Common Roofing Terms | An Illustrated Glossary

Hip and valley roof framing with a gabled dormer, including rafters, tails, and ridge board.

Roof framing involves a lexicon all its own. As you can see in the illustration below, roofs have hip rafters, ridge boards, jack rafters, and more. When working on a roof, it pays to be familiar with these terms. Here is a closer look at common roofing terms: Butt The exposed end of a shingle. […]

Garage Styles & Roof Shapes

garage with reverse gable roof

In This Article: Garage Construction & Design Gambrel (“Barn”) Roofs Hip Roofs Reverse Gable Roofs This helpful buying guide discusses the different types of garages, and looks at roof shapes, like gambrel (barn) roofs, hip roofs, and reverse gable roofs. The way a garage roof is framed defines the style of the garage itself. Four […]

Ladders: The Ultimate Guide to Choice & Safe Use

extension ladder for painting

In This Article: Choosing the Right Type and Size Ladder Safe Stepladder Use Safe Extension Ladder Use Are Telescopic Ladders Safe? How to Use a Multi-Position Ladder Ladder Recall Ladders are essential tools for home projects where you need to extend your height or reach. Unfortunately, however, they are also the source of many home […]

How to Find & Fix a Roof Leak Fast

installing asphalt roofing shingle

Expert DIY advice on how to find, troubleshoot, and fix a roof leak, including how to keep the water from getting in during a roof leak emergency. In This Article: Water-Testing for Roof Leaks Roof Leak Emergency Fast Fix for a Roof Leak If you’ve heard the drip-drip-drip of a roof leak onto your home’s […]