Residential Roof Terminology

The higher the number the steeper the roof.

Residential roof terminology.

A small structure projecting from a sloped roof usually with a window. The surface usually plywood or oriented strand board osb to which roofing materials are applied. The highest fire resistance rating for roofing as per astm e 108 or ulc s107. What is an ice dam.

An l shaped strip usually metal installed along roof. A hip roof is a roof in which four separate roof planes all come together at the top. Ice dams occur when melted snow refreezes near the overhang of a roof blocking the path for water run off and building up a heavy wall of ice. It is the number of inches a roof rises vertically for every 12 inches of travel horizontally.

That part of a roofing waterproofing or flashing component that overlaps or covers any portion of the same or. Occurs where overlapping materials are seamed sealed or. The same roof has a 4 12 or 1 3 pitch. Used for alignment purposes.

A roof is typically referred to for example as a 4 12 or 4 pitch. Roofing terms you should know deck sheathing. An asphalt based roof cement formulated to adhere overlapping plies or asphalt roll roofing. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Pitch this is the slope of the roof. A roof s slope is the number of inches it rises for every 12 inches of horizontal run a roof with a 4 in 12 slope rises 4 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run. Square hip roofs look like pyramids but hip roofs are also found on rectangular homes.