Anatomy of a Roof

You can reduce the possibility of major damage to your home by knowing something about the anatomy of a roof.  Being aware of what each component in the roof system does can help you decide which ones to include the next time you re-roof.  In fact, once you know what the possibilities are, there might be a modification or two that you'll want to make to your existing roof. 

At Williams Roofing we like our customers to understand all different parts and areas of their roof. 
This gives you a better understanding of how your home improvement project will be completed. Just move your mouse over the image below to view the definitions

 

 

The central or main portion of a roof, excluding the perimeter and flashing. The very top or peak of the roof.A window in a roof to admit daylightA saddle-shaped, peaked construction connecting a sloping roof with a skylight.A flat sheet of metal or plastic that is nailed or glued over the cracks between a chimney and the roof, a wall and the roof, or in the valley between two roofs.The inclined edge of a roof over a wall.The lower part of the roof that extends beyond the side of the house.Vent, allowing moisture to escape, which is located along the ridge board of the roof.Special rooms or windows that have their own small roof.The two sloping surfaces meeting in a horizontal ridge, used between the back side of a chimney,Carries away rain water.The underside of the eave or cornice.  It provides ventilation holes for airflow to keep the underside of the roof dry and cool.Facing board, the vertical edge or face located at the bottom of the roof.Any device installed on the roof, gable or soffitt for the purpose of ventilating the underside of the roof deck.The inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes. Runs from the ridge to the eaves.A penetration through the roof to allow ventilation.A vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a buildingThe open area above the ceiling and under the roof deck of a steep-sloped roof. The V-shaped joint between two sections of the roof