Glossary of Roofing Terms
We have compiled a list of roofing terms for your convenience. We realize that everyone with a slate or copper roof may not be familiar with each element in the roofing system. Hopefully, this list will help our customers to more completely understand their inspection reports and proposals. All pictures used are from work we performed.
- chimney cricket
- conductor box
- counter flashing
- drip edge
- expansion joint
- fascia
- flashing
- frieze board
- hip
- parapet
- rake edge
- ridge
- soffit
- stack vent flashing
- step flashing
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Roof boarding and flashing used to create a pitched surface behind a chimney to deflect running water away from the back of the chimney. |
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An enlargement or catch basin at the top of a downspout or leader to receive rainwater from a gutter or scupper. (Also called conductor, leader head, leader box, collector, collector head, collector box, scupper head, catch basin, or bell.) |
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Formed metal secured on or into a wall, chimney or other surface to cover and protect the upper edge of a base flashing and its associated fasteners. |
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An L-shaped strip of metal placed at the edge of a roof's eaves to stop the dripping water from wicking beneath the roofing.
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A structural separation between two building elements
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A flat horizontal band between moldings.
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Sheet metal used to reinforce and weatherproof the joints and angles of a roof. |
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A decorative, often sculptured horizontal band along the upper part of a building or a wall in a room.
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The external angle formed by the meeting of two adjacent sloping sides of a roof. |
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That part of any wall rising entirely above the roof. |
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The sloped edge of a roof at the first or last rafter.
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The horizontal line formed by the juncture of two sloping surfaces of a roof. |
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The exposed underside of any component of a building. |
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A vertical outlet in a roof, usually a pipe, which is covered with flashing to create a watertight opening in the roof. |
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Formed metal laid in each course of slate to shed water from a joint, covered by counter flashing.
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