What are the different parts of a roof called - Roof Glossary

Moving into your first house or you’ve recently noticed that your roof is defective and would like to understand what the issue is and how to fix it? TCK Roofing & Building have put together a roofing glossary to help you understand the many parts of a roof.

• Attic – this is the space found under a roof, generally used to store seasonal belongings such as holiday decorations, travel items and hobby gear. The attic, unless converted into a habitable room, is otherwise a room that isn’t used often and therefore will require adequate ventilation.

• Decking (aka sheathing) – typically forged from plywood, this material is used to reinforce the roof’s structure, closing gaps and providing a fully sealed shelter. The decking is utilised as a nail bed, for the shingles that’ll be fixed to the roof.

• Eaves – this part of the roof overhangs the building, to ensure effective rainwater clearance.

• Fascia – this part is attached to the ends of the rafters and sits underneath the roof’s edge, connecting the rafters and trusses. Fascias can be seen from the ground and faults can be easily noticed.  

• Flashing – this stops your roof from leaking. Roof flashing is the sealant that connects the joins of the roof in order to keep it watertight. The most common material used to make flashing is galvanised sheet metal.

• Guttering – also known as a rain gutter, eavestrough and surface water collection channel is an important part of the roof that takes rainwater away from the roof and into a drainage system.

• Ridge – the horizontal line formed from where roof planes meet. This is the highest point/peak of your roof.

• Saddle – this part is found behind higher projections on a roof, which helps to direct rainwater off and into the drainage system.

• Shingles – these cover the entirety of a roof and slightly overlap each other, working together to protect the underside of the roof from weathering. They come in a multitude of colours and shapes for aesthetic purposes.

• Soffits – found around the edge of a roof’s exterior, soffits bridge the gap between the ceiling and the exterior walls. Soffits can improve energy efficiency by keeping all weathering elements at bay and therefore, heating bills low.

• Valley – these are the metal channels that come together to form a ‘V’.

TCK Roofing & Building is a third-generation family-run roofing business, with over 55 years of experience. That offers a range of roofing services including; copper & lead roofing, green roofing, conservation roofing, emergency roof repairs, chimney repairs and restorations, new roof installations, guttering cleaning, roof inspections and surveys, fascia​s​, soffits & cladding, velux & skylight installation.

To customers in Watford, Rickmansworth, Potters Bar, St Albans, Edgware, Harrow, Northwood, Pinner, Barnet, Finchley, Golders Green, Hampstead and beyond.

Why not contact TCK Roofing & Building for a free quote today, quality skilled tradesmen at unbeatable prices!