NRCA Tile Installer key terms

A system of guards, nets, or personal arrest equipment used to prevent or stop a worker's fall from an elevated roof surface. It is required above trigger heights set by workplace safety rules.

A body harness connected by a lanyard or lifeline to an anchored point, designed to stop a fall and limit arrest forces on the body. Anchor points must be rated and inspected before use.

A structural member or engineered device to which fall arrest equipment is attached. It must be capable of supporting the required load without failure and must be located to limit free-fall distance.

A temporary or permanent barrier of top rail, midrail, and toeboards along a roof edge or opening. It provides passive fall prevention without relying on worker action.

A bracketed staging device that hooks over the ridge or rests on the roof slope to support planks or to hold a worker's stance. It must be secured and used only on sound decking.

Correct selection, setup, and climbing practice for ladders, including the four-to-one angle, three-point contact, and extension above the landing. It also covers securing the ladder top and base.

The perimeter of a roof where the slope meets the exterior wall or eave. It is a primary fall hazard and the location where edge metal and fall protection are installed.

A document supplied by a manufacturer that lists hazards, handling precautions, and first-aid measures for a product. It must be available on site for products such as adhesives and sealants.

The routine removal of scrap, packaging, and debris and the orderly storage of materials and tools. Good housekeeping reduces trips, fire load, and wind-blown debris on and around the roof.

The structural surface that supports underlayment and tile, such as plywood, oriented strand board, or spaced sheathing. It must be sound, properly fastened, and able to carry dead and live loads.

Panels or boards fastened over rafters to form the roof deck and receive underlayment and tile. Panel thickness, span rating, and fastener spacing are set by code and manufacturer requirements.

The ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run, expressed as a pitch ratio or in degrees. It determines whether a roof is steep-slope or low-slope and which tile and underlayment methods are allowed.

A water-shedding layer installed over the deck beneath tile, such as an asphalt felt, synthetic sheet, or self-adhering membrane. It provides a secondary barrier and separates tile from the deck.

A peel-and-stick membrane that bonds to the deck and seals around fasteners. It is often used in valleys, at eaves, and in areas subject to ice damming.

A watertight membrane installed along eaves and in valleys to stop meltwater from backing up under tile. It extends inward from the eave to a distance set by local code.

A mastic used to bond and seal tile edges, flashings, and small repairs. It is not a substitute for proper flashing or fastening and should be used sparingly.

A horizontal wood strip fastened to the deck to support and hook the lower edge of tiles. Batten spacing and size must match the tile length and required headlap.

The amount by which one tile course overlaps the course below, measured from the head of the upper tile to the head of the lower tile. Correct headlap sheds water and prevents leaks.

The horizontal overlap between adjacent tiles in the same course. It is set by the tile profile and must be maintained so water cannot pass between tiles.

A horizontal row of tiles laid across the roof. Courses are laid from the eave upward, with each course lapping the one below.

A nail, screw, or clip used to attach tile to the deck or batten. Fastener type, length, and placement depend on tile material, profile, and wind and seismic requirements.

A general term for nails, screws, staples, or clips that hold roofing components together or to the structure. Corrosion resistance and length must suit the material and exposure.

Metal or membrane components that direct water away from joints, penetrations, and wall intersections. Proper flashing integrates with underlayment and tile courses to keep water out.

Separate L-shaped pieces installed at a wall-roof intersection, woven with each course of tile. Each piece directs water onto the tile or underlayment below.

The upper flashing piece embedded in or attached to a wall or penetration that laps over the base flashing. It sheds water away from the joint and protects the top edge of the base flashing.

Any object passing through the roof surface, such as a vent pipe, chimney, or skylight. Each penetration needs a flashing detail that sheds water and allows for movement.

The internal angle where two roof slopes meet. Valleys carry concentrated runoff and require an open metal or woven underlayment detail suited to the tile type.

Metal or membrane lining installed in a valley to collect and direct runoff. Its width and material depend on the tile system and local requirements.

The external angle formed where two sloping roof planes meet. Hips are finished with hip tiles or metal and must be flashed and fastened against wind uplift.

The highest horizontal line where two roof planes meet. Ridge tiles or caps cover the joint and must be mechanically fastened, not just bedded in mortar.

The sloped edge of a gable roof along the gable end. Rake edges receive barge rafters, edge metal, or rake tiles and are exposed to wind-driven rain.

The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall. It receives the starter course, edge metal, and ice dam protection and is the first line of defense against wind-driven rain.

A roof with a slope shallow enough that tile systems require special underlayment, fastening, or a built-up membrane. Local code defines the exact threshold, often below a 3:12 pitch.

A roof steep enough for conventional tile installation using battens or direct fastening and standard underlayment. Slope thresholds and permitted methods are set by code and manufacturer instructions.

The upward force that wind exerts on roof covering as it flows over and around the building. Tile attachment, fastener spacing, and edge details must resist the design uplift pressure.

Restoring a damaged tile, flashing, or underlayment area to its intended function without replacing the whole roof. Repairs must match existing materials and preserve water-shedding details.

Scheduled inspection and upkeep such as clearing debris, tightening fasteners, and replacing cracked tiles. Regular maintenance extends roof life and catches small defects before they leak.

The process of measuring and listing quantities of tile, underlayment, flashing, and fasteners from the drawings. Accurate takeoffs drive the estimate and material ordering.

A priced summary of labor, material, and equipment needed for a roofing scope. It is built from the takeoff and adjusted for waste, access, and code requirements.

A roofing quantity equal to 100 square feet of roof area. Material quantities, labor rates, and pricing are commonly expressed per square.

An allowance added to measured quantities for cutting, breakage, and layout loss. It varies with tile type, roof complexity, and the number of hips, valleys, and penetrations.

Interpreting construction drawings, including roof plans, sections, details, and schedules. It lets the installer confirm slopes, flashing details, and material callouts before work begins.