It is quite natural for any common man to be unaware of some roofing terms that are used daily. But as someone who is about to own a home, you need to be aware of some roofing terminologies. We know these terms are super technical, but it never hurts to know and understand the basics, so you know what your interior designer is talking about when they explain to you what they are planning on doing. Now, what would you prefer – staying clueless while they go on about their advice on roof planning or impressing them with your knowledge on the subject? To help you understand and bifurcate each component of the roof, we have laid out the basic anatomy of a roof.
Roof Trusses
This is quite literally the foundation of the roof as the roof trusses offer most of the support for all the different components that will be laid over it henceforth. This is also responsible for the entire structure of the roof, and the framework is usually made up of three or more pieces.
Ridge Vent
This is the ventilation outlet of your house and is designed to let out any moisture that is collected in your kitchen or house. Situated at the very peak of the roof, this helps the roof in maintaining a constant temperature and get rid of any excess heat or moisture that may cause a rut or mould of sorts inside the house. This also allows air to pass through the house continuously.
Underlayment
Underlayments are designed to be used on a residential roof deck as they act as a water-resistant layer beneath the roofing shingles. This is a must component for homes and residents situated in the areas and cities prone to monsoons as they prevent water leakages. It is basically a thin layer that usually poses as a barrier between the home and elements like rain and snow. They also protect your home in case of an event where you lose a shingle.
This particular component acts as the primary covering of the roof and is nailed onto the roof once the underlayment is down. While most roofing materials are typically made out of asphalt, fibreglass mat or ceramic coated granules, some shingles are also made out of wood, clay and slate. However, these are not as common owing to the high costs and maintenance required.
Sheathing
This is the structural base of the roof that the other roofing components are installed over and secured over. This is also called decking and is the first layer of the actual roof. Many roofing companies use plywood, OSB (Oriented Strand Board) or wood plank to make a sheath or deck. They are then fixed onto the trusses as they are the foundation for the entire roof, including the shingles. Basically, they are designed to support and take on the load of
the roofing system.
These are the different yet critical components of any roofing system for houses and homes. Which term was a piece of news to you?