Roofing Terms

What is an abutment?

• The edge of a roof

• Where the roof meets the side of a wall, dorma or chimney

• The highest point of the roof

• A type of tile

What is the apex?

• A row of tile across the roof

• The draining edge of the roof

• Boards fixed to verge details

• The highest point of the roof where two slopes meet

What is a bargeboard?

• Where you store tiles overnight

• Boards fixed to verge details

• Where the roof meets a board

• A board used for standing on

What is a batten gauge?

• Distance between the battens required for slate and tiles

• Method used to nail slates to fixings

• A term used to assess how many tiles are required in a row

• The draining edge of a roof

What does the term 'course' refer to in slate and tiling?

• The junction between two internal roof slopes

• A row of tiles across the roof

• Roof finishing's that do not require a mortar bed

• Covering of sheet material made from bitumen

What is a double lap?

• Two tiles on top of each other

• When the gauge is less than half the length of the tile the tile laps not only the one below but also the one below that

• The drainage system for a roof

• A term used to describe the distance a tile overhangs the verge

What do we mean when we say a 'dry fix'?

• Roof finishing's that do not require a mortar bed

• Work that is completed in warm weather

• Small sections of material (usually lead) used with slates & plain tiles to make abutments watertight

• A flashing that fits junctions between two or more roof slopes

What is an eave?

• Materials cut so they form a close fit

• The line running along the top of two roof slopes

• The outer edges of the roof at the gable ends

• The draining edge of a roof

What is single lap?

• One tile per row

• The junction between two internal roof slopes

• The distance that a tile / slate is off set from the outside edge of the one below

• The depth of a tile

What does finial refer to?

• A decorative end ridge tile

• A plain tile

• A term used in slating meaning the slate is nailed at the top

• Materials cut so they form a close fit