A Glossary of Roofing Terms

Cedar - Wood typically used in shake roof construction

Closed Ridge End - The piece of ridge required at a gable end. Some ridge tiles have an interlocking feature and require either a "starter" or "finisher."

Cut and Closed Valley Tile - The field tile that intersects a valley and is cut at the correct angle of valley. When the cut side is supplied closed, it's termed a "closed valley tile." A quotation is usually made for cut valley tile by the lineal foot, both sides of the valley being included.

Cut Hip Tile - The field tile which runs against the hip stringer and which is cut at the correct angle of the hip. A quotation is usually made for cut hip tile by the lineal foot, both sides of the hip being included.

Deck Molding - The piece required to finish a roof at the top where it intersects a wall. It usually matches the ridge tile.

Detached Gable Rake - The piece required to finish the gable edge of the roof.

Eave Closure - The piece required with all Spanish and Mission Tiles. Eave closures are used to close the convex opening created by the shape of the tile at the eave. They also provide the proper cant for the first course of field tile.

End Band - A tile, half the width of the field tile, for flat interlocking patterns. It is required to stagger the bond at straight line penetrations (i.e. dormers, chimneys, sky lights) and terminations (i.e. gable edge, parapet walls) of the roof deck. For the Spanish Tile, the end band is the piece required at the left edge of a gable roof.

Field Tile - Tiles that cover the bulk of the roof, excluding fittings and accessories.

Finial - A crowning ornament used at the apex of a cone or converging hip roof. The pitch of the roof is always required when ordering a finial.

Fittings - These are all the tiles used to finish a roof except for the field tile. Examples include end bands, gable rakes, terminals, finials, hip rolls and ridges pieces.

Grade I Tile - Tile that provides resistance to severe frost action. Only grade I tiles should be specified where normal winter freezing and thawing can be expected. Grade I tiles usually have a water absorption rate less than 1%. Consult with ASTM C 1167-96. All Ludowici tiles are grade 1.

Grade II Tile - Tile that provides resistance to moderate frost action. These tiles usually have a water absorption rate of greater than six percent.

Grade III Tile - Tile that provides negligible resistance to any frost action. These tiles usually have a very high water absorption rate, typically greater than eight percent.

Graduated Tile - The tiles required for conical roofs, turrets, towers, circular bays or other circular roofs, and can be furnished in any of our stock patterns. Ludowici also offers ...

Tower TileTM -- a graduated tile designed to coordinate with many different styles of field tile.

Half Tile - Same as end bands.

Header Course - The piece required when using shingle tile that finishes the ridges and hips. They are the same as field tiles except the holes for attachment are provided along the length of the tile.

Hip and Ridge Angle - The piece required where one hip starts from a ridge. Hip Roll - Used to describe the covering for hips, whether it is a rounded or angular fitting.

Hip Starter - The closed hip piece which is required at the eave to start the hip roll.

Interlocking Tile - Field tile that has a water channel along a vertical side which overlaps at the adjacent tile. Examples of interlocking tiles in the Ludowici line are AmericanaTM, ClassicTM, LanaiTM and Williamsburg Tiles.

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