GLOSSARY
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Asphalt:
A bituthinous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during
manufacturing.
Asphalt Roofing Cement: An asphalt-based cement used to
bond roofing materials. Also known as plastic cement or mastics.
Back Surfacing: Fine mineral matter applied to the backside of shingles
to keep them from sticking together.
Base Flashing: That portion of the flashing attached to or resting on
the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering.
Blisters: Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing
after installation.
Built-Up Roof: A flat or low-sloped roof consisting of multiple layers
of asphalt and ply sheets.
Bundle: A package of shingles. There are typically 3, 4, or 5 bundles
per square.
Butt edge: The lower edge of the shingle tab.
Caulk: To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt cement to prevent leaks.
Cement: See Asphalt Plastic Roofing Cement.
Closed Cut Valley: A method of valley treatments in which shingles from
one side of the valley extend across the valley while shingles from the
other side are trimmed at the valley centerline. The valley flashing is
not exposed.
Coating: A layer or viscous asphalt applied to the base material into
which granules or other surfacing is embedded.
Collar: Pre-formed flange placed over a vent pipe to seal the roof
around the vent pipe opening. Also called a vent sleeve.
Condensation: The change of water from vapor to liquid when warm,
moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface.
Counter Flashing: That portion of the flashing attached to a vertical
surface to prevent water from migrating behind the step flashing.
Course: A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the
roof.
Coverage: Amount of weather protection provided by the roofing material.
Depends on number of layers of material between the exposed surface of
the roofing and the deck, i.e., single coverage, double coverage, etc.
Cricket: A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney to
prevent accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water around the
chimney.
Cutout: The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.
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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.
Double Coverage: Application of asphalt roofing such that the lapped
portion is at least 2" wider than the exposed portion, resulting in two
layers of roofing material over the deck.
Downspout: A pipe for draining water from roof gutters. Also called a
leader or down pipe.
Drip Edge: A non-corrosive, non-staining material used along the edge
and rakes to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying
construction.
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Eaves: The horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof.
Eaves Protection: Additional layer of roofing material applied at the
eaves to help prevent damage from water back up.
Exposure: That portion of the roofing exposed to the weather after
installation.
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Felt: Fibrous material saturated with asphalt and used as an
underlayment or sheathing paper.
Fiberglass Mat: An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from glass
fibers.
Flashing: 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.
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Gable: The upper portion of a sidewall that comes to a triangular point
at the ridge of a sloping roof.
Gable Roof: A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch
on each side of the ridge. Contains a gable at each end.
Gambrel Roof: A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different
pitch on each side of the ridge. The lower plane has a steeper slope
than the upper. Contains a gable at each end.
Granules: Ceramic-coated colored crushed rock that is applied to the
exposed surface of asphalt roofing products.
Gutter: The trough that channels water from the eaves to the downspouts.
Also called eavestrough.
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Head Lap: Shortest distance from the butt edge of an overlapping shingle
to the upper edge of a shingle in the second course below. The triple
coverage portion of the top lap of strip shingles.
Hip: The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two
sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.
Hip Roof: A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on
each of four sides. Contains no gables.
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Ice Dam: Condition formed at the lower roof edge by the thawing and
re-freezing of melted snow on the overhang. Can force water up and under
shingles causing leaks.
Interlocking Shingles: Individual shingles that mechanically fasten to
each other to provide wind resistance.
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Laminated Shingles: Strip shingles containing more than one layer of
tabs to create extra thickness. Also called three-dimensional shingles
or architectural shingles.
Lap: To cover the surface of one shingle or roll with another.
Lap Cement: An asphalt-based cement used to adhere overlapping plies of
roll roofing.
Low Slope Application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof
slopes 2"-4" per foot.
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Mansard Roof: A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch.
The lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, often
approaching vertical.
Masonry Primer: An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces
for bonding with other asphalt products.
Mastic: See Asphalt Plastic Roofing Cement
Mineral-Surfaced Roofing: Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are
covered with granules.
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No-Cutout Shingle: Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no
cutout.
Normal Slope Application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof
slopes 4" per foot and greater.
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Open Valley: Method of valley construction in which shingles on both
sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk like snapped on each side
of the valley. Shingles do not extend across the valley. Valley flashing
is exposed.
Organic Felt: An asphalt roofing base material manufactured from
cellulose fibers.
Overhang: That portion of the roof structure that extends beyond the
exterior walls of a building.
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Pitch: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise in
feet to the span in feet.
Ply: A layer of roofing (i.e., one-ply, two-ply).
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Racking: Roofing application method in which shingle courses are applied
vertically up the roof rather than across and up.
Rafter: The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck,
sloping from the ridge to the wall plate.
Rake: The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall.
Random-Tab Shingles: Shingles on which tabs vary in size and exposure.
Release Tape: A plastic or paper strip that is applied to the back of
self sealing shingles. This strip prevents the shingles from sticking
together in the bundles, and need not be removed for application.
Ridge: The uppermost horizontal external angle formed by the
intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Ridge Shingles: Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle
formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Also called
capping.
Rise: The vertical distance from the eaves line to the ridge.
Roll Roofing: Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll form.
Run: The horizontal distance from the eaves to a point directly under
the ridge. One half the span.
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Saturant: Asphalt used to impregnate an organic felt base material.
Saturated Felt: An asphalt impregnated felt used as an underlayment
between the deck and the roofing material.
Self-Adhered Eave and Flashing Membrane: A self-adhering waterproofing
shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due
to ice dams or wind driven rain. Also called ice and water shield.
Self-Sealing Shingles: Shingles containing factory-applied strips or
spots of self-sealing adhesive.
Self-Sealing Strip or Spot: Factory-applied adhesive that bonds shingle
courses together when exposed to the heat of the sun after applications.
Shading: Slight differences in shingle color that may occur as a result
of normal manufacturing operation.
Sheathing: Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material.
Shed Roof: A roof containing only one sloping plane. Has no hips,
ridges, valleys or gables.
Single Coverage: Asphalt roofing that provides one layer of roofing
material over the deck.
Slope: The degree of roof incline expressed as a ratio of the rise in
inches to the run over 12 inches.
Smooth-Surfaced Roofing: Roll roofing that is covered with ground talc
or mica instead of granules (coated).
Soffit: The finished underside of the eaves.
Soil Stack: A vent pipe that penetrates the roof.
Span: The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Square: A unit of measure covering 100 feet.
Square-Tab Shingles: Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and
exposure.
Starter Strip: Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides
protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the
first course of shingles.
Steep Slope Application: Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof
slopes greater than 21" per foot.
Step Flashing: Metal flashing pieces applied where a vertical surface
meets a sloping roof plane.
Strip Shingles: Asphalt shingles that are approximately three times as
long as they are wide.
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Tab: The exposed portion of strip shingles defined by cutouts.
Talc: See Back Surfacing.
Three-Dimensional Shingles: See laminated shingles.
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Underlayment: Asphalt saturated felt used beneath roofing to provide
additional protection for the deck.
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Valley: The internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping
roof planes.
Vapor Retarder: Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor.
Vent: Any outlet for air that provides ventilating to the underside of
the roof deck.
Vent Sleeve: See Collar.
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Woven Valley: Method of valley construction in which shingles from both
sides of the valley extend across the valley and are woven together by
overlapping alternate courses as they are applied. The valley flashing
is not exposed.
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Maple Roofing Supplies
300 Newkirk Road
Richmond Hill
ON Canada
L4C 3G7
Tel: (905) 737-4603
Fax: (905) 737-7919
Toll-Free: (877) 737-4603