Roofing 101: Understand the Basics of Your Roof Before You Buy One

by southshore | Mar 30, 2020 | Roof Replacement, Residential Roofing Service

Buying a new roof can be a bit stressful and complicated, especially when you don’t quite understand all the parts of your roof.

Your roofer will probably use a lot of roofing expressions when explaining which solution is the best for you and understanding them will make the entire process much easier.

In order to help you, we bring you some of the most important roofing terms that a homeowner should know.

So, read on, learn some new terms or simply refresh your roofing knowledge!

Shingles

Shingles are the exterior part, the outermost part of your roof. They are the surface of the roof that you see when you look at it, as well as the most exposed and vulnerable part of your roof.

Precisely due to their exposure to the elements, they are made to be high-quality, durable, and resistant so that they can protect your entire roof structure from damages.

There are many different types of shingles which, naturally, vary in quality and durability. The type you choose, however, will depend on the climate in your area and the type of weather that you get.

In consultation with your roofer, you can choose among asphalt shingles, which are still the most popular roofing option in the U.S., metal, slate, tile, wood shingles, and others. Different materials and types also vary in styles and colors, which means you can choose the one that fits your aesthetic needs as well.

Flashing

Flashing is a very important, protective part of your roof and it is made in the form of narrow strips. These strips can be made out of metal, copper, aluminum, steel, etc. and they are installed around all roof penetrations, joints, and every other area where two different parts of the roof meet.

The main role of flashing is sealing those areas where the roof parts meet so that water cannot reach inside and seep into the interior of your home.

These areas include the areas around chimneys, skylights, roof valley, hips, vents, and any other protrusion that exists on your roof or two different roof parts that meet.

Flashing is resistant to corrosion and it is crucial in preventing water from seeping into the roof structure, under the shingles, and under the underlayment. It will direct the water into the gutters and prevent leaks and serious water damages.

Gutter System

The gutter system is another crucial part of your roof that prevents leaks and water damages on the roof and inside your home.

Its main role is diverting the water off of the roof and away from the entire property.

A gutter system consists of the gutters that are installed at the edges of your roof and the downspouts that are installed vertically on the exterior walls, leading from the roof to the ground.

These parts all work together to drain any water from the roof and prevent it from pooling. They also work to prevent water from seeping along the exterior walls, damaging them in the process, as well as the surrounding landscape.

Decking or Sheathing

Roof deck, decking or sheathing is the bottom-most part of the roof’s structure that is directly attached to the attic. It is completely flat and it functions as the base or the foundation of your roof.

As the roof’s base, its main role is a supportive one, i.e. it structurally supports the entire roof, making it strong, sturdy, and stable. Decking is made out of composite wood, plywood, or OBS (oriented strand board).

Underlayment

After the decking comes the underlayment. It is installed right after the deck, i.e. directly on top of it and just below the roof shingles.

The main role of underlayment is a protective one. It functions as an additional layer of protection from water and water damages, which is why it has to be either waterproof or water-resistant.

It is usually installed on steep-slope roofs and it is made out of asphalt-saturated felt, rubberized asphalt or some other similar felt material.

Roofing Square

A square is the most commonly used measurement among roofers. You will most likely hear them talking in squares while calculating how many shingles and other materials will be needed to cover the entire surface of your roof.

So, when they say one square, they actually refer to a roof area that is the size of 10 by 10 feet. This, in turn, is approximately 100 square feet. Therefore, 1 square = 100 square feet.

If your roof is, for example, 20 squares large, it means that the size of your roof’s surface is 2000 square feet.

Ridge & Ridge Vents

Roof ridge is the highest point of your roof – we can say it is the roof’s peak. It refers to the point, i.e. the horizontal line where the two sloping parts of your roof meet or intersect.

Across this part, this horizontal intersection, ridge vents are installed. This is another crucial part of the roof because it allows the air to naturally circulate.

It is through these ridge vents that the hot air from the attic escapes outside, thus preventing the roof from overheating and malfunctioning.

Roof Valley

As opposed to the roof ridge, roof valleys are the areas where two roof slopes meet but at the bottom. These would, therefore, be the bottom intersections of the roof.

