GAF | Glossary of Roofing Terms

Algae

Rooftop fungus that can leave dark stains on roofing.

Angled Fasteners

Roofing nails and staples driven into decks at angles not parallel to the deck.

Apron Flashing

Metal flashing used at chimney fronts.

ARMA

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Organization of roofing manufacturers.

Asphalt

A bituminous waterproofing agent used in various types of roofing materials.

Asphalt Concrete Primer

Asphalt based primer used to prepare concrete and metal for asphalt sealant.

Asphalt Plastic Cement

Asphalt based sealant material, meeting ASTM D4586 Type I or II. Used to seal and adhere roofing materials. Also called mastic, blackjack, roof tar, bull.

ASTM

The American Society for Testing and Materials. Organization that sets standards for a wide variety of materials, including roofing.

Granular material added to shingles back to assist in keeping separate during delivery and storage.

Blistering

Bubbles or pimples in roofing materials. Usually moisture related. In shingles blisters are caused by either moisture under the material or moisture trapped inside the material.

Blow-Offs

When shingles are subjected to high winds, and are forced off a roof deck.

Buckling

When a wrinkle or ripple affects shingles or their underlayments.

A shingle valley installation method where one roof planes shingles completely cover the others. The top layer is cut to match the valley lines. Cobra

GAFs respected brand name for ventilation products.

Counter Flashing

The metal or siding material that is installed over roof-top base flashing systems.

Country Mansion

GAFs limited lifetime warranty shingle.

Crickets

A peaked water diverter installed behind chimneys and other large roof projections. Effectively diverts water around projections.

Cupping

When shingles are improperly installed over an existing roof or are over-exposed, they may form a curl or cup. May also be due to a manufacturing defect.

The substrate over which roofing is applied. Usually plywood, wood boards, or planks.

Deck Armor

Deck Armor - premium breathable roof deck protection. It provides a critical extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck to help prevent wind-driven rain (or water from other sources) from infiltrating under your shingles and causing damage to your roof structure or to the inside of your home.

Dormer

A raised roof extending out of a larger roof plane.

Drip Edge

An installed lip that keeps shingles up off the deck at edges, and extends shingles out over eaves and gutters, and prevents

Dubl-Coverage Mineral Guard

Roll roofing material with 19" selvage edge for double coverage over roof deck.

The roof edge from the fascia to the structures outside wall. In general terms, the first three feet across a roof is termed the eave.

End Laps

When installing rolled products in roofing, the area where a roll ends on a roof, and is overlapped by the next section of rolled material. EWA

Engineered Wood Association. Tests and sets standards for all varieties of plywood used in the U.S.

Exposure

The area on any roofing material that is left exposed to the elements.

Nails or staples used to secure roofing to the deck.

FHA

The Federal Housing Authority sets construction standards throughout the U.S. Fiberglass Mat

Fibers condensed into strong, resilient mats for use in roofing materials. Flange

Metal pan extending up or down a roof slope around flashing pieces. Usually at chimneys and plumbing vents

Flashing

Materials used to waterproof a roof around any projections

Flashing Cement

Sealant designed for use around flashing areas, typically thicker than plastic cement.

Traditional roof style; two peaked roof planes meeting at a ridge line of equal size. GAFCant

GAF cant strips for deflecting water away from flashing areas. Typically used on low slope roofs. Golden Pledge

GAFs strongest limited warranty for shingles. Americas strongest steep slope warranty. Grand Sequoia

GAF shingle with wood shake appearance. Grand Slate

GAF shingle with slate appearance.

Granules

Crushed rock that is coated with a ceramic coating and fired, used as top surface on shingles.

The method to assure sealing of shingles on very steep slopes, in high wind areas, and when installing in cold weather.

High Nailing

When shingles are nailed or fastened above the manufacturers specified nail location.

Hip Legs

The down-slope ridges on hip roofs. Hip Roof

A roof with four roof planes coming together at a peak and four separate hip legs.

When a snow load melts on a roof and re-freezes at the eave areas. Ice dams force water to "back-up" under shingles and cause leakage.

"L" Flashing

Continuous metal flashing consisting of several feet of metal. Used at horizontal walls, bent to resemble an "L".

Laminated Shingles

Shingles made from two separate pieces that are laminated together such as GAF Timberline Series, Country Mansion and Grand Sequoia Shingles. Also called dimensional shingles and architectural shingles.

Laps

The area where roll roofing or rolled underlayments overlap one another during application (see also side laps and end laps). Liberty

Self-adhering low-slope roofing. Liberty systems are applied without torches, open flames, hot asphalt, or messy solvent-based adhesives.

Low Slopes

Roof pitches less than 4:12 are considered low sloped roofs. Special installation practices must be used on roofs sloped 2:12-4:12. Shingles can not be installed at slopes less than 2/12.

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GAF | Glossary of Roofing Terms