Roofing glossary
Plain-language definitions of common roofing terms.
20 terms
- Barrel Tile (S-Tile)Roofing Materials Barrel tile is a curved roof tile laid in rows that look like half-cylinders, giving a Spanish or Mission style.
- EaveRoofing Components The eave is the lower edge of the roof that hangs past the wall.
- Gable RoofArizona Roofing Basics A gable roof has two sloped sides that meet at a ridge, leaving a triangle-shaped wall at each end.
- Hip RoofArizona Roofing Basics A hip roof slopes down on all sides, with sloped outside corners called hips.
- HOA Roof ApprovalArizona Roofing Basics HOA roof approval is written permission from a homeowners association before changing a roof's material, color or tile profile.
- Lift and Relay (Tile Re-Felt)Installation & Repair A lift and relay removes the existing roof tiles, replaces the worn underlayment and flashings underneath, then puts the same tiles back.
- Monsoon Roof PrepRoofing Problems Monsoon roof prep is checking and fixing a roof before Arizona's summer storm season.
- Parapet WallRoofing Components A parapet is a short wall that extends above the roof line, common on flat-roofed Southwest style homes.
- Rain GuttersRoofing Components Rain gutters are channels along the eave that collect roof water and send it to downspouts.
- Ridge CapRoofing Components The ridge cap is the row of shingles, tiles or metal that covers the peak where two roof slopes meet.
- ROC License (Arizona Registrar of Contractors)Arizona Roofing Basics An ROC license is the contractor license issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, and roofers need a roofing class such as R-42 for homes.
- Roof BattensRoofing Components Battens are thin wood or metal strips fastened across the roof deck that tiles hook onto or rest against.
- Roof FlashingRoofing Components Roof flashing is thin metal or membrane installed where the roof meets walls, chimneys, vents, valleys and edges to steer water away from seams.
- Roof LeakRoofing Problems A roof leak is any spot where water gets past the roof and into the attic, ceiling or walls.
- Roof PenetrationRoofing Components A roof penetration is any opening that passes through the roof, such as plumbing pipes, vents, HVAC lines or solar mounts.
- Roof PermitArizona Roofing Basics A roof permit is city approval to do roofing work, and whether one is needed depends on the city and the scope.
- Roof Slope (Pitch)Arizona Roofing Basics Roof slope is how steep a roof is, written as inches of rise per 12 inches of run, such as 4:12.
- Roofing SquareArizona Roofing Basics A roofing square is a unit equal to 100 square feet of roof surface.
- Tile Roof MaintenanceInstallation & Repair Tile roof maintenance is regular care that keeps a tile roof sealed, such as replacing cracked tiles, clearing debris and checking flashing and underlayment.
- Underlayment Lifespan in ArizonaRoofing Problems Underlayment lifespan is how long the waterproof layer under the tile or shingles keeps working.