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COMMON PARTS OF YOUR ROOF
Of all the constituent elements of the house, the roof parts are one of the most complex. Without a good structure, these components certainly cannot provide the best comfort and protection for all residents inside. A house’s main purpose is to keep its occupants shielded from the elements, and the sturdy roof is what actually accomplishes that function. A quality roof will protect against wind, rain, snow cold, heat, and everything in between. Whereas, a poor or fragile roof sway in the wind, buckle in the snow, leak with excessive moisture, and be a major headache for as long as you live in the house.
What are the common parts of a roof?
Roof Ridge: The roof ridge, or ridge of a roof is the horizontal line running the length of the roof where the two roof planes meet. This intersection creates the highest point on a roof, sometimes referred to as the peak. Hip and ridge shingles are specifically designed for this part of a roof.
Ridge vent: A ridge vent is an exhaust vent that runs horizontally along the peak of the roof allowing warm, humid air to escape from the attic. 
Flashing: Flashing is a metal material installed at joint openings, around chimneys, and any dormer windows or skylights to help prevent water intrusion. You may recognize flashing as metal stair steps alongside a chimney or side walls on a roof.
Hip: The hip on a roof is the intersection of two roof planes that meet to form a sloping ridge running from the peak to the eave. Hip and ridge shingles are specifically designed for this part of a roof.
Roof Deck: The roof deck is the structural foundation base for the roof system and is usually made of wood or plywood.
Roofing Underlayment: Roofing underlayment is a layer of material, usually synthetic or felt, that adds extra protection on top of the roof deck and under the shingles. Synthetic underlayment helps repel moisture and provides protection against water infiltration. Synthetic underlayment is becoming a popular material choice over felt due to proven water-resistance performance and long-lasting durability.
Roof Valley: The roof valley is the V-shaped intersection between two sloping roofs joining at an angle to provide water runoff.
Laminated Architectural Shingles: Laminated architectural asphalt shingles contain more than one layer of tabs to add dimension, performance and durability to a roof. Architectural shingles are sometimes referred to as three-dimensional shingles or laminated shingles. The opposite of architectural shingles are three-tab shingles, which are produced as a single layer of tabs and appear flat or without the dimension of a laminated shingle.
Roof Gable: A roof gable is the triangular section of the outer wall at the peak of the roof between a sloping roof and eave. A roof gable is sometimes referred to as a rake.
Metal drip edge: Metal drip edge is a narrow strip of noncorrosive metal used at the rake and eave to help manage dripping water by facilitating water runoff to protect the underlying section of a wall.
Dormer: A dormer is a raised section of the roof. Dormers commonly contain a window that projects vertically through the slope in the roof.
Ice and water barrier: An ice and water barrier is a self-adhered waterproofing material installed along eaves, valleys, side walls, and other sensitive areas to protect against ice damage and wind-driven rain.
Eave: An eave is the lower border of the roof that overhangs the wall usually located in the first three feet of a roof.
Undereave vent: Undereave vents are intake vents located under the eaves of the roof that help draw cool dry air into the attic.
Roof decking
Roof decking (also known as roof sheathing) is the wooden boards (plywood or planks) that make up the framing of your roof.
It’s the foundation of your entire roof system and what your roofing materials are installed on. If your roof’s decking is rotten or it can’t handle materials being installed on it, it’ll need to be replaced when getting a new roof. Unfortunately, you won’t know if or how much will need replacing until your old roof is removed.
Drip edge
Drip edge is metal flashing installed at the roof’s edges (eaves and rakes) to keep water away from your fascia and from getting underneath your roofing components. Without drip edge, water gets behind your gutters and leads to both your fascia board and roof decking rotting out. It’s also a building code that drip edge is required on a roof and that it must be installed correctly.
Ice and water shield
Ice and water shield is a waterproof membrane used to protect your roof from ice and water damage. 
Its main purpose is to protect your roof decking if water gets underneath your roofing material (asphalt shingles, metal roof, etc.). It’s crucial to have ice and water shield installed on/around certain areas of your roof, like roof valleys, around penetrations, and on roofs that have a 2/12, 3/12, or 4/12 pitch. Because of its importance, every roof needs to have it.
Roof underlayment
Roof underlayment is a felt (15 lb, 30 lb, or synthetic) roofing material that sits between your roof decking and your shingles.
Underlayment is the last line of defense for your roof decking if water gets underneath your roofing materials. It’s installed directly over your roof decking and provides an extra layer of protection from the elements. Because of its importance, you need to invest in the best underlayment possible.
Starter shingles
Starter shingles are a pre-cut row of roofing material that goes underneath the first course of shingles before they’re installed.
It makes sure that there’s roofing material between the joints where the shingles butt against each other on the edges of your roof. Starter shingles also have an adhesive to ensure the first row of shingles are sealed at the eaves and along the rakes. This seal helps improve your roof’s resistance to strong winds.
The type of roofing material you choose
The biggest part of your roof is the roofing material that’s used. This could be asphalt shingles, metal roofing, cedar shake roofing, synthetic roofing, or any other type of roofing material.
The roofing material you choose has a huge impact on the price, how long your roof will last, and more.
Roof flashing
Roof flashing is a thin metal (aluminum, steel, or copper) material that directs water away from certain areas (walls, chimneys, roof valleys) of your roof. -1.jpg?resize=252%2C266&ssl=1)
It’s a crucial roofing component that every roof needs to have and is installed at the same time as your shingles. No matter what kind of metal it’s made of, your roof flashing should outlive the original roof it was installed on. However, it’s crucial that your roof flashing is inspected as part of annual roof maintenance to prevent or catch potential leaks.
Ridge capping
Ridge capping is the trim installed at the top of where two slopes of a roof meet.
