Roofing Glossary of Terms
Not sure what a headlap or water stop is? Have no fear! Trademark Roofing hopes to clarify some of the confusion by supplying you with this glossary of the most commonly used terms. It’s important that you know what work is being done on your house or commercial building and understanding the methods and materials used is crucial.
Back-Nailing: The method of fastening the back or upper side of a ply of roofing felt or other component in a roof system so that the fasteners are covered by the following ply.
Counter flashing: Formed metal sheeting secured to walls, curbs, or other surfaces, for use in protecting the top edge of base flashings from exposure to weather
Cutout: The open area between shingle tabs (sometimes called a throat).
Dimensional Shingle: A shingle that is textured, or laminated to produce a three-dimensional effect (sometimes called Laminated or Architectural Shingles). There are also shingles being produced that can be classified as Dimensional but not as Laminated and these are comprised of a single piece of material rather than two different materials laminated together.
Edge Stripping: Roofing material used to seal perimeter edge metal and the roof itself.
Equipment Screen: A nonstructural wall or screen constructed around rooftop equipment such as HVAC units, curbs, etc. to hide the look of the equipment and make the structure more aesthetically pleasing.
Exposed-Nail Method: A method of installing roofing materials to where all nails/fasteners are visible and exposed to the elements.
Feathering Strips: Strips of wood that are placed along the butt ends of wood shingles to form a somewhat smooth surface so that the shingles can be roofed over without removal.
Flashing: Components or materials used to seal the roof system at areas where the roof covering is interrupted or terminated. For example, pipes, curbs, walls, etc. all have special components that, when correctly installed, will help prevent moisture from entering into the roof system or building.
Fasteners: Nails or staples used in securing roofing to the deck.
Felt: A roofing sheet made of interwoven fibers. The fibers can be wood or vegetable for Organic Felts, glass fibers for fiberglass felts, polyester, or asbestos.
Hand-Tabbing: Applying spots of adhesive to shingle tabs.
Headlap: The distance the topmost ply of roofing felt overlaps the undermost ply.
Interlayment: A waterproof material usually installed between adjacent rows of wood shakes to aid in the roof’s waterproofing characteristics.
Interlocking Shingles: Shingles that lock together to provide wind resistance.
Lap Seam: Where two materials that overlap are sealed together.
Nesting: To overlay existing shingles with new shingles and butt the top edge of the new shingle up against the bottom edge of the existing shingles.
Open valley: Valley installation using metal down the valley center (also called valley metal).
Positive Drainage: The drainage condition of a roof where all water is gone from the roof surface within forty-eight hours of precipitation during normal drying conditions.
Ridge Cap: Material applied over the ridge or hip of a roof.
Self-Sealing Shingle: Asphalt shingles with adhesive strips that will soften and stick to the following course of shingles when heated by the sun; used to help against wind uplift.
Shingle: (1) A single piece of prepared roofing material, either asphalt or wood, for use in steep slope roof systems. (2) To install a wood or asphalt shingle roof system.
Spud: To remove the top surfacing of a roof by scraping it with special tools called spud bars or power spudders.
Strip Shingles: Asphalt shingles that are manufactured in strips
Underlayments: Asphalt based rolled materials designed to be installed under main roofing material, to serve as added protection.
Valleys: Area where two adjoining sloped roof planes intersect on a roof creating a "V" shaped depression.
Water Guard: A turned up edge on valley metal or continuous wall flashing; used to prevent water migration under the roof system.
Water Stop: Material placed over a joint and used to prevent water entry.
Woven Valleys- The method of installing valleys by laying one shingle over the other up the valley center.