Useful Roofing Terms

FOLDED SEAM

In sheet metal work, a joint between sheets of metal wherein the edges of the

sheets are crimped together and folded flat.

 

FLAT SEAM

A seam at the junction of sheet metal roof components that has been bent at the plane of the roof.

 

FLOP

Cutting of felts into strips, coating the deck side with bitumen and placing (flopping) the felt onto the deck.

 

FLASHING, STEP

Individual small pieces of metal flashing material used to flash around chimneys, dormers, and such projections along the slope of a roof. The individual pieces are

overlapped and stepped up the vertical surface.

 

FULLY ADHERED

A completely attached (adhered) roof membrane.

 

GABLE

The end of a building as distinguished from the front or rear side. The triangular end of and exterior wall from the level of the eaves to the ridge of a double sloped

roof.

 

GAMBREL ROOF

A type of roof which has its slope broken by an obtuse angle, so that the lower slope is steeper than the upper slope. A double sloped roof having two pitches.

 

GALVANIZE

To coat a metal with zinc by dipping in molten zinc after cleaning.

 

GAUGE

The thickness of sheet metal and wire, etc.

 

GLAZE COAT

A light, uniform mopping of bitumen on exposed felts to protect them from the weather, pending completion of the job.