Seeing as they are at the bottom and forming the so-called valleys, they are also very vulnerable. Rainwater can easily collect in them, which is why it is crucial to install flashing here and prevent water from seeping inside.

Slope vs. Pitch

Slope and pitch are used when talking about the steepness of a roof or about the angle of its incline. It is important to emphasize that these terms are not interchangeable, even though they are sometimes used as synonyms.

These terms are also not used when talking about flat roofs, for example, as flat roofs do not have an incline.

Slope refers to the actual angle of the roof’s incline. It tells us how much the roof rises vertically over its horizontal line.

Slope is expressed in measurements such as 6:12, which we would say “a 6-in-12 roof slope.” This means that your roof rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 inches on its horizontal line. A 6:12 slope, for example, is steeper than a 4:12 slope.

Pitch also refers to the roof’s incline, but it is expressed in fractions. It is less commonly used and it refers to the vertical rise of the roof but this time in relation to its span from one wall to another.

A roof can, therefore, have a 1/6 pitch, which would mean it rises 4 feet over a 24-foot span. A 1/3 pitch, on the other hand, means that a roof rises 8 feet over a 24-foot span, which is steeper than 1/6.

Ready to Talk to Your Roofer

These were some of the most common terms that homeowners use or hear when talking with their roofers. There are, of course, many more of them, but knowing at least these basic ones will make the communication and the entire roof replacement process much easier.

For any additional questions and explanations, your South Shore roofers are at your disposal at all times!

What our HAPPY CUSTOMERS are saying

Terri Giannattasio

SSR (South Shore Roofing) has a very “Classy” business model. First touch call was with Erica and she demonstrated grand skills, collect data on our needs, received our emailed pics and set up the appointment. SSR sent and email confirming the on-site visit. Luke with SSR sent a text day before visit with his arrival time, picture and informative Bio! Luke texted us to share he was in route. Evaluation and next steps were COMPLETED! CLASSY! Thank you. The G’s

Lee Haight

Professional organization from the top down . Class act to hire for any roofing project

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore replaced our roof this past fall and made the entire process painless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster (as this was for a rental property we own) to keeping us updated with photos, they did an outstanding job throughout. The job supervisor even personally made sure the shingles were tucked under the siding to prevent leaks. All correspondence was courteous and professional. Would definitely recommend.

Steven Bicette

Kile and his team made me very proud,after building my roof,perfect job,i will recommend them to any home owner way to go.

Lisabeth Degnan Silady

My husband spent a lengthy period of time researching potential roofing contractors and brand of material to be utilized. It is a critical investmnt both in terms of structure and cost. We narrowed the search down to three companies. It was a difficult decision, but now that the project is complete, we know we made the best choice. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, communication, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship. One note for constructive improvement would be the final nail pick-up (at least on our project). A thorough job is so important for all the obvious reasons. Again – we made the right choice with South Shore Roofing – Kyle Patrick and his entire team are the best. We recommend South Shore wholeheartedly.

Chad Laster

I needed my old roof replaced and was looking for a reputable roofer that I could count on. Ran across South Shore on the internet and saw their trucks around town. They looked very professional so I gave them a call. I was lucky to have the pleasure of talking with the office manger, Casey, who was very helpful and answered all the questions I had. She got the the ball rolling for me. Soon Kyle, the owner, and his crew had me scheduled and were on site shortly after. The roof looks great! I’m always nervous dealing with contractors but this is one that gets the job done right the first time.

Hema Kaviratna

South Shore Roofing just finished, getting our new roof done. It was such a pleasure to work with them, especially our contact person Tyler McGowan. He is very quick to answer our phone calls, emails and text messages. Tyler was very patient with answering all our questions and took care of all our concerns during the project. He and others, Kyle Patrick and Luke Patrick, were very punctual and explained the process well. Working crew was commendable, hardworking, efficient workers and they did a wonderful job! South Shore Roofing worked very efficiently with our insurance company to get the claim going through very smoothly. South Shore finished the roofing job in a timely manner as promised. My house looks very beautiful now!

