Roofing Glossary
Let’s speak the same language. Here is the list of most common roofing term used in the roofing industry.
- Two-ply – Popular type of flat roofing made of SBS (Modified Bitumen) which are prefabricated membranes reinforced with mats in between. They are either of Modiflex or Torchflex in variety.
- Modiflex and Torchflex – They are SBS (Modified Bitumen) roofing and waterproofing systems. They are high-performance, highly cost-efficient, can be quickly installed and easily maintained.
- Asphalt Kettle A heavy-duty equipment that contains heated asphalt and is used to lay molten asphalt on the flat roof (also known as “hot mopping” in roofing industry).
- Asphalt Primer – Asphalt in liquid form that is used to improve adhesion and prepare the roofing surface for laying a course of asphalt.
- Bitumen – Black viscous cement-like material that is commonly found in petroleum asphalts and coal tars; may be natural or manufactured
- BUR Roofing Systems – Built-Up Roofing System is a multi-ply roofing membrane composed of alternating layers of reinforcing fabric, bitumen (asphalt), coated felts, saturated felts.
- Drain – An outlet system that directs the flow of water from the roof
- EPDM Roofing Systems – Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is a versatile rubber-based roofing membrane. It is widely used all over Canada, because of its weather resistance, stability and extreme flexibility.
- Hoist – An elevator system used in the roofing industry to transport material to the rooftop.
- L200 Rubber Rock – A protective waterproofed coating used for new construction and restoration of roofs. It bonds very strongly with the roofing membrane and provides extra protection from water, sunlight and pollution. It protects against stresses from extreme weather cycles because of its high elongation.
- Membrane – A roof layering/covering, the chief function of which is to exclude water from damaging the roof and to protect against the weather elements.
- Metal flashing – A thin sheet of metallic material usually used at roof hips and valleys, which is joined for extra water resistance.
- Modified Bitumen Roofing (Two-ply) – A roofing system composed of 5 primary components, which can be assembled in several different combinations.
- Plywood – A material manufactured from thin layers or “plies” of wood veneer that are glued together, commonly manufactured in sheets
- Primer – Thin liquid bitumen that is applied to the surface of flat roofs to aid in the proper bonding of the material to the surface.
- Propane – A colourless, easily liquefied, flammable fuel that is widely used in the roofing industry for kettles and gas torches.
- Propane Torch – A roofing tool used to apply flame or heat that runs on propane, used in the manufacturing and construction process.
- Skylight – An overhead glass window in the structure of the roof, which allows natural light to enter the building.
- Tall Cone Flashing – An attachment to the pipe or chimney that acts as a sealing device to protect the building from leaks; it is used to divert rain and snow off the roof.
- Tiocoat – It is a polyurethane modified acrylic elastomeric coating used over Modified Bitumen, BUR and commercial roofing systems. Tiocoat is made up of three parts: the protective barrier that contracts and expands depending on the temperature, the weather-resistant membrane and the dirt-resistant technology.
- TPO Roofing Systems – TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is a Single-Ply Roofing system that is one of the most popular and commonly used today. It is composed of Polypropylene and polymerized ethylene-propylene rubber.