Parts of a roof: every part named, from the ridge to the gutter
From above, a roof's lines are the ridge along the top, hips on the outside corners, valleys in the inside corners, eaves along the bottom edges and rakes up the gable ends. From the top down it's shingles, underlayment, the wood decking and the rafters or trusses, with drip edge, fascia, soffit and gutters at the edge.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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The roof from above
- Ridge: the level line along the top where two slopes meet. Ridge cap shingles cover it.
- Hip: the sloped outside corner where two slopes meet, running from a corner of the house up to the ridge. Hip cap covers it the same way.
- Valley: the sloped inside corner where two slopes meet and their water runs together. The guide to roof valleys covers the lining.
- Eave: the bottom edge of a slope, level, overhanging the wall. The gutter hangs here.
- Rake: the sloped edge at a gable end, running from the eave up to the ridge. The guide to the rake covers its trim and drip edge.
A gable is the triangle of wall under the rakes at the end of a gable roof. A hip roof has no gables; it slopes on every side. A dormer is a small roof with its own window built out from a slope, with valleys where it meets the main roof. The guide to roof types covers the shapes.
The roof in layers
- Shingles: the outside layer that sheds the water. Other roofs have metal panels, tile, slate or wood here.
- Underlayment: felt or synthetic sheet over the whole deck, under the shingles. The code calls for it under shingles, tile, slate, wood and metal roofs (IRC R905.1.1).
- Decking: the plywood or OSB sheets (also called sheathing) that everything else is nailed to.
- Rafter or truss: the sloped framing that carries the roof. Rafters are cut and set one by one; trusses are triangles built in a shop and set in place.
- Drip edge: the bent metal strip along the edge of the deck that carries water off past the fascia. On a shingle roof the code calls for it at the eaves and the rakes, with the underlayment over it at the eaves and under it at the rakes (IRC R905.2.8.5).
- Gutter: the channel along the eave that catches the water and sends it to a downspout. The gutter installation cost guide prices them.
- Fascia: the board across the ends of the rafters, which the gutter hangs on.
- Soffit: the underside of the overhang, from the fascia back to the wall. Vented soffits let air into the attic.
- Wall: the roof’s framing sits on the top of the wall.
Flashing, vents and the other parts
- Leak barrier (ice and water): a self-sticking membrane at the eaves, in valleys and around chimneys and skylights. Where ice dams form, the code calls for one from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the wall line (IRC R905.1.2).
- Starter strip: the first row of shingles at the eaves and rakes, with sealant set so the first course holds down.
- Valley lining: metal or roll roofing under an open valley; a metal lining is at least 24 inches wide (IRC R905.2.8.2).
- Flashing: metal where the roof meets a wall, a chimney, a skylight or a pipe. Against a wall, the base flashing is continuous or stepped, at least 4 by 4 inches, and turns the water onto the roof (IRC R905.2.8).
- Vents: intake at the soffits and exhaust at or near the ridge, so air moves through the attic. The guide to roof vents covers how much venting an attic needs.
- Ridge and hip cap: shingles made to bend over the ridge and hips.
Common questions
What are the parts of a roof called?
From above: the ridge, hips, valleys, eaves and rakes, and the gables at the ends of a gable roof. From the outside in: shingles, underlayment, decking and rafters or trusses. At the edge: drip edge, fascia, soffit and gutters.
What’s the difference between the eave and the rake?
The eave is the level bottom edge of a slope, where the gutter goes. The rake is the sloped edge at a gable end. Drip edge goes on both on a shingle roof.
What’s the difference between fascia and soffit?
The fascia is the upright board across the rafter ends, facing out. The soffit is the flat underside of the overhang, between the fascia and the wall.
What is under the shingles?
The underlayment, then the decking, then the rafters or trusses. At the eaves, valleys and around chimneys there’s often a self-sticking leak barrier as well.
What is a square in roofing?
100 square feet of roof (GAF). Shingles and roofing labor are priced by the square; the roofing calculator works out the squares for a roof.