Roof Construction 101

Here are a few definitions that cover the basics.

Roof construction 101. The major function of a roof is really to protect the home from the elements snow rain. These are triangular portions of the home which extend from the eaves to the peak of the roof. The most commonly used types of pitched roof construction are the gable the hip the intersecting and the shed or lean to. Simple roofs such as a shed or the common gable are fairly easy to construct even without plans if you understand the basics and a little geometry.

There s a lot to cover when it comes to learning about what types of materials go into roofing a house. Some of it involves some pretty tricky terminology. A peaked saddle construction at the back of a chimney to prevent accumulation of snow and ice and to deflect water around the chimney. Lafever roofing offers this basic roofing glossary for better communication of terms and definitions in the roof industry for easier understanding.

Shed gable hip gambrel and mansard. It is the form most commonly used by. Also called the verge this refers to the wall or rafter under the edge of a roof where a gable ends. This is the highest point of the roof which is also referred to as the peak.

While most home builders will outsource the construction of roofing trusses the rafter supports of the roof itself learning to frame a roof yourself is one of the true arts of carpentry and a basic primer is covered below. Our roofing 101 is a resourceful guide for homeowners seeking information on home roofing basics roofing materials terminology and contractor agreements. The areas of the roof where two sections meet and slope down. Framing a roof is the last step in framing new construction.

Piece by piece rafter roof construction however is still the more common construction method for many buildings. Roofs are framed in five basic designs. Gable a gable roof has a ridge at the center and slopes in two directions. Understanding roofing terms.