John Cheatham

I had a roof replaced after a free inspection that revealed hail damage. The workers were quick, efficient, and effective. The edge lines across the roof could not have been straighter had they been laid out with a laser. My vents that went through the roof were painted, from white to black, and visually disappeared. Just an example of the thoughtful attention to detail in their work. The sealant around the mounting points for my satellite dish guarantee it will never leak. I give them my highest possible recommendation. OUTSTANDING!

Hannah Joy-Dinello

We had been looking for a company to come fix our roof after the hurricane last October. After several failed attempts with other companies we finally asked a friend and were referred to South Shore. We met Luke and Tyler and were immediately impressed! They were professional, easy to talk to, and we ended up getting the pristine shingles from all the money we were able to save. The work was done almost immediately and only took a couple of days. Tyler came after it was done to check the work and make sure there were no nails left in our yard. Now we have a beautiful new roof and peace of mind the next time a major storm comes through! We will definitely be reccommending South Shore to anyone that asks!

Alexander Oliver

Thank you South Shore for doing such a great job on my granddads roof! The staff at South Shore were very professional and put him at ease enough to finally get the new roof he needed. We are SO happy that he didn’t try to keep patching it with duct tape and tar. We can rest easy that that roof will last a good long time and its all because of you! Thanks again SOUTH SHORE!!!You are AWESOME!!!!

Amanda Hedrick

South Shore really did make my roofing experience easy. Tyler was prompt with the estimate and very responsive by text and phone. Kyle kept me updated once the project began and the working crew was efficient and cleaned as they went. I had a roof removal with some decking replacement and a new architectural roof installed. It looks great and I highly recommend South Shore to friends and family now. Definitely the team to work with!

Paul Tilson

You won’t find a better roofing company anywhere than South Shore Roofing, definitely a 5 star roofing company. Top quality work delivered very professionally. Superior customer service. Luke and Kyle are the best! Luke was especially awesome with working up the estimate, explaining the options and the entire procedure, and helping with the insurance claims. The installation crew was top notch, hard working, very professional including great clean up afterwards. They even made a return visit a few days later for some finishing details. I recommend South Shore Roofing without reservation to any home owner.

Tom Lawrence

South Shore Roofing was a pleasure to work with and met all our needs in a prompt and efficent manner! If you’re looking for great customer service and a job well done, you won’t be disappointed!!! My wife and I are tremendously impressed with this company and the way they conduct business!!!

Jennifer Estelle

They did a great job. They we’re on time, efficient, did a great job from beginning to end. My yard is heavily landscaped, and I have a pool. They were very careful around my plants, flowers, and pool. They did an excellent job cleaning up during and after. My roof looks wonderful! Staff was very polite, and easy to work with. They even helped me with my insurance claim. Overall wonferful to work with. Would definitely reccomend them for roof work.

Lisabeth Silady

We made the best choice of roofing contractors selecting South Shore Roofing. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, knowledge, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship.

Amanda Mendiola

I want to take the time to say how pleased I am with Kyle Patrick on his service with my new home recently we just got into a bad storm and I was looking everywhere up-and-down trying to find a great deal I happened to see A sign posted on Facebook and I called Kyle he was very nice and very professional of what he does and at a reasonable price !!!!thanks to him and his guys I am able to relax a little keep up the good work Kyle ! And I recommend everyone in Savannah area and pool area to give him a call he’s the best in town and he won’t lie or cheat you out of your money !!!!!!!

Lois Maher

The team at South Shore Roofing was fantastic, they were supporting, understanding and helpful.
They worked with my insurance company to get me the best outcome.
The team that replaced my roof were terrific, excellent job. The contractor Shore Shore Roofing sent to replace the interior damage was also terrific. In the repair of interior they found more damage than previously thought which was very discouraging, however they went right to work repairing the damage and billed my insurance carrier.

I am very pleased with total repair of the roof & interior. I would recommend South Shore Roofing.

Samantha

South Shore Roofing provided me with all of my roofing needs. My representative, Tyler McGowan was charming, professional, and extremely helpful in assisting me work with my insurance company in order to get me what I needed – it was almost like I didn’t have to do anything at all! My roof was completed in a timely manner and is everything I imagined. I would hate to imagine where i’d be without it. My old roof was outdated and the siding was busted. Now I have confidence it can weather any storm. My neighbors are already asking about it. Thank you, Tyler! You really know your stuff.

