Glossary

Asphalt: Roofing materials often contain asphalt as a waterproofing agent.

Blisters: Asphalt roofing surfaces may have blisters or bubbles on the surface.

Coating: Coating is a layer of viscous asphalt on top of a base material. Surface materials such as granules are embedded into the coating.

Collar: Also known as a vent sleeve, a collar is a flange that goes over a vent pipe to seal the roof near the vent pipe opening.

Cricket: A structure located at the rear of a chimney to prevent snow, ice, and water from accumulating.

Deck: The roof deck is installed over a support frame. The roofing materials are then applied on top of the deck.

Dormer: Dormers are framed window units that project through a sloped roof.

Downspout: The pipe-like part of a rain gutter system which diverts the water to the ground.

Eave: The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof.

Felt: A type of fibrous material saturated with asphalt that is common used sheathing.

Flashing: Galvanized metal or roll roofing material to prevent water from seeping into a building.

Granules: Crushed rock commonly applied to asphalt roofing materials.

Ice dam:  A condition that forms along the lower edge of a roof. Ice dams are caused by melting and re-freezing of snow and ice, and they can force water beneath shingles.

Mineral-surfaced roofing: Asphalt shingles embedded with granules of crushed rocks.

Overhang: The part of a roof which extends beyond the exterior walls of a building.

Pitch: Roof incline is expressed as pitch using the ratio of the rise to the span.

Ply: The number of layers of roofing such as one or two-ply.

Rafter: The supporting structure located beneath the roof deck

Ridge shingles: Shingles used to cover the ridge of a roof.

Roll roofing:  Asphalt roofing products in a continuous roll rather than individual shingles.

Shading: Shingle color variations.

Sheathing: Roof deck material.

Smooth-surfaced roofing: Similar to mineral-surfaced roofing except that instead of crushed rock, the material is covered with ground talc or mica.

Square:  A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.

Underlayment:  Asphalt-saturated felt which is placed underneath roofing in order to better protect the roof deck.

Vent: Any air outlet that protrudes through the roof deck.