Roofing Waterford glossary

15 terms explained

Natural Blue-Black Roof Slate

Quarried metamorphic stone slate fixed with two copper nails per slate, prized for a lifespan of 60 to 100 years.

Fibre-Cement Slate

Manufactured smooth or textured dark roof slate (such as Tegral / Cedral Thrutone) widely fitted on Irish houses since the 1980s.

Interlocking Concrete Tile

Profiled or flat concrete roof tile that locks over the adjacent tile and hangs from treated timber battens by nibs on the back.

Nail Sickness

Corrosion of the original galvanised or iron nails on an older slate roof, causing slates to slide out of position during high winds.

Copper Tingle (Lead Strap)

A 25 mm strip of copper or lead nailed to the batten and bent up around the tail of a replacement slate during a repair.

Breathable Roofing Underlay

Modern vapour-permeable membrane laid across the rafters beneath the battens to shed wind-driven rain while letting attic moisture out.

Treated Tile Battens & Counter-Battens

Pressure-treated softwood strips (typically 50 mm x 25 mm or 38 mm x 25 mm) nailed across the rafters to carry the slates or tiles.

Code 4 & Code 5 Lead Flashing

Rolled lead sheet of 1.8 mm (Code 4) or 2.24 mm (Code 5) thickness dressed around chimneys, abutments and roof valleys.

Stepped & Cover Flashing

Lead flashing tucked 25 mm into the stepped horizontal mortar beds of a brick or rendered chimney stack and wedged with lead clips.

Dry-Fix Mechanical Ridge

Mortar-free ridge and hip system using a ventilated roll, union brackets and stainless-steel screws to clamp every ridge tile down.

Roof Valley (Lead or GRP Trough)

The internal channel formed where two pitched roof slopes meet at an angle, carrying heavy runoff down to the gutter.

Torch-On SBS Bitumen Felt

Two-layer or three-layer polymer-modified bitumen flat-roof membrane fused onto a primed deck with a gas torch and finished with mineral cap sheet.

EPDM Rubber Flat Roof

Single-ply synthetic rubber membrane bonded in one jointless sheet across flat extension and garage roofs.

GRP Fibreglass Laminate

Cold-applied polyester resin and chopped-strand glass mat cured over OSB3 decking with a UV-stable grey topcoat.

Eaves Ventilation & Support Tray

Rigid uPVC tray and over-fascia vent fitted along the bottom of the rafters to carry water into the gutter and let fresh air into the attic.