Let’s go over some of these roof parts: Gable – Like we talked about above, Gable is a common name for a roof shape. It also refers to the triangular area of the end wall where roof sides come to a peak. Ridge – This is the area extending horizontally across the top where roof sides meet. Hip – Like the Gable, the hip is both a roof shape and a specific roof feature. It’s where 2 sloping sides join at their vertical edges, aka hip. It makes for a pretty hip look  Rake – This is the outermost edge of the roof on a gable wall end. It runs from the ridge/peak to the end/eave. Drip Edge – An important metal strip along a horizontal edge where run off occurs. This metal strip helps the water run away from the home and prevents it from curling over the edge. Fascia – This often holds the gutters. It’s a horizontal strip beneath the roof edges, which is also often decorative and covers the rafter ends. Frieze Board – Trim on the wall of the house just underneath the roof. Eave – The part of the roof which overhangs beyond the house walls. The eave helps to keep water away from the lower part of the house. Soffit – Soffit covers the underside of the eave. It can be decorative and is often vented. Box End – This is the finished end of the soffit and fascia. It occurs at the corner end of a gable wall where everything meets. Dormer – A projection from the roof containing an extra wall area and normally a window. Roof Ventilation Ventilation is an essential part of EVERY ROOF in ALL SEASONS, in order to maintain efficiency and protect the home. Gable Vent – located on the wall in the gable area just under the roof. Roof Vent – a vent on a roof plane. Ridge Vent – located along the ridge to allow the upper most heat to escape. A similar vent can also be found on some roof hips, which is called a hip vent. Soffit Vents – many types of soffit are vented. This acts as an intake. Soffit vents encourage air circulation by allowing cooler air up through the soffit. The hotter air will exhaust through the upper vents. Each roof’s ventilation system will be a bit different. This often depends on the style and size of the roof. Roofs without shade or in harsh climates may need more vents than others.