Roofing Components

All steep-slope roof systems, (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more), have five basic components:

• Roof Covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that protect the sheathing from weather.
• Sheathing: boards or sheet material that are fastened to roof rafters to cover a house or building.
• Roof Structure: rafters and trusses constructed to support the sheathing.
• Flashing: sheet metal or other material installed into a roof system’s various joints and valleys to prevent water seepage.
• Drainage: a roof system’s design features, such as shape, slope and layout that affect its ability to shed water.