Terms & Definitions

Asphalt- A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing.

Asphalt roofing cement- An asphalt-based cement, containing solvent, used to bond roofing materials. Also know as asphalt plastic cement, flashing cement, muck, bull and mastic.

Base Flashing- The portion of the flashing attached to or resting on the deck to direct the flow of water onto the roof covering. Also known as Step Flashing.

Caulk- To fill a joint with mastic or asphalt roofing cement, or the material used to fill the joint.

Counter Flashing- The portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water form migrating behind the base flashing. Also known as Cap Flashing.

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.

Dormer- A framed window unit projecting through the sloping plane of a roof.

Drip Edge- A corrosion-resistant, non-staining material used along the eaves and rakes to allow water run-off to drip clear of underlying construction.

Eaves- The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof.

Eaves Flashing- Additional layer of roofing material applied at the eaves to help prevent damage from water back-up.

Felt- Organic fiber mat impregnated with asphalt and used as an underlayment.

Fiber Glass Shingles- Asphalt shingles made with a fiber glass mat.

Flashing- Pieces of metal or roll roofing used to prevent seepage of water into a building around any intersections or projection in a roof, such as vent pipes, adjoining walls, dormers and valleys.

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.

Granules- Ceramic-coated, colored crushed rock that is applied to the exposed surface of asphalt roofing products.

Hip roof- A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides. Contains no gables.

Ice dam- Condition formed by the thawing and refreezing of melted snow, especially at the lower roof edge on the roof overhang and in gutters. Can cause water to pond and flow up and under shingles, causing leaks.

Rake- The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall.

Ridge- The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.

Square- A unit of measurement equaling 100 square feet of roof area.

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. It also provides for sealing down of tabs of the first course of self-sealing shingles.

Step flashing- base flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. Utilizes multiple pieces of flashing material.

Underlayment- Asphalt-impregnated felt used beneth roofing to provide additional protection for the deck.

Valley- The internal angle formed by the instersection of two sloping roof planes.

Waterproofing shingle Underlayment (Ice & Water)- A special self-adhering waterproofing shingle underlayment designed to protect against water infiltration due to ice dams or wind-driven rain.