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A HOMEOWNER’S ROOFING GLOSSARY

Roofing Terminology: Common Roofing Terms

When you’re repairing or replacing your roof, it helps to speak the language. Here are the roofing terms you’ll hear most, explained in plain English by a Charlotte roofer.

Led by owner Vasily Zhuk, with 10+ years of hands-on roofing experience.

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GLOSSARY

Common Roofing Terms You Need to Know

Making an educated decision is always a good idea when it’s time to repair or replace your roof. Here are 22 terms you’ll come across, from algae to ventilation.

Algae

Dark streaks and spots on shingles caused by algae growing on the roof surface. More about algae on shingles →

Asphalt

A bituminous waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacturing.

Blistering

Bubbles in roofing materials, usually caused by moisture trapped under or inside the material.

Closed cut valley

An installation method where one roof plane’s shingles completely cover the other’s, and the top layer is cut to follow the valley line.

Course

A row of shingles or roll roofing running the length of the roof.

Cupping

Shingles that curl up at the edges, often from improper installation over an existing roof, overexposure or a manufacturing defect.

Deck

The surface installed over the roof framing that the roofing is applied to, usually plywood, OSB, planks or boards.

Dormer

A raised section that extends out of a larger roof plane, typically framing a window. More about roof dormers →

Drip edge

An L-shaped metal strip along the roof edges that directs water off the roof and into the gutters instead of behind the fascia or siding.

Eaves

The horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof, typically the first 3 feet of the roof. More about eaves and rakes →

Fascia

The vertical trim board along the roof edge that the gutters attach to.

Flashing

Metal pieces installed where the roof meets walls, chimneys, skylights and vents to keep water out of the joints.

Granules

The small mineral particles on top of asphalt shingles that protect them from the sun. Lots of granules in your gutters is a sign of an aging roof.

Ice and water shield

A self-sealing waterproof membrane installed in valleys, along eaves and around penetrations to stop leaks from wind-driven rain and ice.

Pitch

How steep a roof is, written as inches of rise per 12 inches of run (for example, 6/12).

Rake

The sloped edge of a gable roof that overhangs the wall, and the board or trim along it. More about eaves and rakes →

Ridge

The horizontal peak where two roof planes meet, covered with ridge cap shingles.

Soffit

The finished underside of the roof overhang, often vented to let air into the attic.

Square

The unit roofers use to measure a roof: one square covers 100 square feet.

Underlayment

The layer installed over the roof deck, under the shingles, as a secondary barrier against water.

Valley

The V-shaped channel where two sloping roof planes meet and water collects.

Ventilation

Intake and exhaust vents that move air through the attic to remove heat and moisture and help your roof last longer.

Have a roofing question?We’re happy to help with roofing, gutters, skylights or attic insulation.

Call (704) 396-8383 Text 704.396.8383

FEATURED GOOGLE REVIEWS

Rated 5.0 across 585+ Google reviews

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Adrianna Hayden 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From start to finish, our experience with Charlotte Ace Roofing was absolutely amazing!

They came out for our initial consultation, and we had our quote within just a few hours. By the end of that same night, we were officially on the schedule for our new roof!

On the day of construction, the team was prompt, quick, professional, and incredibly efficient. They worked hard and got the job done without any hassle. Even better, when they finished, they cleaned up everything so well that you couldn’t tell a roofing crew had just been there. Not one nail or old shingle in sight!

We truly appreciate the communication, professionalism, and quality of service we received from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a roofing company, we definitely recommend giving Charlotte Ace Roofing a call!

