Roofing Materials

Asphalt Shingles:

The residential roofing material, fiberglass, is covered with asphalt and granules. There are several grades of asphalt shingles. A flat or low-slope roof with multiple ply sheets embedded in hot asphalt.

BUR Roofing (BUR):

A roofing material made from asphalt reinforced with fiberglass or polyester7

Modified Bitumen:

Single-Ply Roofing: A roofing system with a single material layer as the primary watertight surface.

Roof Structure

• Decking: The structural material over which roofing is typically made of plywood or boards.
• Rafters: Inclined structural beams that support the roof’s decking and give the roof its shape.
• Joists: Horizontal beams that support the roofing system.
• Under lament: A water-resistant material is protection 24installed between shingles and roof sheathing for extra protection

Roof Features

• Flashing: Materials used to seal and waterproof areas around vents, chimneys, and other roof projections.
• Gutters: Troughs that channel water from the eaves to the downspouts.
• Ridge: Where two planes of the roof meet at their highest point
• Valley: The intersection of two sloping surfaces is prone to water accumulation.
• Eaves: The roof’s edge hanging over a building’s walls.
• Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves.

Roof Types

• Gable Roof: A simple two-sided roof with a triangular end.
• Shed Roof: Has only a singular sloping plane.
• A roof with two sloping planes of different pitches on each side of the ridge.

Roofing Components

• Granules: Small bits of crushed rock coated with ceramic and embedded into the exposed surface of shingles.
• Ice and Water Shield: A waterproof membrane protects roofs from ice and water damage.
• Pipe Boot: A flexible, waterproof covering designed around plumbing vent pipes.
• Attic Vent: An open slot that allows air, water vapor, and heat to escape from the attic.
• Roofing Terms
• Pitch: Typically measured in inches of vertical rise per foot of horizontal distance. The angle or slope.
• Re-roofing: Removing and replacing existing roof coverings with a new roofing system.
• Recovering: Installing an additional layer of roofing over an existing layer.
• Weathering: The natural deterioration of materials due to environmental factors.

This glossary covers essential roofing terms to help consumers better understand roofing components, materials, and processes.