Asphalt Roof: An asphalt shingle is normally 36″ wide. Some styles have cutouts on the bottom 12″. That is the part that will be exposed to weather conditions. Exterior surface coat is made with mineral granules as protection from sunlight and weather. Seventy five percent of roofing shingles used in Colorado are asphalt because they wear well and are easy to install as well as being attractive in appearance.
Tile Roof: Tile roofs can by installed using either concrete or clay roof tiles. Tile manufacturers can produce tiles to suit any architectural style, from authentic Spanish and Mediterranean to New England Colonial, historic, or contemporary. Roof tiles can be flat or round, simulate wood shakes, or seek to replicate centuries-old roofing materials.
Metal Roof: Various types of metal roofing include: standing seam, flat seam, and corrugated profiles that may be applied to steep or low slope surfaces.
Fabricated Metal Roof: Cutting, shaping and assembling metal and then installing it to create a custom roof.
Synthetic Roof: Roofing products made out of renewable resources that emulate naturally occurring products such as wood shakes, clay tiles, and slate. Known for durability and longevity but can be costly.
Solar Roof: Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional materials for the roofing system. They are increasingly being incorporated into the construction of new buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power, although existing buildings may be retrofitted with BIPV modules as well. The advantage of integrated photovoltaics over more common non-integrated systems is that the initial cost can be offset by reducing the amount spent on building materials and labor that would normally be used to construct the part of the building that the BIPV modules replace. In addition, since BIPV are an integral part of the design, they generally blend in better and are more aesthetically appealing than other solar options. These advantages make BIPV one of the fastest growing segments of the photovoltaic industry.
EPDM Roof: (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer) A single-ply (one layer) black rubber roofing membrane that is used on low-slope commercial and residential applications.
TPO Roof: (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) A single-ply (one layer) of white, tan or gray roofing membrane comprised of reflective and energy efficient compounds that is used on low-slope commercial and residential applications.
Roof Components
Glossary:
Chimney Cricket – A false roof behind a chimney used to divert water away from the chimney
Counter Flashing – The portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface used to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing
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 the roof edges to allow water run-off to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding
Eave – The roof area that projects past the walls
Fascia – A flat board, band, or face located on the outer edge of rake or eave
Felt/Underlayment – A sheet of asphalt- saturated material used as a secondary layer of protection; see also: Synthetic Underlayment
Fire Rating – System for classifying the fire resistance of various materials. In roofing, the materials are rated Class A, B or C. Class A materials have the highest resistance to fire originating outside the structure
Flashing – A thick, impervious sheet of material placed to prevent water penetration or to direct the flow of water away from the building
Gable – The portion at the end of a building that extends from the eaves to the peak
Metal Valley Flashing – The point at which two pitched roofs join (at an inside corner) is known as a valley and is where most shingle materials rely on a piece of metal for a watertight connection to each other
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) – Roof deck panels (usually 4’ x 8’) made of narrow bits of wood, installed lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and held together with resin glue. OSB is often used as a substitute for plywood sheets
Penetrations – Vents, pipes, stacks, chimneys, and anything else 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 of two intersecting, sloping roof surfaces
Ridge Board – Horizontal board that serves as a support in the highest point of the roof structure
Ridge Vent – A type of vent installed at the peak of a sloped roof which allows warm, humid air to escape a building’s attic
Sheathing – The boards or sheet materials that are fastened to rafters 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 12 inches of horizontal distance
Soffit – The underside of the eave of a building
Square – The common measurement for roof area. One square is 100 square feet
Step Flashing – Galvanized steel or aluminum metal bent at 90 degrees woven between each row of shingles installed when a roof slope meets a vertical wall
Synthetic Underlayment – A sheet of material typically made from polypropylene, polyester, or fiberglass fabric which weighs less than felt paper and can be manufactured with an anti-slip surface, and can withstand exposure to the elements for six months that is used as a secondary layer of protection
Truss – Engineered components that supplement rafters in many newer homes and buildings. Trusses are designed for specific application and cannot be cut or altered
Valley – The angle formed at the intersection of two sloping roof surfaces