel (BUR) roof to expose the mopped felts below. Usually to repair. Tool used is a spud bar, a blade on a long handle.

Specialty eaves flashing membrane: A self-adhering, waterproofing shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due to ice dams or wind-driven rain.

Speed square: Triangular shaped tool used for finding or calculating angles or squares. Has many uses for the carpenter or roofer who knows how to use it.

Standing seam: Typically a type of metal roof panel that has a vertical seam where the panels interlock. Usually a hidden or blind nail application.

Stair step: Method of installing dimensional shingles.

Steep slope: Technically a 21/12 pitch or greater, but commonly known to as roofers as that is not walkable. A roof over an 8/12 or 9/12 pitch.

Straight up method: See Racking.

Square: A 10' x 10' area. 10' x 10' = one Square. A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.

Squared up: Having the shingles, or other material at a right angle to the bottom edge of the roof. Can be done with the "3, 4, 5" method whereby 2 lines can be drawn at a 90 degree angle when one is 3", the other is 4", and the outside ends are exactly 5" apart. Can be done in feet or multiples of 3.4.5 as well.

Square-tab shingles: Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.

Starter strip: or starter course. Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the first course of shingles.

Steep-slope application (Mansard): Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes greater than 21 inches per foot.

Step flashing: Flashing method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. Requires no tar or sealer. Each shingle course gets it's own piece of flashing, and is installed in a lap fashion just like the shingles. Application is shingle, flashing, shingle flashing, etc. Each piece of flashing should be long enough so that each piece laps the one below by at least two inches. Quality alternative to continuous flashing. Commonly used in many types of roofing such as slate, tile and more.

Strip shingles: A single-layer shingle commonly known as a three-tab shingle because it has three tabs.

T

Tar: Sticky, gooey petroleum product used in waterproofing. Barely liquid. Can be naturally occurring.

Tar ASTM DEFINITION: A brown or black bituminous material, liquid or semi-solid in consistency, in which the predominating constituents are bitumens obtained as condensates in the processing of coal, petroleum, oil-shale, wood, or other organic materials.

Tar and rag: See rag: Roofer slang for membrane, an asphalt saturated cloth used to give strength to tar or plastic cement when waterproofing a joint or edge. Referred to as "Tar and Rag". Similar to using tape on a drywall joint.

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

Talc: See back surfacing.

Tapered system: Tapered insulation boards designed to give a slight pitch to a flat roof.

Telegraphing: A shingle distortion that may arise when a new roof is applied over an uneven surface.

Tear off: To remove a shingle roof or other roof system down to the deck.

Termination Bar: Known as Term Bar. A metal strip used to secure the edge or end of a roofing membrane, usually on a wall (or other vertical surface).

Terra cotta: Ceramic clay used in building materials like roof tiles. Also a color.

Thermal movement: Movement of materials due to temperature changes. In Florida, expansion due to extreme heating is a big issue.

Three-dimensional shingles: See laminated shingles.

Three-tab shingle: A single-layer shingle having two cutouts (keyways) that create three tabs. Shingle actually has a half of a keyway on each side so that when it's laid next to another shingle, they create a whole keyway and therefore a consistent pattern.

Through wall flashing: Known as a scupper. A flashing that goes through a wall to direct water. A drain.

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

Toe board: Board or plank normally used at the bottom edge of the roof.

Tie in: The joining of shingles or other roof materials. Sometimes used to describe joining one roof area to another, or when the materials meet from different directions.

Torch down: Method of applying certain roll roofing products. Uses a propane torch to melt the product so it adheres to the base sheet resulting in a nail free attachment.

Top Cat: The boss. Or the best roofer in town.

T lock shingles: Certain type of asphalt shingle that interlocks with adjacent shingles. Obsolete.

U

UL: Underwriters Laboratories, LLC.

UL label: Label displayed on packaging to indicate the listing for fire and/or wind resistance of asphalt roofing.

Undereave: Underside area of the overhang at the eave of the roof. Also known as soffit.

Underlayment: A material laid over the roof deck prior to installing the primary roof material. Classically, a layer of roofing felt (tar paper), which is laid down on a roof deck before shingles are installed. Also known as the Dry in. Provides weather protection during the roofing process, and a secondary barrier if water gets past the shingles.

Uplift: an upwards pressure put on a roof surface due to wind and pressure.

Upsom Board: A Cardboard type material used for soffit & Fascia as an option to wood. No longer used locally in Florida.

V

Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes at an inside corner. Collects water runoff.

Vapor retarder: Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor. Material which, when installed on the high-vapor-pressure (warm in winter) side of a material, retards the passage of moisture vapor to the lower-pressure (cold in winter) side. Note exception: Florida and Gulf Coast. Check local building codes to determine on which side the vapor retarder should be placed.

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.

Vent stack: Pipe that goes through the roof to vent the plumbing drain / waste system. Without letting air into the waste system, the sinks & toilettes would not drain (Like holding liquid in a straw by keeping your finger over one end).

Vent sleeve: See collar.

Ventilators: Devices that eject stale air and circulate fresh air (e.g. ridge, roof, gable, undereave, foundation or rafter vents and vented soffit panels).

W

Woven valley: Or weaved 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.

Waste: unusable shingle cutoffs, or other roofing material.

Walk board: Fabricated board used in scaffolding or on jacks for standing access. usually means more than just a plank. Can be wood or metal. Also known as a cat walk.

X

Xis: The 14th letter of the Greek alphabet.

Y

Yam: Sweet potato. Starchy Tuberous root favored by roofers in Florida because it's color resembles heavily tanned skin.

Z

Zillion: The amount of gallons of sweat an honest roofer produces during an average Florida Summer.

Number definitions:

3,4,5: A method of finding a true right angle used by carpenters and roofers. Refers to drawing a triangle where one side is 3 inches long, the other is 4 inches long, and the third side (or hypotenuse of the triangle) is 5 inches long. Can also be done in feet instead of inches, or multiples of 3,4,5. Usually used when you need a line at a right angle to the roof edge. Used when figuring a pattern. also known as Squared up.

15 lb.: Tar paper. Also known a 15 lb. felt.

30 lb.: Tar paper, twice as thick as 15lb.

43lb.: Base sheet, similar to tar paper. used as underlayment. May have fiberglass mat.

75lb: Base sheet. similar to tar paper, but usually made with a fiberglass mat.

90 Lb.: Cap sheet. Granulated asphalt roll roofing product.

160: Torch down roll roofing product. Ungranulated. can be a mid ply or a cap sheet sheet.

180: Torch down roll roofing product with a granular surface. Cap sheet.