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Terms you should know |
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Deck/sheathing: |
The
surface, usually plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), to which roofing
materials are applied. |
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Dormer: |
A
small structure projecting from a sloped roof, usually with a window.
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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. |
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Eave: |
The
horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof. |
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Fascia: |
A flat
board, band or face located at a cornice’s outer edge. |
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| Felt /
underlayment: |
A sheet of
asphalt-saturated material (often called tar paper) used as a secondary
layer of protection for the roof deck. |
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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. |
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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 |
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Louvers:
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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. |
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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. |
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Penetrations:
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Vents,
pipes, stacks, chimneys-anything that penetrates a roof deck. |
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| Rafters: |
The supporting framing
to which a roof deck is attached. |
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Rake: |
The
inclined edge of a roof over a wall. |
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Ridge: |
The
top edge of two intersecting sloping roof surfaces. |
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Sheathing: |
The
boards or sheet materials that are fastened to rafters to cover a house or
building. |
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| Slope: |
Measured by rise in
inches for each 12 inches of horizontal run: A roof with 4-in-12 slope
rises 4 inches for every foot of horizontal distance. |
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| Square: |
The common measurement
for roof area. One square is 100 square feet (10 by 10 feet). |
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Truss: |
Engineered
components that supplement rafters in many newer home and buildings.
Trusses are designed for specific applications and cannot be cut or
altered. |
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Valley:
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The angle
formed at the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces. |
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Vapor retarder:
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A material
designed to restrict the passage of water vapor through a roof system or
wall. |
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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
American Society of Home Inspectors
932
Lee St, Suite 101
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 759-2820
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Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
CenterPark
4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 404
Claverton, MD 20705
(301) 231-9050
Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau
PO
Box 1178
Sumas, WA 98295-1178
(604) 462-8961
Metal Construction Association
104 S. Michigan Ave,
Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 201-0101
National Association of Home Builders
1201 15th St.
N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 822-0200
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
4900 Seminary Road,
Suite 320
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 276-7600
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