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For most of us, knowing that the roof is there and is doing its job is probably the extent that we think about what is above our heads. But if you have a problem with your roof, you soon realise that there are a lot more components involved in it that a few bits of timber and some roofing material. So here is a quick guide to the different parts of your roof so that if you call out a roofer, you have an idea what they are talking about!
The structure
The heart of the roof is the structure beneath the roofing material and in most cases, these are the roof rafters. Rafters are made from wood in most homes and form a skeleton beneath which the roofing materials can be added. There are different designs and styles to suit the type of house and they can be placed at different spacing.
Roof trusses are another type of structure used to create the foundation for the roof. They allow for a greater flexibility than rafters and are also made from wood in most cases. Both the rafters and the trusses dictate the slope of the roof, known as the pitch. The pitch can affect what type of roofing material can be laid on top.
Field of the roof
The field of the roof is where the majority of the roofs materials are found and these can be referred to as roof decking or sheathing by some roofers. There are lots of different type of roofing material used around Cheltenham, depending on the age of the property and the preference of the owner, as well as that roof pitch.
Before the roofing material is laid, an under layer is usually added. This might include insulation and also waterproofing layers to help ensure no water leaks into the loft space below.
Finishing touches
While the roof material such as tiles or slates does much of the work, the roof won’t be waterproof and complete under the finishing touches are put in place. These vary depending on the design of the roof and the features it has but can include:
- Fascia – a trim used to cover the rafter end of the eaves and where guttering is attached
- Soffit – finished underside of the eaves that covers the area between the eaves and the house
- Valley – an internal angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes, such as at a cross hip or cross gable roof
- Hip – the external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes
- Ridge – the highest pint of the roof that usually has a special type of tile added
- Flashing – pieces of metal added around features to prevent leaking such as around a chimney or roof windows
Other terms to know
Often, we hear mention of dormer roofs or dormer bungalow. This is a structure around a window that projects from a sloped roof. It is set vertically on the roof slope and has its own roof area. Gable dormers are a popular design that uses the flat gable end style with the dormer extension, adding space to the room beyond.
