Glossary
Adhere: The clinging of one surface to another; either molecularly or otherwise.
Asphalt: A is a material left as a residue after evaporating or otherwise processing crude oil or petroleum. Asphalt can be usded to various roofing grade specifications.
Membrane: The part of the roofing system which serves as the waterproofing material. Can be made of one material or several materials laminated together.
Mansard Roof: A steeper roof that terminates into a lower sloped roof at its high point.
Polymer: Any of numerous natural and synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of up to millions of repeated linked units, each a relatively light and simple molecule.
Pallets: Wooden platforms used for storing and shipping bundles of shingles.
Pitch: The degree of roof incline expressed as the ratio of the rise, in feet, to the span, in
feet.
Ply: The number of layers of roofing: i.e. one ply, two ply.
Quick setting cement: An asphalt based cement used to adhere tabs of strip shingles to
the course below. Also used to adhere roll roofing laps applied by the concealed nail
method.
Racking: Roofing application method in which shingle courses are applied vertically up the
roof rather than across and up. Not a recommended procedure.
Rafter: The supporting framing member immediately beneath the deck, sloping from the
ridge to the wall plate.
Rake: The inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall.
Random tab shingles: Shingles on which tabs vary in size and exposure.
Release tape: A plastic or paper strip that is applied to the back of self sealing shingles.
This strip prevents the shingles from sticking together in the bundles, and need not be
removed for application.
Ridge: The uppermost, horizontal external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping
roof planes.
Ridge shingles: Shingles used to cover the horizontal external angle formed by the
intersection of two sloping roof planes.