The Homeowner’s Roofing Glossary

Asphalt Shingles

The T-Swift of roofing materials – they’re popular, reliable, and slay in all kinds of weather.  The classic overlapping rectangles protect your home and look great doing it! 

Drip Edge

Stiff material that is installed at the edge designed to protect the roof and underlying structures from water damage.

Eaves

Your roof’s eyebrows or part of the roof that hangs over the walls. They keep rain from dripping straight down onto your walls.

Fascia

The beltline of your roof - the vertical edge of the roof where gutters attach, keeping things tucked in and tidy.

Flashing

The unsung superhero of roofs. Thin metal sheets that keep water from sneaking into tricky spots like chimneys, vents or skylights.

Gable

The triangle in your roof’s geometry test. It's the part of the roof that looks like a slice of pie—tasty, right?

Gutter

The trusty trough along the edges of your roof, channeling water to a safe spot away from your foundation

Ice Dam

Winter’s cruel joke. It’s a ridge of ice that traps water on your roof, threatening leaks. (Hint: We can help prevent these!)

Pitch

The Goldilocks factor of your roof. Not too steep, not too flat—just right to keep you dry.  Also referred to as slope.  

Ridge Vent

Your roof’s personal trainer. It lets the roof breathe, keeping your attic cool and happy.

Soffit

The roof’s underbelly. This is the flat part under your eaves where birds think it's prime real estate.

Square

Isn’t some throwback to geometry class or a funky dance move – it’s a unit of measure! A square represents 100 square feet of roofing area so when a roofer says your roof is 20 squares, they’re not talking about a game of hopscotch; they mean your roof covers 2,000 square feet!

Underlayment

Your roof’s underwear. A hidden but vital layer that provides extra protection from the elements installed between the roof deck and the shingles.

Valley

The trough between roof slopes. Basically, your roof’s waterslide for rain and snow.

Warranty

Your roof’s safety net. It’s the promise that your roof will stay strong, or we’ll fix it.

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Call North OKGN Construction

The cherry on top of your roofing knowledge sundae. Now that you’re a roofing term whiz, let’s put that knowledge to use! Give us a call for a free quote or consultation. Let’s get your roof in tip-top shape—because nobody likes a leaky roof!

📞 250-550-6432
🌐 office@nokgnconstruction.ca