Roofing and Construction Terminology
When it comes to roofing, knowing the right terms makes a big difference—whether you’re tackling maintenance on your own home or working with a professional.
Roofing terminology covers everything from the materials used and structural components to ventilation systems, warranties, and overall performance.
Having a clear understanding of these terms helps you make confident, informed decisions about your roofing project. It also makes conversations with contractors smoother, so you’re always on the same page.
This guide breaks down the most important roofing terms you’ll come across—covering key components, materials, structural elements, performance features, maintenance, and warranties. Whether you’re starting a new roof installation or just want to understand your current setup a little better, this glossary is here to help you navigate it all with confidence.
Abutment
A junction where a pitched roof surface adjoins a wall, a dormer or other vertical feature. Abutments are commonly found in roof and building extensions.
Absorption
The ability of a material to accept within its body quantities of gases or liquid, such as moisture.
A Frame Roof
A roof with steeply angled sides that form an "A" shape, typically used in simple structures like cottages and cabins.
Aggregate
Rocks or granules used on the surface of roofs to protect them from UV damage and provide a finished appearance.
All Weather Elastomeric Mastic
A versatile, asphalt-based roofing mastic designed for installation in damp or wet conditions.
Alligatoring
Surface cracking resembles an alligator's hide, often due to the aging of asphalt.
Aluminum Roof Sheet
Aluminum Roof sheet is easy to install and maintain and their anti-corrosive properties give a long lifespan, also give a shiny luster finish.
Aluminum Siding
Horizontal planks of aluminum with a baked-on enamel finish that looks like wooden lap siding.
American Hardboard Association
The national trade organization for the manufacturers of hardboard products.
American National Institute Standards
ANSI is a private, nonprofit organization that oversees the voluntary standardization and assessment of US products, to enable the US to better compete globally and enhance the quality of life in the US by conformity to product standards.
Anchor Bolts
Bolts driven into concrete to secure structural members in place.
Angled Fasteners
Roofing nails and staples driven into decks at angles not parallel to the deck.
Apex Roof
The apex is the highest point of a roof, where two sloping sides meet to form the ridge.
Application Rate
Measurement indicating how much material is applied per unit area, e.g., 1 gallon per 100 square feet.
Apron Flashing
Metal flashing used at chimney fronts.
Apse
A semicircular or polygonal building projection, as of a church.
Arch
A curved structure that supports its weight and the load above it.
Area Divider
A structure used to alleviate stress in roofing systems on decks without expansion joints.
Area Way
A recessed area below grade that allows light and ventilation into a basement window.
Asphalt Shingles
A type of roofing material made from asphalt-saturated organic felt or fiberglass mat coated with mineral granules, commonly used for residential roofs due to affordability and ease of installation.
Asbestos
A natural, heat-resistant mineral fiber once used in various building materials.
Asbestos Cement Sheet
This type of roof manufacturing process used asbestos fiber as a reinforcement material with cement. Asbestos fiber gives rigidity and stiffness to the roof sheet body to maintain its size and shape without breakage.
Asphalt
A black, sticky material used in making roofing materials due to its waterproof properties.
Asphalt Concrete Primer
Asphalt based primer used to prepare concrete and metal for asphalt sealant.
Asphaltic
Pertaining to or treated with asphalt.
Asphalt Felt
Felt either saturated or coated with asphalt.
American Society for testing Materials
A voluntary organization concerned with the development of standards, testing procedures, and specifications. Many city building codes use ASTM standards.
Awning Window
An out-swinging window hinged at the top of the sash.
Backfill
Earth used to fill in areas around a foundation.
Back Nailing
Securing roofing felts with fasteners in addition to using adhesive, ensuring the fasteners aren't exposed.
Balcony Roof
A roof or covering over a balcony, often an extension of the main roof.
Bamboo Roof Sheets
Bamboo roofing sheets are giving a traditional and historical look to your house. The Corrugated Bamboo roofing sheets are coated with resins and this coating layer also helps to free them from external environments.
Base Flashing
the portion of the flashing which is attached to, or rest on the roof deck.
Base Ply
The primary or bottom ply of roofing felt in a system.
Base Sheet
The initial ply, either coated or saturated, in a multi-layer roof membrane system.
Backboard
A flat material used on the face of the house, between the studs and the siding, to provide a nailable surface for the siding.
Batten
A strip of wood or metal placed on a roof's surface to elevate and secure roofing material.
Beam
A structural element that primarily resists loads applied laterally to the beam’s axis, used to support weight in floors, ceilings, and roofs.
Beveld Clapboards
Clapboards that are tapered rather than cut perfectly rectangular.
Bitumen
A viscous material derived from petroleum or coal, often used in roofing as a waterproofing agent.
Bituminous
Related to or containing bitumen.
Bituminous Emulsion
Water or a water-soluble solution containing tiny droplets of bitumen.
Bituminous Grout
Bitumen mixed with fine sand that becomes fluid when heated.
Blackberry
A minor blister in the flood coat of a gravel-topped roof.
