Roofing Terms
Here you will find some terms that you might of never heard of. All terms might not be here so if you have a recommendation give us a call.
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3 Star Warranty- A warranty that a CertainTeed Select Shingle Master can offer. 20 year non-prorated warranty on material and labor.
4 Star Warranty- A warranty that a CertainTeed Select Shingle Master can offer. 50 year warranty on material and labor non-prorated.
5 Star Warranty- A warranty that only a CertainTeed Select Shingle Master at the highest level can provide. 50 year warranty non-prorated on material & labor and a 25 year workmanship warranty, backed by CertainTeed.
A
Algae- Black streaks that appear on your roof. Usually more likely in shady areas.
Apron Flashing- A term that could be used for either the front piece of the chimney flashing, or flashing from the roof to the gutter.
Asphalt- The mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand or gravel. Used for most roofing products
Asphalt Plastic Cement- A spreadable compound mad from ground asphalt. Commonly used on chimney flashing and nail holes for roof repairs.
ASTM- American Society for Testing Materials, they set the standards in the roofing materials and other industries.
B
Back Surfacing- Applied to shingles to prevent them from sticking to equipment and each other.
Blistering- Can happen to shingles when moisture is trapped during the making of shingles.
Blow offs- Happens when a shingle is forced off the roof from high-winds.
Buckling- Occurs from movement of the roof decking with the change in moisture levels.
C
Button Caps- A fastener that is used to hold down underlayments, and can withstand higher winds.
California Valley- A type of valley that has a shingle ran parallel to the valley and shingles are butted to it.
Closed Cut Valley- A type of valley that has on roof plane ran up & across the other roof plane. and the top shingle is cut in the valley
Counter Flashing- Is a flashing that goes over the step flashing and is sealed.
Cricket- A saddle that if framed in behind the chimney to divert water from behind the chimney.
Cupping/ Curling- Usually occurs to shingles when they are reaching the end of their useful life.
D
Damper Vent- A vent that is installed for bathroom, oven etc. exhausts.
Decking- The surface under shingles. Usually OSB or Plywood but could also be one by planking.
Diamond Deck- Synthetic underlayment produced by CertainTeed.
Dormer- Usually were a window is installed, framed up out of a roof plane.
Drip Edge- A piece of metal flashing that is installed at the rakes of the roof.
E
Eaves- The bottom of the roof plane were the gutter is usually installed.
End Laps- The area on a roll of Flintlastic rolled roofing were one roll ends and the next roll laps over.
Energy Star- An approval that lets homeowners know they are energy efficient & may qualify for a tax credit.
Exposure- The amount shingle that is made to be shown.
F
Fascia- Usually an aluminum that is installed over the wood on the rakes and eaves.
Fasteners- Usually staples or nails used to secure the roofing products.
Fiberglass Mat- The material that is used in Shingles to hold the asphalts together. commonly referred to as the heart of the shingle.
Flashing- Metal that is installed in areas were a vertical obstacle comes out of a roof.
Flange- The rubber that is on a pipe flashing
Flintlastic- A rolled roofing material manufactured by CertainTeed. Comes in a variety of options.
I
Integrity Roof System- A roofing system that CertainTeed put together with all their products to provide a better warranty
H
Hand Seal- Is a process that is used when the shingles need extra adhesive.
High Nailing- When nails are installed higher then the manufacturers nailing strip.
Hip Roof- A roof with 4 roof planes come together
G
Gable- The side walls of an A framed house.
Gable Vents- Vents that are installed at the peak of your gables. Used for ventilation.
Geocel- A caulking that is used to seal almost any type of material. Comes in a variety of colors.
Granules- Crushed rock that is coated with copper to prevent algae growth and used for shingles
Gutter Apron- A piece of flashing that comes from the roof down into the gutter to prevent water from leaking behind the gutter.
O
Open Valley- A type of valley that has the shingles cut back with metal exposed in the middle.
OSB- Oriented Strand Board. Commonly used for roof decking.
Overdriven- When a nail is driven threw the material, not allowing proper strength.
Over Exposed- When the shingle is installed too hight and the nailing strip is exposed.
N
Nail Pop- A nail that if pushing up on the roofing material. Usually caused due to improper install.
NRCA- National Roofing Contractors Association.
