subject: 7 Terms You Need To Know If You Want To Learn How To Shingle A Roof [print this page] Learning how to shingle a roof can be a rewarding lesson for the avid DIY homeowner, but understanding the language of roofing is an essential first step. Before you dive into your "Roofing 101" manual, familiarize yourself with these common roofing terms: A Square. When measuring your roof, or ordering roof shingles, a square refers to 100 square feet of covered area. For example, if a single, sloped shed roof was 40 feet long by 30 feet long, you would need 12 squares of shingles to cover 1200 square feet of surface area (40x30=1,200). Roofer's Spade. Used to remove old roofing shingles and nails, this tool looks like a garden shovel with teeth at the front end. Drip Edge. A type of metal flashing that is installed along the edges of the roof and supports the overhanging shingles. It is important to overhang the shingles so the rain water doesn't run down the house's siding or trim boards. Roofing Felt. Also known as tar paper, roofing felt comes in rolls and is the underlayment for the finished roofing material. Starter Course. Installed along the bottom edge of the roof, the starter course is made from trimmed shingles and is the first row of shingles to be put down. Ridge Shingles. On a gable roof, two roof surfaces meet at a high point known as the ridge. The prefabricated roofing shingles that cover the ridge, and sometimes a ridge vent, are known as ridge shingles. Ladder Jacks. These metal supports connect to extension ladders and support scaffolding boards to create a flat work space and a safe standing point for working on roofs.
There are many available resources for learning how to shingle a roof, and now you will be able to understand the instructions when they refer to these common roofing terms.
