What is a pipe boot?
A pipe boot is the flashing that seals around a plumbing vent pipe where it comes up through the roof. Its flat base is woven into the shingles and its collar fits snugly around the pipe.
Pipe Boots, explained →
What is a drip edge?
Drip edge is an L- or T-shaped metal strip installed along the eaves and rakes (the bottom and sloped side edges) of a roof. It guides water off the roof edge and into the gutter, so it can’t curl back under the shingles and rot the fascia and the edge of the deck.
Drip Edge, explained →
What is a fascia board?
A fascia board is the long, flat board that runs along the roof edge across the ends of the rafters. It closes off the roof edge, carries the gutters, and gives the drip edge something to lap over.
Fascia Board, explained →
What is a chimney cricket?
A chimney cricket (also called a saddle) is a small peaked ridge built on the uphill side of a chimney. It splits the water, snow and leaves coming down the roof and sends them around both sides of the chimney instead of letting them pile up against the brick.
Chimney Cricket, explained →
What is step flashing?
Step flashing is a series of small L-shaped metal pieces installed one per shingle course where a sloped roof runs along a vertical wall or the side of a chimney. Each piece laps over the one below it, so water is always shed onto the next shingle down.
Step Flashing, explained →
What is kick-out flashing?
Kick-out flashing (also called a diverter) is a small angled piece of metal at the bottom of a roof-to-wall joint. It turns the water running down the step flashing out and away from the wall, into the gutter, instead of letting it pour behind the siding.
Kick-Out Flashing, explained →
What is ice and water shield?
Ice and water shield is a self-adhering, rubberized-asphalt membrane applied directly to the roof deck in the areas most likely to leak. It sticks to the wood, seals around every nail driven through it, and stops water that backs up under the shingles from ice dams or wind-driven rain.
Ice and Water Shield, explained →
What is house wrap?
House wrap is the weather-resistive barrier (WRB) installed over the wall sheathing, under the siding. It stops liquid water that gets behind the siding from reaching the wood, while still letting water vapor escape out of the wall so it can dry.
House Wrap, explained →
What is J-channel?
J-channel is a vinyl or metal trim channel, shaped like the letter J in cross-section, that receives and hides the cut ends of vinyl siding around windows, doors, rooflines and soffits while leaving room for the siding to expand.
J-Channel, explained →
What is a gutter hanger?
Gutter hangers are the brackets that hold a gutter to the fascia and keep its shape under the weight of water, snow and ice.
Gutter Hangers, explained →
What is a downspout elbow?
A downspout elbow is an angled fitting that changes the direction of a downspout: at the top, two elbows and a short piece of pipe bring it from the gutter back to the wall, and at the bottom an elbow turns the water away from the house.
Downspout Elbows, explained →
What is a gutter guard?
Gutter guards (also called leaf guards) are covers or inserts installed on top of or inside the gutter that keep leaves, needles and debris out while letting water in.
Gutter Guards, explained →
What is a skylight flashing kit?
A skylight flashing kit is the set of metal pieces and membrane, made by the skylight manufacturer for that exact skylight size, that seals the skylight into the roof: sill flashing at the bottom, step flashing up the sides and head (saddle) flashing at the top.
Skylight Flashing Kit, explained →
What is the adhesive underlayment around a skylight?
The adhesive underlayment is the peel-and-stick membrane that comes with a VELUX flashing kit, applied in strips around the skylight; VELUX describes it as massive strips of very durable tape.
Adhesive Underlayment, explained →
What is a Sun Tunnel skylight?
A Sun Tunnel skylight is VELUX’s tubular skylight: a dome or flat glass lens on the roof, a reflective tube through the attic, and a diffuser in the ceiling that spreads the daylight into the room.
Sun Tunnel Skylights, explained →
