There are many different aspects and parts of a roof, and knowing how to identify and understand their uses can be very useful when it comes to roof repairs, replacements, and construction. If you’ve ever been curious about the different parts of your roof and how they all work together and affect your home, read on. We’ll do our best to make things clear.
What Is a Roof Plane?
A roof plane is the flat surface area of the roof that’s at an angle. It’s defined as an area of the roof which has “four separate edges.”
What Are Parts of a Roof Called?
You probably already know plenty of basic roof elements – the gutter, the shingles, the underlayment, and the beams – but did you know there are many, many more parts of a roof? You don’t need to memorize all of them, but a basic understanding of the most important elements will be helpful when dealing with roofing problems or construction. Let’s start with the roof plane and go through a couple more.
- The roof plane is an area of the roof that’s defined by “having four separate edges.” In more simple terms, it’s the flat surface of the roof that’s pitched or at an angle – the biggest and most noticeable part of the roof.
- The roof ridge is the horizontal line at the top of the roof, where two planes connect.
- The valley is the area where two sloped roof faces connect. The purpose of the valley, which supports the valley rafter and the internal roof gutter, where rain water and debris will fall before going into the external gutter.
- Flashing is a waterproofing seal, usually made with sheet metal or other materials, that protects the house from leakage by directing water away from important places where water buildup may damage the structure. They’re usually placed around roof penetrations , such as chimneys, vents, and skylights.
- The eaves are the horizontal edges of the roof, where it hangs over the edge. Eaves traditionally serve to protect the walls and pathways around the house from rain water.
- The rafters support the roof deck and all of its loads. Rafters are sloped structural elements, like wooden beams, that extend down from the ridge or hip (see below) to the wall plate, eave (see above), or downslope perimeter.
- The roof’s hip is where two roof faces connect and jut outwards.
These are just some of the more noticeable and important structural aspects of your roof. Knowing about each of these and what they do can be important in case you ever need to discuss repairs, replacements, or roof construction.
Give Your Roof A Look
Anything we didn’t cover in this blog that you’d like to know more about, or want to get your roof inspected or replaced? Call Roofstar Arizona at (480)-426-1915 to get our expert opinion. We’ll tell you the truth about your roof!