Roofing terms

The junction of a roof surface with a wall, or any other structural feature, which arises above it.

A gutter formed in lead at the back of a chimney, or any other structure, which penetrates the roof to disperse water onto tiles/slates.

A board fixed along the edge of a gable.

Horizontal small section timbers that are nailed to the rafters and to which tiles/slates are secured.

A roof that has insulation laid horizontally at ceiling level and a void between the insulation and its outer roof structure and covering.

A horizontal row of tiles or slates.

Framed window unit, which projects through the sloping plane of a roof.

Pipe which takes water away from guttering to drains.

The horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof – where the first course of tiles/slates are laid on the fascia board.

The horizontal timber trim attached vertically at the eaves that covers the rafter ends, the wall plate or the wall face – the guttering is fixed to this and upon which the first course of tiles/slates are laid.

Strip of lead, used at abutments, to stop water penetration, The ‘Code’ of lead means the thickness.

Breather membrane untearable bituminous or PVC sheet material, supplied in rolls and laid over rafters

The length of tile/slate exposed after it has been installed. It equals the distance between the top of one batten and the top of the next.

The upper portion of a sidewall, which comes to a triangular point at the ridge of a sloping roof.

The trough that channels water from the eaves to the down pipes.

The amount by which a tile/slate overlaps the course below it.

The meeting of two pitched roof surfaces, which meet at an external angle.

A metal hook, which is secured to the roof structure to support the hip tiles and stop them from slipping.

Mortar -A bonding mixture of sand and cement of 3 parts sand and 1 part cement or a lime mortar mixed to specification dependent on work location and ambient temperature.

Low protective wall that extends above the roofline for support.

Also known as ‘slope’, is the measure of how steep a roof is. The pitch of a roof is a big factor in determining the kinds of materials that can be used and the longevity of the roof. Usually, a steeper roof will last longer due to its better draining capabilities.

Main structural roof support timber: usually situated half way up the roof span: to which rafters are fixed.

The supporting framing timber, sloping from ridge to wall plate.

A diagonal cut across courses of tiles/slates

The uppermost horizontal junction of two slopes forming the apex of a pitched roof.

A piece of impervious flexible sheet material (usually lead) dressed to shape, fitted to provide weather protection.

A gutter formed at an abutment and effectively hidden from sight.

A small piece of sheet (usually lead), shaped and inserted between double lap tile or slates on the abutment between a slope and a vertical wall.

A board fixed to the feet of rafters, which forms the underside of projecting eaves

Fibre cement strip or tiles fixed at the verge beneath the battens, onto which the verge tiles/slates are bedded.

A layer of material acting as a barrier between the roof covering and the sub-structure (see felt)

The junction of two inclined roof surfaces at an internal angle to provide water run-off; channel to allow roof slopes at different pitches to join together and discharge water into gutters.

A visible gutter running down the valley.

A free end of a roof surface; for example that at the end of a gable or dormer.

A roof that has insulation and a vapour barrier laid above or between its supporting structure (normally on the pitch of the rafters) and immediately bellow its weatherproof membrane