Roofing Terms and Definitions Every Homeowner Should Know
Not sure what a Fascia is? Or do you ever wonder what the style of your roof is called?
Here at Infinity Roofing, we take pride in educating our customers and homeowners on roofing. We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly used roofing terms and their definitions. That way, the next time you speak with a roofing contractor, you’ll know exactly what they are referring to.
Roof Components
The roof of your home consists of various components that work together to protect your home from the elements. Although roofs come in different shapes and sizes, most roofs’ basic anatomy is the same. Knowing the various components of a roof is important if you ever plan to build, repair, or replace one.
Fascia: The wood trim around the perimeter of a building, just under the roofing, is used to hang gutters.
Soffit: The horizontal, finished underside of the eaves is called a soffit. Soffits are commonly perforated or vented to provide airflow for the attic space.
Gutter and Downspouts: The purpose of gutter and downspout systems is to collect rainwater from the roof. The gutters connect to downspouts, which carry the water down and away from the home’s foundation.
Ridge Vent: An air slot cut into the roof deck at the highest point, allowing air to flow freely through the attic while protecting the inside from the weather.
Ridge Cap Shingles: Material specifically made to cover the peak ridge or hips of the roof.
Flashing: A material used to prevent moisture from seeping into the layers below, found around roof penetrations or edges, at walls, expansion joints, valleys, drains, and other places where the roofing is interrupted or terminated.
Drip Edge: A rigid material installed at the roof’s edge to keep shingles from dripping water onto the deck and damaging underlying components.
Roofing Felt: A material that protects the roof decking from weather damage. The roofing felt is typically made of asphalt-saturated paper or synthetic materials.
Underlayment: Roofing underlayment is a material used to waterproof and resists weather infiltration, installed under the primary roofing material. It is also known as “felt.”