Amanda Hedrick

Jessica Smith

Casey and the team at South Shore are above and beyond professional, timely to reply to inquiries, priced very reasonably, and most importantly do amazing work.
I feel confident recommending this company to anyone who will listen. Tyler did amazing work and left the workspace immaculate upon completion.
We know that Hurricanes are frequent in south GA- and while I hope my roof never needs their services again, *if* it does, they’re the ONLY ones we will call.

Thanks so much for everything.

Lindsay Roberts

South Shore Roofing was amazing to work with! Tyler was very professional and friendly and explained the whole process to me thoroughly. He was always great at responding to my calls and messages without making me feel like a bother. I was so happy with the finished product and will definitely be recommending them to family and friends!!

Jorge Valdes

Incredible service! I had a tight deadline from my home insurance to fix my roof or else they’d cancel my policy. South Shore Roofing was the only company who got back to me on a timely manner and were able to finish the job before the deadline. I’m incredibly happy with them and I definitely recommend them! They had all the professionalism of a big company but with a sense of being 1-on-1 with me. Very happy and saved me from being forced into an insurance policy 3x more expensive from my bank. Thanks a bunch!

Marcena Brinson

I had a very good experience with their rep. He helped me pick out the color, the style, etc. He called me often and returned all calls that I made to him. We had problems with the painters and he got right on it to see that new better ones were hired. My roof looks wonderful and interior work meets my satisfaction! Very good people skills!

Chris Sommers

I’m very happy with this company. I took estimates from three contractors for a brand new roof. South Shore was the most expensive, but I felt better about going with a business that was well established and had already demonstrated good customer service. I made the right choice as the new roof was put up within seven days of signing the contract. The workers were great, and everything was cleaned up very well after the job was completed.

Neal Hamilton

After we encountered storm damage for the first time ever, I had no idea who to call and South Shore was one of the roofers recommended. From the moment I met Luke Patrick I knew my decision was made. His knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance company adjusters made South Shore stand out high above my other bidders. Luke’s efforts to negotiate a full roof replacement v. partial was masterful. Additionally, South Shore agreed to act as the G.C. to handle all other aspects of the remediation work. I HIGHLY recommend South Shore for any roofing needs! I only wish they did commercial work so I could ditch my so-so existing roofers.

Debbie Walker

South Shore Roofing gave me very professional service from beginning to end. I was emailed a picture and brief bio of the estimator who would be viewing my roof. Luke Patrick arrived on time, was very professional and was very knowledgeable. He met with my insurance adjuster and handled all the paperwork and phone calls. It was truly a blessing to have South Shore handle all the details. During the roof process, they kept me informed, answered all my questions and were very reassuring. I highly recommend them.

Daniel Menges

We are so thankful to have come across South Shore Roofing while searching for contractors. Luke went above and beyond, to make sure the whole process was quick and painless. Erica was efficient, making sure the paperwork process went smoothly. Overall, South Shore is a phenomenal company. If you want a professional, hardworking company with great pricing, South Shore Roofing is the way to go!

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore made the process of replacing our roof completely seamless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster when we could not be present to keeping us updated with photos of the work’s progress, they were professional and courteous all the way through. the work they did was top notch and the final product is beautiful. Would do business again in a heartbeat and have already recommended them to neighbors.

Craig Delaney

This was the best experience that I have had with any roofing company. They worked with us from start to finish and never once did we have to have them redo anything. They began work at 7 a.m. as stated in my contact with the tearing off of the roof and was finished with the replacement asking with clean up by 8:30 pm. Awesome job!

John Spotto

An absolute pleasurable experience dealing with South Shore Roofing. From the first contact with Justin, to the last correspondence with Erica at the office and the dealings with the project managers (Brent & Kyle) in between, it has been nothing but a very smooth & professional experience. The new roof looks fantastic and workmanship top notch.
If you need a new roof these are the people to seek out! Highly recommend South Shore Roofing!