Damaged shingles allow water to enter your roof system and damage your home. Take a look at your shingles and see if the granules on the shingles have been washed away. If they have, you'll need to replace those shingles; in fact, it's probably time to replace the entire roof.

Here are some pointers to help you get the most life out of your roof.

• Promptly replace damaged shingles.
• Do not walk on the roof, especially during hot summer months.
• Trim trees to prevent scuffing of the roof shingles by branches.
• Be careful not to puncture the roofing material when installing accessories.
• Check gutters and downspouts for free flow.
• After heavy storms, check to see drains continued to flow properly.
• Look for signs of hail damage.
• Check valleys annually. Look for torn, worn out or lifted parts.
• Maintain adequate ventilation in the attic area. Poor attic ventilation can cause severe damage.
• Be alert to ice dams which can form over the gutters and on the eaves.

Common Roofing Terms

Asphalt - a petroleum based waterproofing agent applied to roofing materials during manufacture that protects from the sun's UV rays.

Bundle - the roofing term for a package of shingles. There are usually three to five bundles per square.

Built-up Roof - A roof consisting of multiple layers of asphalt and ply sheets.

Class "A" - The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing as per ASTM E-108. Indicates roofing is able to withstand severe exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building. This usually lasts over forty years.

Class "B" - Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand moderate exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Class "C" - Fire-resistance rating that indicates roofing materials are able to withstand light exposure to fire originating from sources outside the building.

Coverage - Coverage is the amount of weather protection by overlapping shingles.

Cricket - This is the peaked diverter by the chimney to deflect water.

Diverter - Used to direct water away from an area.

Dormer - A Window projecting from a sloping roof.

Drip edge - Metal sheaves fastened to the edges of the roof that prevent water from seeping through the roof and cause the water to drip off.

Eaves - The overhang at the bottom of the roof.

Fascia - A board generally behind gutter.

Felt - Fibrous material saturated with asphalt used as an underlayment or sheathing paper.

Flashing - Metal used to seal around roofing penetrations preventing water damage.

Gable - The upper part of a side wall.

Gable roof - A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each side of the ridge. Contains a gable at each end.

Gutter - Used to control roof drainage.

Hip - The vertical ridgeline.

Hip roof - A type of roof containing sloping planes of the same pitch on each of four sides. This roof has no gables.

Laminated Shingles - These shingles have more than one layer of tabs to create extra thickness. They are often referred to as three-dimensional or architectural shingles because they create visual depth on a roof and impart a custom look.

Mansard Roof - A type of roof containing two sloping planes of different pitch on each of four sides. The lower plane has a much steeper pitch than the upper, often approaching vertical. This roof has no gables.

Nosing - Used on the perimeter at eaves & gable ends.

Interlocking Shingles - Individual shingles that fasten together mechanically and provide greater wind resistance.

Pipe Jacks – Heating & plumbing flashings for penetrations.

Pitch or Slope – Describes how steep the roof is.

Re-roofing - The practice of removing an existing roofing system and replacing it with a new roofing system.

Ridge - The roof's peak.

Roof Vent - This vent lets humidity escape from the attic.

Saturated Felt - This asphalt-impregnated, organic-based felt is used as an underlayment between the roof deck and the roofing material. Saturated felt is produced in a variety of weights.

Sheathing - Exterior grade boards used as a roof deck material.

Soffit - The finished underside of the eaves.

Span - The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.

Square - Roofing is estimated and sold by the square, a 10’ by 10’ area, or 100 square feet, is one square of roof.

Stack - Exhaust flue pipe generally for stoves.

Tar Paper - (See Underlayment)

Three-dimensional Shingles (See laminated shingles.)

Three-tab shingle - The most popular type of asphalt shingle usually 12" x 36" in size with three tabs.

Underlayment - The felt or base sheet underneath a roof.

Valley – Where two roof planes come together.

Vapor Barrier - (See Vapor Retarder)

Vapor Retarder - Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor.