Roof Glossary
Deck/sheathing – The surface, usually plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), to which roofing materials are applied.
Dormer – A small structure projecting from a sloped roof, usually with a window.
Drip edge – An L-shaped strip (usually metal) installed along roof edges to allow water run off to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding.
Eave – The horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof.
Fascia – A flat board, band or face located at a cornice's outer edge.
Felt/underlayment – A sheet of asphalt-saturated material (often called tar paper) used as a secondary layer of protection for the roof deck.
Fire rating – System for classifying the fire resistances of various materials. Roofing materials are rated Class A, B or C, with Class A materials having the highest resistance to fire originating outside the structure.
Flashing – Pieces of metal used to prevent the seepage of water around any intersection or projection in a roof system, such as vent pipes, chimneys, valleys, and joints at vertical walls.
Louvers – Slatted devices installed in a gable or soffit (the underside of eaves) to ventilate the space below a roof deck and equalize air temperature and moisture.
Oriented strand board (OSB) – Roof deck panels (4 by 8 feet) made of narrow bits of wood, installed lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and held together with a resin glue. OSB often is used as a substitute for plywood sheets.
Penetrations – Vents, pipes, stacks, chimneys – anything that penetrates a roof deck.
Rafters – The supporting framing to which a roof deck is attached.
Rake – The inclined edge of a roof over a wall.
Ridge – The top edge of two intersecting sloping roof surfaces.
Sheathing – The boards or sheet materials that are fastened to rafters to cover a house or building.
Slope – Measured by rise in inches for each 12 inches of horizontal run. A roof with a 4-in-12 slope rises 4 inches for every foot of horizontal distance.
Square – The common measurement for roof area. One square is 100 square feet (10 by 10 feet).
Truss – Engineered components that supplement rafters in many newer homes and buildings. Trusses are designed for specific applications and cannot be cut or altered.
Valley – The angle formed at the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces.
"The Capitol Roofing crew came in, knocked it out, had the right equipment, what else could I ask for?"
"I am very pleased with how fast your company responded. The work was done in a timely manner, and from what I can tell put on very well. Thank you for your service".
"Capitol Roofing is "Tops" & we would recommend them, above all others. We are so happy with their performance! Our new roof is beautiful."
"Service was good & your workers were fast! Thank You!"
"Thank you everyone, Job well done!"
"Steve is great! He follows-up on everything I was concerned about."
"I thought the job was done quickly and neatly."
"You Guys work hard!"
"I am very pleased & do thank you!"
"I was surprised at the care the crew took to ensure things were done correctly."
"The roof looks great and I am pleased with the results. Thank you Steve for going 'the extra mile' with the insurance adjuster."
"I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful job Anthony and Pete did for me on my roof. If I ever need some more work, I will call you."
Southeast Wyoming,
Northern Colorado
and Western Nebraska
