Roofing Vocabulary

Barge Board - A board that conceals roof timbers that project over gables.

Beam - The main piece of wood (or steel) that supports the roof.

Cornice - The part of the roof that sticks out past the walls of a house.

Eave - The edge of the roof.

Fascia - The edge of the cornice.

Rafter - A beam that supports the roof of a building.

Pyramidal - A hipped roof that forms a pyramid shape.

Soffit - The underside of the eave.

Truss - A framework of beams, usually triangular, that support the roof of a building.