Howe Lumber Company
555 Main Street
East Brookfield, MA 01515
(508)885-5396
Monday - Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 7:30am - 3:00pm
If you don't see the navigation bar to the left, then click the logo to make it appear.

Roofing Definitions

  • 3-tab -- this refers to a standard design of asphalt or fiberglass shingles. There are two cuts in the edge that is exposed to the weather. When this is overlapped by other shingles of the same cut, when you are done they look like separate shingles. Since the two cuts make three tabs, that's what they're known by.

  • Architectural shingles -- this is a style of asphalt or fiberglass shingles that has a shadow design. It is thicker than the 3-tab shingles, and does not have notches cut through the shingle. Instead, there are usually two layers, with the stone on the top of the shingle embedded in a pattern that resembles shadow lines on the roof. They definitely give your roof a different sort of look.Click here for a photo of a sample.

  • 15 pound felt -- This is what is often also called "tar paper". It is the layer that is under the shingles, but over the plywood deck. The name "15 pound" used to refer to the weight and thickness of the felt, but over the years, it has slowly become thinner. So, it is not quite the same product as what was once used, but it is still used on most roofs.

  • T-drip -- T-drip is the metal edging that is put around the roof to keep water from sneaking underneath the shingles and causing a lot of water damage. It also helps the flow of rainwater off of the roof, and into the gutter system. T-drip is most often made of aluminum, and we stock it in 5" and 8" sizes, in three colors: White, Brown, or Mill(/aluminum).

  • Ridge Vent -- Despite what you might think of heating costs, you generally must ventilate your roof so that there is not a build-up of heat inside the attic on hot summer days. This heat could melt the shingles or lead to other heat-related complications. One way to vent without heating the entire neighborhood is to use a ridge vent. It runs the length of the house at the very peak of the roof, and is often shingled over so that it matches, but still lets out heat and keeps out insects. We stock several kinds of these vents, including the old style metal ridge vent, CoraVent (a rigid black corrugated vent), and Roll-Vent.

    Go to Main Page Go to the FAQ page To Roofing Main Page
    go to the IKO Home Page
    For Web-related issues contact webmaster@howelumber.com
    For Sales-related issues contact sales@howelumber.com

    Click below to Return to Main Page

    Howe Lumber Company
555 Main Street
East Brookfield MA 01515 
(508)885-5396  (508)867-3232
Monday - Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 7:30am - 3:00pm