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.
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.
HEX shingles
Shingles that have the appearance of a hexagon after installation.
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.
Hip shingles
Shingles used to cover the inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Horsefeathers
See feathering strips.
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.
Laminated shingles
Strip shingles containing more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. Also called three-dimensional 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 between two and four inches per foot.
Mansard roof
A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides. The lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, often approaching vertical. Contains no gables.
Masonry primer
An asphalt-based primer used to prepare masonry surfaces for bonding with other asphalt products.
Mastic
See asphalt plastic roofing cement.
Mineral stabilizers
Finely ground limestone, slate, traprock or other inert materials added to asphalt coatings for durability and increased resistance to fire and weathering.
Mineral-surfaced roofing
Asphalt shingles and roll roofing that are covered with granules.
Nesting
A method of reroofing with new asphalt shingles over old shingles in which the top edge of the new shingle is butted against the bottom edge of the existing shingle tab.
No-cutout shingles
Shingles consisting of a single, solid tab with no cutouts.
Non-veneer panel
Any wood based panel that does not contain veneer and carries an APA span rating, such as wafer board or oriented strand board.
Normal slope application
Method of installing asphalt shingles on roof slopes between 4 inches and 21 inches per foot.
Open valley
Method of valley construction in which shingles on both sides of the valley are trimmed along a chalk line 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.
Pallets
Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles.
Pitch
The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in feet, to the span, in feet.
Plastic Cement
A compound used to seal flashings and in some cases to seal down shingles as well as for other small waterproofing jobs. Where plastic cement is required for sealing down shingles, use a dab about the size of a quarter unless otherwise specified.
Ply
The number of layers of roofing: i.e. one-ply, two-ply.
Quick-setting cement
An asphalt-based cement used to adhere tabs of strip shingles to the course below. Also used to adhere roll roofing laps applied by the concealed nail method.