Roofing Glossary

Acoustical Tile: Special tile for walls and ceilings made of mineral, wood, vegetable fibers, cork, or metal. Its purpose is to control sound volume, while providing cover.

Bearing Wall: A wall that supports a floor or roof of a building.

Building Paper: Heavy paper used in walls or roofs to dampproof.
 
Built-Up Roof: A roofing material applied in sealed, waterproof layers, where there is only a slight slope to the roof.

Cornice: Horizontal projection at the top of a wall or under the overhanging part of the roof.

Hip Roof: A roof that slants upward on three or four sides.

Sheathing: The first covering of boards or material on the outside wall or roof prior to installing the finished siding or roof covering.

Shingles: Pieces of wood, asbestos or other material used as an overlapping outer covering on walls or roofs.

Valley: The depression at the meeting point of two roof slopes.

Verge: The edge of tiles, slates or shingles, projecting over the gable of a roof.