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Your roof isn’t just an important aesthetic part of your home — it keeps your family warm, dry, and safe. That’s why it’s important to keep your roof in the best shape throughout all seasons. Sterling Exteriors has been providing the Cincinnati, OH, area with roofing services for over 15 years. Here, the roofing contractors share seven industry terms you should know.

7 Roofing Terms Every Homeowner Should Understand

1. Shingles

The flat, rectangular shapes that are visible on your roof are shingles. They come in sheets and overlap to keep your roof waterproof. Shingles are available in many materials like asphalt, slate, wood, and metal.

2. Eaves

If you have a sloped roof or one that is at an angle, you have eaves. These areas are the lower, horizontal roof edges that typically overhang from your home, allowing for rain to drain off the top.

3. Gutters

You don’t have to be a professional roofing contractor to know that gutters run along your roof to collect rainwater and siphon it away from your home. But have you ever thought about how important gutters are? These important troughs require seasonal cleaning to prevent backups and water damage to your walls and roof.

4. Ice Dam

roofing contractorsIf you live in colder climates where the temperature dips below freezing, you should know that ice dams are serious business. These buildups of ice occur when water melts and refreezes on your roof overhang. Ice dams grow heavy and can force water underneath the shingles, leading to a roof leak. They can also form huge icicles that are dangerous to passersby. 

5. Flashing

Many roofs have several spots where something protrudes out from it, such as a chimney or ventilation pipes. Flashing is a metal tape that adheres around these areas to prevent water seepage. It looks like extra shiny duct tape and is made out of copper or aluminum.

6. Gables

A gable is the side wall that has a triangular upper part that ends at the roof. A gabled roof has two sides that meet in the middle. Each edge has the same angle.  

7. Built-Up Roof

Also called BURs, built-up roofs are made of varying layers of ply sheets and asphalt. Roofing contractors use these roof types because they are especially waterproof, long-lasting, and low-maintenance.

If you’re looking for professional roofing contractors in the Cincinnati area, call Sterling Exteriors at (513) 685-8055. Visit their website to learn about the team’s years of experience in home improvement projects, and connect with the company on Facebook.

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