Blend
Mixtures of various colored materials on the surface of roof materials.
Blind Nailing
Nails driven in such a way that the heads are concealed by succeeding layers of roofing materials.
Blisters
Bubbles that may appear on the surface of asphalt roofing.
Blocking
Support structures, typically made of wood, integrated into roofing systems to provide secure attachment points.
Board and Batten
A style in which a narrow strip of siding appears to cover the seam between two wider boards. Board and batten siding is installed vertically.
Bond
The forces of adhesion holding roofing components together.
Brick Veneer
A wall construction method in which a layer of bricks is attached to the wood framework of a house using brick ties.
Bridging
A method of reroofing where the new shingles follow the contour of the old roofing. Also called “butting up”. It is almost always desirable to tear off old roofing.
Brooming
Pressing roofing material into adhesive using a broom to ensure good contact and bonding.
Buckling
When a wrinkle or ripple affects shingles or their underlayment.
Built up Roof Membrane (BUR)
A flat or low sloped roof made up of layers of asphalt and ply sheets. (AKA BUR)
Cantilever
A projecting structure supported at only one end, used in balconies, bridges, and roofs to provide overhanging support without additional columns.
Cant Strip
A sloping or beveled strip easing the transition between horizontal and vertical surfaces on a roof.
Cap Flashing
Metallic covering atop walls or projections, protecting them from moisture penetration.
Capillarity / Capillary Action
The action causing water to be absorbed into a material, which can sometimes lead to de-lamination.
Capping
Protective covering or finishing piece on the ridge or hip of a roof.
Cap Sheet
A top layer in a roofing system, typically granule-surfaced.
Caulking
Flexible material used to seal gaps or cracks in roofing structures.
Center Butt
The bend in the center of a piece of siding that makes the siding appear to be two pieces instead of one.
Channel
The area of the accessory trim or corner post where siding or soffit panels are inserted. Channels also refer to the trim itself, and are named for the letters of the alphabet they resemble, for example J-channel and F-channel are available.
Checking
A crack or split along the grain in wood plank siding as a result of cupping.
Chimney Flashing
Waterproofing material installed around the base of a chimney to prevent leaks.
Clapboard
Overlapping, horizontal wood plank siding made from either rectangular planks or taped planks.
Clay tiles
Durable, fire-resistant roofing material made from molded clay, commonly used in Mediterranean and Spanish-style architecture.
Closed cut Valley
A shingle valley installation method where one roof plane’s shingles completely cover the other’s. The top layer is cut to match the valley lines.
Coal Tar
Dark, viscous residue obtained from the distillation of coal.
Coal Tar Pitch
A variant of coal tar utilized for waterproofing in low slope roofing.
Coal Tar Felts
Roofing felts saturated with refined coal tar.
Coated Sheet Felts
Roofing felt with an additional coating of asphalt for enhanced protection.
Coating
A layer (often liquid) applied to roofing to protect it from the elements.
Cold Press Roofing
Roofing method using asphalt or other binders without the need for heating.
Collar Beam
Horizontal beam connecting two rafters at a point partway up the roof, adding strength and rigidity.
Composition Board
Blanks or sheets of weather resistant compressed wood fibers used as siding.
Condensation
The process where water vapor in the air turns into liquid upon contacting a cold surface.
Cool Roof
Any roof that is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof is called a “cool roof.” Cool roofs are optimized with coatings, light reflective colors, or high solar reflectance to be energy efficient.
Copping
Protective capping on external walls, angled to deflect water.
Corrugated Siding
Siding made out of aluminum or plastic derivatives having ridges and valleys and is attached to the sides of buildings.
Counter Flashing
Material used to cover and protect a particular type of flashing, often at the roof's edge.
Course
A single layer of materials in a multi-layer roofing system.
Coverage
The area uniformly covered by a given amount of roofing material.
Crack
A break or split in roofing materials, often due to stress or movement.
Crimp
If the fastening portion of a piece of siding has been trimmed away due to size, it is necessary to form crimps on the remaining piece of panel in order for the panel to fit tightly into the slot in the trim. Crimps are formed using a special tool called a snaplock punch.
Cricket
- A raised section of the roof to divert water around chimneys or other structures.
- A peaked water diverter installed behind chimneys and other large roof projections. Effectively diverts water around projections.
Crows Feet
A carpentry term used to describe a style of mark on a piece of wood or other material, defined by two or more lines extending out and originating from one point (the mark).
Cupping
When shingles are improperly installed over an existing roof or are over-exposed, they may form a curl or cup. May also be due to a manufacturing defect.
Cutback
Bitumen thinned with solvents, used in cold-process roofing and as primers or coatings.
Cutoffs
A temporary waterproofing detail preventing water movement, removed after re-roofing.
Dead Load
The permanent static weight of a structure, including its own components like roofing materials, walls, and fixed equipment, which must be supported safely.
Eaves
The edges of the roof that overhang the walls of a building, designed to direct water away from the walls and foundation.