Roofing 101- The Anatomy of a Pitched Roof
Roofing terms can be confusing. We have put together an overview of your pitched roof to help you better understand the anatomy of your roof.
Gable Roof Parts -A gable roof has two sloping sides that meet at the peak.
A gable roof contains the following parts:
Ridge: The peak of your roof. It is the highest point on a sloped roof.
Eaves: They are the lower edges of the roof that overhang the home’s exterior walls.
Gable: An A-shaped side wall of the home that forms the peak of the roof is called the gable.
Rake: The rake of the roof is the part that ends over a gable end.
Hip Roof Parts -A hip roof is where the ends are sloped. The gable end is replaced by a hip end. A hip roof still has a ridge and eaves (true for all peaked roofs)
A hip roof contains the following parts:
Hip: Sloped, diagonal ridge between two sections of the roof is called the hip ridge.
Hip End: The sloped side of the roof with a peaked top.
A valley is an inward joint where two sloping roofs meet. Your roof will likely have multiple valleys.
The Unseen Parts of Your Pitched Roof
Above, we have mentioned all of the parts of the roof that you can see. There is always more to a roof than what meets the eye. Here are some parts of the roof that you do not see:
Rafters: Rafters are part of the frame of your roof. They are the underlying structure that is holding up your roof.
Decking: The decking goes on top of the rafters and acts as a solid surface for the rest of your roof.
Underlayment: On top of the decking is underlayment. The underlayment protects the decking and rafters from moisture.
The above is all the roof basics, but here are a few other roof terms you may want to familiarize yourself with.
Fascia: A horizontal board that is fastened to the lower ends of the roof rafters. If you have gutters, they are attached to your fascia board.
Soffit: Soffits are the underside of the eaves.
Drip Edge: Metal flashing along the edges of the roofline, which is designed to divert rain away from the home.
Flashing: Flashing is metal that is used to help stop water from penetrating the junction of the roof with another surface. You will find flashing around chimneys, flue pies, and even in the valleys sometimes.
Middle Creek Roofing would be happy to come out and complete a full assessment of your roof system. Give us a call today at 1-717-949-2414!
Read our Roofing blog to discover more additional information about your roof!