Know Your Roof
Shingle and Roofing Material Terms
The roofing material is the part of the roof you see and the part that takes the weather. These guides and terms cover asphalt shingles, metal panels and the membranes used on flat and low-slope roofs, and how each one holds up.
Looking for a single word? See the roofing terms glossary, A to Z.
Shingles & Roofing Materials guides
Architectural vs 3-Tab Shingles
Architectural shingles are thicker, laminated shingles with a layered, dimensional look. 3-tab shingles are flat, single-layer shingles cut into three tabs, a thinner and older style. Architectural shingles generally hold up better to wind and weather, which is why they're the usual choice for a full roof replacement.
Key terms in this topic
- Architectural Shingle
- A thicker, laminated shingle with a layered, dimensional look. Also called a dimensional shingle. Read more about Architectural Shingle
- Asphalt Shingle
- The most common residential roofing. A fiberglass mat coated in asphalt and topped with mineral granules.
- Built-Up Roof
- A flat roof made of alternating layers of felt and asphalt, topped with gravel or a cap sheet.
- Coping
- The metal or stone cap over the top of a parapet wall.
- EPDM
- A synthetic rubber single-ply membrane, often called rubber roofing.
- Exposed-Fastener Metal Roof
- Metal panels screwed through the face with gasketed screws.
- Granules
- The mineral surface on a shingle. They shield the asphalt from sun, and loose ones in your gutters are a sign of aging.
- Membrane Seam
- The joint where two sheets of membrane meet. Seams are the first place a flat roof tends to fail.
- Modified Bitumen
- Layered asphalt-based roofing on rolls, applied by torch or peel-and-stick.
- PVC Roofing
- A single-ply membrane with welded seams and strong resistance to chemicals and grease.
- Ridge Cap Shingle
- The pieces bent over the ridge and hips to finish the peaks.
- Roof Coating
- A liquid layer rolled or sprayed over an existing roof to seal it and extend its life.
- Roof Restoration
- Cleaning, repairing and coating an existing roof instead of replacing it.
- Roofing Square
- 100 square feet of roof. It's how roofers measure and price a roof.
- Scupper
- An opening in a parapet wall that lets water drain off a flat roof.
- Shingle Bundle
- One package of shingles. Most shingles ship three bundles to a square.
- Shingle Exposure
- The part of each shingle left uncovered by the row above.
- Single-Ply Membrane
- A large rolled sheet of rubber or plastic used on flat and low-slope roofs.
- Standing Seam Metal Roof
- Metal panels with raised, interlocking seams and hidden fasteners.
- Termination Bar
- A metal strip that fastens the top edge of membrane flashing to a wall.
- 3-Tab Shingle
- A flat, single-layer shingle cut into three tabs. Thinner and an older style. Read more about 3-Tab Shingle
- TPO
- A single-ply membrane, usually white, with heat-welded seams.
See Shingles & Roofing Materials terms in the A to Z glossary
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