10/10 experience!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Vasiliy K. 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Charlotte Ace Roofing did an awesome job replacing our roof! From start to finish, the entire experience was professional and stress-free. Vasiliy was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with throughout the whole process.The crew worked efficiently and did an excellent job. I was especially impressed with how clean they left our property after the roof was completed—you could hardly tell a roofing crew had been there.The quality of the work speaks for itself. We now have one of the best-looking roof in Rock Hill! I would highly recommend Charlotte Ace Roofing to anyone looking for a professional, reliable, and hardworking roofing company.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Raquel Taylor 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service, arrived within 30 mins of
My call and identified the issue within the hour. Highly recommend!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Gilmore 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Couldn't recommend more. We first contacted Vasily a year ago to repair a leak in our roof. He was easy to get a hold of and when he came out the next day talked us through everything that was going on. He didn't push us for more or try to sell us a new roof, but made sure the repairs were completed quickly and thoroughly. I'm unfortunately a year later we found another leak in a completely new spot. We contacted him again and he was out a day later. He inspected our whole roof and offered to repair the new spot but mentioned several new spots that might be problems in the future. It was only then that we discussed a new roof. Within a week, he had acquired all the materials and his team was out fixing our roof. They completed the install in day finding several other holes that were at risk of leaking. Throughout the process, he communicated with us and guided us through the process without ever trying to upcharge or sell us on something else. He's a consummate professional and his team is a hardworking diligent group of men and women. The price is the price but knowing that I don't have to worry about my roof because it's been cared for and not feeling as if I've been taken is a huge relief.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Veronica Mattioli 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough good things about Charlotte Ace Roofing and, specifically, Vasily. We work with vendors across multiple markets through Cue360, and the level of service we have received from Vasily has been truly exceptional.

He is incredibly responsive, professional, reliable, and consistently goes above and beyond. Communication is outstanding, follow-through is impeccable, and the quality of the work speaks for itself. When Vasily says something is going to be handled, we know it will be handled, and handled well.

Finding a vendor you can genuinely trust is invaluable in our industry, and Charlotte Ace Roofing has quickly become exactly that for us. Vasily takes tremendous pride in his work and in taking care of his clients, and it shows in every interaction.

If you are looking for a roofing company in the Charlotte area, I could not recommend Charlotte Ace Roofing and Vasily more highly. Five stars genuinely doesn’t feel like enough!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Nickalos Adrianna Hayden 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had some leaking on our ceiling after the recent weather, so we reached out to two roofing companies to see when someone could come out and provide an estimate. We were pleasantly surprised when this company arrived in less than 1.5 hours!

From the very beginning, the communication, response time, and professionalism were excellent. Vasily took the time to assess the situation and was even able to identify and fix an issue with our gutter on the spot.

We truly appreciate how quickly he responded and how professional and knowledgeable Vasily was throughout the entire process. Based on this experience, we will definitely be moving forward with him for our roof replacement.

10/10 experience! Highly recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Miles Vincent Harris 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with Ace Roofing! The job went really well from start to finish. They kept us informed throughout the entire process, answered our questions, and made sure we knew what to expect. The before-and-after pictures were a great touch as well and really helped show the quality of the work. We’re very happy with the results and would definitely recommend them to anyone needing roofing work.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Keegan Cimler 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They did a great job with our roof! They were very communicative from start to finish and were even able to handle last minute add-ons to the initial work pretty quickly. Would recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Tamera Szijarto 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Called Charlotte Ace Roofing today, and the owner Vasily promptly came to inspect a water stain quickly forming in our ceiling. He diagnosed it and turned out to be an AC condensation or pipe issue and gave us a referral. Highly recommend Vasily and his company for prompt, fair, efficient diagnostics even if you don't know what's going on. Plus points that he's Ukrainian 👍

Read all our reviews →

GET STARTED TODAY

Ready for an honest answer on your roof?

Call Charlotte Ace Roofing or send the form. We’ll inspect your roof for free and give you a written estimate with no obligation.

Call (704) 396-8383 Text Us Get Free Estimate →

Adrianna Hayden

From start to finish, our experience with Charlotte Ace Roofing was absolutely amazing! They came out for our initial consultation, and we had our quote within just a few hours. By the end of that same night, we were officially on the schedule for our new roof! On the day of construction, the team was prompt, quick, professional, and incredibly efficient. They worked hard and got the job done without any hassle. Even better, when they finished, they cleaned up everything so well that you couldn’t tell a roofing crew had just been there. Not one nail or old shingle in sight! We truly appreciate the communication, professionalism, and quality of service we received from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a roofing company, we definitely recommend giving Charlotte Ace Roofing a call! 10/10 experience!

