Dormers and Ponding and Rafters, Oh My!

When roofers speak to each other, it can sound like they’re speaking a different language. Here is the most common roofing terminology that you might hear in passing. 

ARMA: The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, a trade association for North American manufacturers of asphalt roofing.

Asphalt: A bituminous waterproofing material applied to roofing materials during manufacture.

Back Surfacing: Fine mineral matter applied to the backside of shingles to keep them from sticking together.

Blisters: Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing after installation.

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

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

Class “A” Fire Resistance: The highest fire test classification for roofing. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class “B” Fire Resistance: Fire test classification that indicates roofing material is able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class “C” Fire Resistance: Fire test classification that indicates roofing material is able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Condensation: The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.

Coverage: The number of layers of material between the exposed surface of the roofing and the deck; i.e., single coverage, double coverage, etc.

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.

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

Exposure: That portion of the roofing exposed to the weather after installation. 

Flashing: Pieces of metal used to prevent seepage of water into a building around any intersection or projection in a roof such as vent pipes, chimneys, adjoining walls, dormers, and valleys.

Gutter: The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.

Ice Dam: Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing and re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can force ponded water up and under shingles, causing leaks.

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

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

Ply: A layer of roofing (i.e., one-ply, two-ply).

Ponding: The accumulation of water after rainfall at low-lying areas on a roof that remains wet when other parts of the roof have dried.

Racking: Roofing application method in which shingle courses are applied vertically up the roof.

Rafter: The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck, sloping from the ridge to the wall plate.

Recovering: The process of adding an additional layer of roofing over an existing layer. A maximum of two layers of any roofing type is permitted on a roof at any time.

Reroofing: The process of removing existing roof coverings and replacing them with a new roofing system.

Roofing Tape: An asphalt-saturated tape used with asphalt cement for flashing and patching asphalt roofing.

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

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

Soil Stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.

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

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.

Now you can speak roofer! Next time you need some help with your roof, call New Look Roof, and don’t be afraid to show off your new vocabulary skills!