M
Mansard- A nearly vertical roofing surface that ties into another roof plane.
Max-Def Colors- Colors that are offered to Landmark PRO, Premium, and TL shingles.
Modified Bitumen- A Rolled roofing with polymer modified asphalt.
Mortar- Is the material between your bricks. made of concrete and sand.
P
Plywood- Layers of wood glued together often used for the decking of a roof.
Pipe Flashing- An aluminum product with a rubber flange that is made to water tight a pipe.
Pitch- The slope of the roof plane commonly used with */12
Q
Penetrations- Any item that comes through the roof like a pipe flashing, chimney.
Quad OSI- A caulking that is used commonly to seal chimney flashing. Comes in a wide range of colors.
Racking- A method used to install 3 tab shingles.
Rafter- Internal beams that extend from the eave to the ridge of the roof.
R
Rake- The part of the roof that is on a gable end and drip edge is installed.
Ridge- The peak of the roof were cap is installed and 2 roof planes meet.
Ridge Vent- A vent that is installed at the ridge of the roof for ventilation purposes
Rolled Ridge Vent- A product CertainTeed manufactures that comes in 27' rolls.
Roof Louvers- A square vent that is used for ventilation. Also called slant backs, turtle backs, or box vent.
S
Roof Plane- A section of the roof that is separated by either rakes, valleys, ridge, or wall.
Saw Teeth- That part of a Landmark shingle were the raised area is or top layer is.
Select Shingle Master- A credential that CertainTeed provides for their certified installer. Comes in 3, 4, and 5 star companies.
Self-Sealant - A product that does not need any extra sealant added to it like Winterguard.
Shadow Ridge- A product that CertainTeed manufacturers. Made to be installed at the hips and ridges of roof.
Sheathing- The material used under the shingles commonly OSB or Plywood.
Side Laps- The area were one roll of Flintlastic is rolled over the other.
Side wall- Is located were a roof plane runs into a wall/gable.
Skylights- A window that is installed on your roof to let light in. Can be fixed or venting.
Soffit- The area that is located under your gutters if you have an overhang.
Swift Start- A product made to start your coarse of shingles off. Produced by CertainTeed.
Sun tunnel- A small tubular skylight like product that will allow light into your house.
Steep Slope- Any roof plane with a pitch 8/12 or greater.
Step Flashing- Metal "L" shaped flashing used on a vertical wall that meets a roof plane.
Streak Fighter- The warranty against algae on CertainTeed shingles.
W
Woven Valley- A type of valley install were one shingle from each plane is over each other back and forth.
Winter Guard- A product that is produced by CertainTeed, and is installed as an underlayment in problematic areas like the eaves, chimney, skylights, etc.
V
Valleys- The part of the roof were 2 roof planes meet, and the majority of the water is going to flow. ( The "V" shape on a roof)
Vapor- Term used to describe moisture laden air.
U
Under Driven- Is what happens when the nail is not installed all the way, and can cause nail pops.
Underlayment- The material that is under the shingles. Commonly Ice and Water guard or felt.
T
Tear Off- The action of removing the old roofing material.
Telegraphing- What occurs when what ever is under the shingles is shown after the install. Like warped plywood, or were an addition meets the existing house.
Transition- The area when 2 roof planes meet and have 2 different pitches. Like a front porch that ties into your roofline.
Track-Record- Is a survey that CertainTeed has their Select Shingle Masters give to their homeowners.
Truss- Frame work that supports the roof often rafters.
Square- A 10'X 10' area. It is also used to tell how much material is needed on a job
Ice Dam- When ice is formed at the eave of the roof and breaks the seal of the shingles, entering into the house.
L
Laminated Shingle- An asphalt shingle built with a heavy base & multiple layers
Laminated Glass- A glass surface that will hold together when shattered.
Landmark Series- A line of Dimensional shingles manufactured by CertainTeed, Landmark, Landmark PRO, Landmark TL
Leaf Relief- A type of aluminum gutter guard that Ply-Gem makes.
Laps- When one type of material overlaps another. Commonly on underlayments or Flintlastic.
Low Nailing- When installing a shingle and the nails are installed lower then the exposure. Often referred to as a shiner.
Low Slope- A roof plane thats pitch is lower then a 4/12 pitch and require different install methods. Pitches that are less then 2/12 need different types of material to be used.