Roof Repair Glossary of Terms

Algae

Fungus that grows on your roof that leaves stains.

 

Angled Fasteners

Nails and staples for roofs that are driven in at angles which are not parallel to your deck.

Apron Flashing

Metal flashing used on chimneys.

 

ARMA

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. The big main organization of roofing manufacturers.

 

Asphalt

A waterproofing compound used in many types of roofing materials.

 

Asphalt Concrete Primer

Primer based on asphalt that is used to prepare concrete and metal for sealant.

 

Asphalt Plastic Cement

Sealant material based on Asphalt, meeting ASTM D4586 Type 1 and 2. Primarily used to adhere roofing materials.

 

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials. The organization that sets the standards for roofing materials.

 

Back Surfacing

Material added to shingles to assist in keeping them separated during storage.

 

Blistering

Bubbles in roofing materials. Typically caused by moisture.

 

Blow-Offs

When shingles are blown off the roof by highwinds.

 

Buckling

When wrinkles effect shingles and their underlayments.

 

Closed Cut Valley

A shingle installation method when a roofs shingles completely cover another roof’s shingles. The top layer of the shingle is cut to match the valley lines.

 

Counter Flashing

Material which is installed over roof base flashing systems.

 

Crickets

A water diverter installed behind chimney’s to divert water around projections.

 

Cupping

When a shingle is improperly installed on an existing roof. This is also a result of manufacturing defects.

 

Deck

The sub structure over which roofing is applied. This is typically made of plywood or wood planks.

 

Deck Armor™

An extra layer of protection that protects your roof deck. This prevents the elements from penetrating under your shingles.

 

Dormer

A raised or extended roof that is bigger than the roof plane.

 

Drip Edge

A lip that keeps shingles off the deck at edges.

 

Eaves

The roof edge from the fascia outside wall. The first three feet of roofing is termed at the eave.

 

 

End Laps

When rolled products in roofing are installed. The rolled material is overlapped by the next section of rolled material.

 

EWA

Engineered Wood Association. Sets standards for all varieties of plywood used in the U.S.

 

Exposure

Area of roofing material exposed to the elements.

 

Fasteners

Nails that secure roofing to the roofing deck.

 

FHA

The federal housing authority that sets standards for construction.

 

Fiberglass Mat

Fibers condensed in strong mats used for roofing.

 

Flange

Metal pan that extends up a roof slope around flashing areas. This is usually at chimneys.

 

Flashing

Material used to waterproof roofs around projections.

 

Flashing Cement

Sealant used around flashing. It is usually very thick.

 

Gable Roof

A typical roof style where there are two peaks in the roof meeting a at a ridge line.

 

Granules

A crushed rock coating on the surface of shingles.

 

Hand-Sealing

A way to seal shingles on highly sloped areas where wind is high.

 

High Nailing

When shingles are nailed above the manufacturers specified nail location.

 

Hip Roof

Roof with four roof planes coming together at a peak and four separate hip legs.

 

Ice Dam

When snow melts and refreezes on a roofs eaves. Ice dams make the water break up under shingles and can start leaks.

 

“L” Flashing

Metal flashing consisting of several feet of metal. Used on horizontal walls. Made to resemble and L.

 

Laminated Shingles

Shingles that are made from two pieces that are laminated together.

 

Laps

The area where roofing underlayments overlap one another.

 

Liberty™

Self adhering slope roofing. System applied without torches, open flases or solvent based adhesives.

 

Low Slopes

Roofs that putch less than 4:12 are low sloped roofs. Special installation practices are used on roofs sloped 2:12-4:12. Shingles can not be installed at slopes less than 2/12.

 

Mansard

A roof design with a vertical roof plane that into a roof plane less than its peak.

 

Mats

The term for the base material of shingles.

 

Modified bitumen

Rolled roofing membrane with polymer modified asphalt and fiberglass reinforcement.

 

Mortar

Mixture of mortar, sand, and water used in bonding a chimney’s bricks together.

 

Nail Guide Line

Painted line on shingles to aid in proper insertion of nails.

 

Nail-Pop

When a nails is not fully driven in.

 

Nesting

Installing a second layer of shingles to avoid shingle cupping.

 

NRCA

National Roofing Contractors Association. Respected national organization.

 

Organic Mat

Material made from recycled wood pulp.

 

Organic Shingles

Shingles made from organic (paper) mats.

 

OSB

Oriented Strand Board.

 

Overdriven

The term used for fasteners driven through roofing material with too much force, breaking the material.

 

Overexposed

Installing shingle courses higher than their intended exposure.

 

Quarter Sized

Term for the size of hand sealant dabs, size of a U.S. 25¢ piece.

 

Racking

Method of installing shingles in a straight up the roof manner.

 

Rake Edge

The vertical edge of gable style roof planes.

 

Release Film

The plastic sheet installed on the back of WeatherWatch® and StormGuard® underlayments. Used for packaging and handling. Remove before installation.

 

Rigid Vent

Hard plastic ridge vent material.

 

Roof Louvers

Rooftop rectangular shaped roof vents. Also called box vents, mushroom vents, airhawks, soldier vents.

 

Roof Plane

A roofing area defined by having four separate edges. One side of a gable, hip or mansard roof.

Sawteeth

The exposed section of double thickness on Timberline® Series shingles – also called dragon teeth. Shaped to imitate wood shake look on the roof.

Self-Sealant

Sealant installed on shingles. After installation, heat and sun will activate sealant to seal the shingles to each other.

Selvage

The area on rolled roofing that is not exposed. Area without granules. Designed for nail placement and sealant.

Shed Roof

Roof made of a single roof plane. Does not connect to other roofs.

Side Laps

Rolled material where one roll overlaps the roll beneath it. Also referred to as selvage edge rolled roofing.

Side Walls

The area where the vertical roof plane meets the wall.

Soffit Ventilation

Ventilation installed under the eaves of a roof.

Starter Strip

The first course of roofing that is installed. It is typically trimmed from the main roof material.

Steep-Slope Roofing

Any slope higher than 4/12.

Stepflashing

Metal flashing installed on walls and chimneys for weatherproofing purposes.

Tab

Bottom portion of traditional shingle. It is separated by shingle cut-outs.

Tear-Off

Removing the existing roofing materials.

Telegraphing

When shingles show the uneven surface beneath them. Singles installed over buckled shingles sometimes show buckles.

Transitions

A roof plane that ties into an adjacent roof plane on a different slope.

Underdriven

A fastener that is not fully driven flush with the shingles.

Underlayments

Rolled material made of asphalt that provides added protection to your roof.

Valleys

When two sloped roofs intersect and create a V shaped depression.

Warm Wall

The wall inside of a building used to determine how far up to install underlayments.

Waterproof Underlayments

Underlayments designed to seal wood decks and waterproof vulnerable areas.

Woven Valleys

A way of installing valleys by laying shingles on top of each other at the valley center.
We service the entire Dallas area including suberbs such as Richardson, Frisco and Plano. If you are in need of any of our services, please give us a call.