Roofing and Gutter Terms

When you need work done on your roof or gutters, you need to make sure you can actually understand what the contractor is telling you. There are a lot of terms that get thrown around for every roofing installation and gutter installation. Read up on them, so you can have an informative conversation with your remodeler.

You may hear your roofer talk about the soffit. This is a vent located directly underneath a roof that provides your attic with adequate ventilation. You also need to be aware of your roof’s flashing. This item is made out of either vinyl or metal. This is the component of the roof that is responsible for moving water away from the roof so that it is unable to collect.

A problem that can necessitate a new roof is referred to as alligatoring. This is when the seams have opened up on your roof due to the materials underneath cracking. Most of the time, this occurs to tar roofs, and it typically occurs after the 10-year mark. This problem generally requires a total roofing installation to fix. Another issue to be aware of is the formation of an ice dam. This is when ice forms in the gutters and prevents water from properly flowing.

You also need to be aware of the difference between a pitch and a slope in relation to roofing. The pitch is the ratio of rising within the roof, and it is always expressed through a fraction. For example, a roof would be said to have a 1:6 pitch. The slope is expressed through inches, and it relates to how much the roof rises over a certain area of the house. For instance, if the slope rises three inches over a plane of 12 inches, then it would have a 3-in-12 slope.

You deserve to know what is going on with your house when you get a gutter installation or roofing installation. By knowing a few things, you can better communicate with your contractor.