Vasiliy K.

Charlotte Ace Roofing did an awesome job replacing our roof! From start to finish, the entire experience was professional and stress-free. Vasiliy was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with throughout the whole process.The crew worked efficiently and did an excellent job. I was especially impressed with how clean they left our property after the roof was completed—you could hardly tell a roofing crew had been there.The quality of the work speaks for itself. We now have one of the best-looking roof in Rock Hill! I would highly recommend Charlotte Ace Roofing to anyone looking for a professional, reliable, and hardworking roofing company.

Raquel Taylor

Excellent service, arrived within 30 mins of My call and identified the issue within the hour. Highly recommend!!

Andrew Gilmore

Couldn't recommend more. We first contacted Vasily a year ago to repair a leak in our roof. He was easy to get a hold of and when he came out the next day talked us through everything that was going on. He didn't push us for more or try to sell us a new roof, but made sure the repairs were completed quickly and thoroughly. I'm unfortunately a year later we found another leak in a completely new spot. We contacted him again and he was out a day later. He inspected our whole roof and offered to repair the new spot but mentioned several new spots that might be problems in the future. It was only then that we discussed a new roof. Within a week, he had acquired all the materials and his team was out fixing our roof. They completed the install in day finding several other holes that were at risk of leaking. Throughout the process, he communicated with us and guided us through the process without ever trying to upcharge or sell us on something else. He's a consummate professional and his team is a hardworking diligent group of men and women. The price is the price but knowing that I don't have to worry about my roof because it's been cared for and not feeling as if I've been taken is a huge relief.

Veronica Mattioli

I cannot say enough good things about Charlotte Ace Roofing and, specifically, Vasily. We work with vendors across multiple markets through Cue360, and the level of service we have received from Vasily has been truly exceptional. He is incredibly responsive, professional, reliable, and consistently goes above and beyond. Communication is outstanding, follow-through is impeccable, and the quality of the work speaks for itself. When Vasily says something is going to be handled, we know it will be handled, and handled well. Finding a vendor you can genuinely trust is invaluable in our industry, and Charlotte Ace Roofing has quickly become exactly that for us. Vasily takes tremendous pride in his work and in taking care of his clients, and it shows in every interaction. If you are looking for a roofing company in the Charlotte area, I could not recommend Charlotte Ace Roofing and Vasily more highly. Five stars genuinely doesn’t feel like enough!

Nickalos Adrianna Hayden

We had some leaking on our ceiling after the recent weather, so we reached out to two roofing companies to see when someone could come out and provide an estimate. We were pleasantly surprised when this company arrived in less than 1.5 hours! From the very beginning, the communication, response time, and professionalism were excellent. Vasily took the time to assess the situation and was even able to identify and fix an issue with our gutter on the spot. We truly appreciate how quickly he responded and how professional and knowledgeable Vasily was throughout the entire process. Based on this experience, we will definitely be moving forward with him for our roof replacement. 10/10 experience! Highly recommend!

Miles Vincent Harris

We had a great experience with Ace Roofing! The job went really well from start to finish. They kept us informed throughout the entire process, answered our questions, and made sure we knew what to expect. The before-and-after pictures were a great touch as well and really helped show the quality of the work. We’re very happy with the results and would definitely recommend them to anyone needing roofing work.

Keegan Cimler

They did a great job with our roof! They were very communicative from start to finish and were even able to handle last minute add-ons to the initial work pretty quickly. Would recommend!

Tamera Szijarto

Called Charlotte Ace Roofing today, and the owner Vasily promptly came to inspect a water stain quickly forming in our ceiling. He diagnosed it and turned out to be an AC condensation or pipe issue and gave us a referral. Highly recommend Vasily and his company for prompt, fair, efficient diagnostics even if you don't know what's going on. Plus points that he's Ukrainian 👍