The Components That Make up Your Roof
Like any trade or profession, roofing comes with its own set of terms and jargon. While most homeowners won’t need to master the full roofing vocabulary, understanding a few key terms can make a big difference—especially when discussing issues with a contractor or getting quotes.
Knowing the right words helps you clearly describe potential problems, ask informed questions, and feel more confident when hiring a roofing professional. And if you ever need help from someone who speaks the language fluently, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Whalleys.
Whatever brought you here, you’re clearly curious and ready to learn—so let’s get into it.
Parts of a Pitched Roof
– Roof Ridge
The ridge is the highest part of a gabled roof, also known as the peak. This contains the ridge board which is the main component of the structure of a roof. The rafters and trusses that support the roof are connected to the ridge board.
– Roof Valley
This is where two angled parts of the roof slope towards each other and meet. This allows a clear path for drainage of the roof.
– Hip Roof
A hipped roof is where all sections of the roof slope downwards so the roof has no vertical sides.
– Drip edge
This is an edge on a roof that helps direct water away from the house towards the gutter. Drip edges have metal flashing shaped like an “L” which is also called drip edge flashing.
– Dormer
This is a structure on the roof that usually has a window and extends vertically from the roof.
– Roof Abutment
This is where two surfaces of a roof meet. This could be two sections of roof or a section of the roof and a wall.
– Roof Soffit and Fascia
A soffit is underneath the edge of the roof (eaves) or any overhanging part of the roof. Roof fascia is the vertical band that wraps the entire perimeter of the roof under the gutter and above the soffit.
– Roof Eaves
This is part of the roof that overhangs the structure. This contains the gutter, fascial system and soffit.
– Gable/Roof (Roof Rake)
This is a pitched roof that has two roof sections sloping in opposite directions away from each other.
– Gable End
This is the wall and the roof structure above it on a structure with a gable roof.
Parts of a Roof Drain System
A roof drainage system is installed to collect water and anything else that might end up on your roof, like leaves and other debris. You should ensure your roof is properly maintained to prevent water damage and buildup of debris in gutter runs. A well-maintained roof drainage system can extend the lifetime of your roof by years.
– Roof Rain Gutter (eavestrough)
This is where all the drainage is collected on your roof. Almost always it can be found on the outside of an eave.
– Roof Downspout (Roof drain)
This is where the drainage meets the ground. Usually made of metal (Aluminum Gutters/Downspouts) and part of the roof gutter system.
– Roof Flashing
A thin metal barrier to help with drainage. Can be found when two sections of the roof meet each other or another surface. Chimney flashing for example
All of these terms make up the different parts of a roof structure. You will be able to understand what a roofing contractor is talking about when having conversations about your roof. If you notice an issue with your roof you should be able to accurately describe where it is located on your roof via the information above. Check out our roofing inspection blog post on some common roofing issues to look out for. If you need a professional inspection and free quote please contact us.
