Term
|
Description
|
Abutment
|
The
junction of a roof surface with a wall, or any other structural feature,
which arises above it.
|
Barge
Board
|
A board
fixed along the edge of a gable.
|
Batten
|
Horizontal
small section timbers that are nailed to the rafters and to which
tiles/slates are secured.
|
Back
Gutter
|
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.
|
Cold
Roof
|
A roof
that has insulation laid horizontally at ceiling level and a void between the
insulation and its outer roof structure and covering.
|
Course
|
A
horizontal row of tiles or slates.
|
Dormer
|
Framed
window unit, which projects through the sloping plane of a roof.
|
Down
Pipe
|
Pipe
which takes water away from guttering to drains.
|
Eaves
|
The
horizontal, lower edge of a sloped roof - where the first course of
tiles/slates are laid on the fascia board.
|
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.
|
Felt/Underlay
|
Untearable
bituminous or PVC sheet material, supplied in rolls and laid over rafters.
|
Flashing
|
Strip
of lead, used at abutments, to stop water penetration. The ‘Code’ of lead
means the thickness.
|
Gable
|
The
upper portion of a sidewall, which comes to a triangular point at the ridge
of a sloping roof.
|
Gauge
|
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.
|
Gutter
|
The
trough that channels water from the eaves to the down pipes.
|
Headlap
|
The
amount by which a tile/slate overlaps the course below it.
|
Hip
|
The
meeting of two pitched roof surfaces, which meet at an external angle.
|
Hip
Iron
|
A metal
hook, which is secured to the roof structure to support the hip tiles and
stop them from slipping.
|
Mortar
|
Sand
& cement mix consisting of 3 parts sand to1 part cement.
|
Parapet
|
Low
protective wall that extends above the roofline for support.
|
Pitch
|
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.
|
Purling
|
Main
structural roof support timber: usually situated half way up the roof span:
to which rafters are nailed.
|
Rafter
|
The
supporting framing timber, sloping from ridge to wall plate.
|
Raking
Cut
|
A
diagonal cut across courses of tiles/slates.
|
Ridge
|
The
uppermost horizontal junction of two slopes forming the apex of a pitched roof.
|
Saddle
|
A piece
of impervious flexible sheet material (usually lead) dressed to shape, fitted
to provide weather protection.
|
Secret
Gutter
|
A
gutter former at an abutment and effectively hidden from sight.
|
Soaker
|
A small
piece of sheet (usually lead), shaped and inserted between double lap tile or
slates on the abutment between a roof slope and a vertical wall.
|
Soffit
Board
|
A board
fixed to the feet of rafters, which forms the underside of projecting eaves.
|
Undercloak
|
Fibre
cement strip, fixed at the verge beneath the battens, onto which the verge
tiles/slates are bedded.
|
Underlay
|
A layer
of material acting as a barrier between the roof covering and the
sub-structure (see felt).
|
Valley
|
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.
|
Valley
Gutter
|
A
visible gutter running down the valley.
|
Verge
|
A free
end of a roof surface; for example that at the end of a gable or dormer.
|
Warm
Roof
|
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 below its
weatherproof membrane.
|