Deck

A base used to adhere roofing materials onto. This base is generally composed of plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB).

Drip-edge

A metal, L-shaped strip that is placed along the sides of roofs to prevent water run-off from going into the eaves (see below).

Eaves

The sections of a roof that exceed the confinements of the building.

Flashing

A strip of metal utilized to prevent any water from damaging adjoining surfaces to your roof, such as a chimney.

Pitch

A quantity displayed in fractions that help define the steepness of a roof.

Rake

Refers to a sloped edge of the roof that is directly above a wall.

Ridge

The angle that encompasses the highest point of a roof.

Square

A form of measurement used for roofing projects that calculates 10-by-10, or 100 square feet sections.

Slope

The quantity used to depict how many inches a roof rises for every 12 inches. Slope is displayed as a ratio such as 4-in-12 slope (4 inch rise for every 12 inch run), whereas pitch is shown as a fraction (1/3 pitch). The words slope and pitch are often used interchangeably.

Soffit

The underside of overhanging roofs or other architectural components such as an archway.

Underlayment

An item that is placed between the deck and roofing material which acts as a secondary water barrier.

Valley

Any surface on a roof where two sloped sections intersect.