- 100% agree, the names are wild.
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— Still do, honestly.“I used to mix up ‘soffit’ and ‘fascia’ all the time.”
- My trick: “Soffit” sounds like “sofa,” and both are underneath something. Not perfect, but it helps.
- Once had a customer ask if their “ridge cap” was a hat for the house... not far off, really.
- Knowing the terms definitely saves you from getting bamboozled by jargon-y quotes.
- Still waiting for someone to explain why “flashing” isn’t just called “metal stuff that keeps water out.”
Had a roofer tell me once the “cricket” was the most important part of the job. I thought he meant the bug... turns out it’s a thing that diverts water. Who comes up with this stuff? Anyone ever actually had to explain these terms to a tenant?
I thought he meant the bug... turns out it’s a thing that diverts water.
Yeah, the first time I heard “cricket” on a job, I was picturing bugs too. The names get even weirder—like “flashing” (which always gets a laugh from tenants). I’ve had to explain “soffit” and “ridge vent” more times than I can count. Most folks just want to know if it leaks or not, honestly.
I still remember the first time someone asked me to check the “cricket” on a roof. I was standing there, half expecting to see some kind of pest problem. Turns out, it’s just a little structure that helps water move around chimneys or other roof projections—makes sense once you see it, but the name throws people off every time.
Honestly, I run into this with “flashing” too. I’ve had homeowners get a bit confused (or even embarrassed) when I mention it during an inspection. And don’t get me started on “soffit”—I’ve had folks think it’s some kind of insulation or even a cleaning product.
I get why these terms exist, but sometimes I wish they were a bit more straightforward. Most people just want to know if their roof is going to keep them dry, not memorize a whole new vocabulary. Still, explaining these things is part of the job... and sometimes it leads to a good laugh on site.
Totally get where you’re coming from—those terms tripped me up too when I first started paying attention to roofs. But honestly, I think it’s kind of cool that there’s this whole secret language for something as everyday as a roof. Plus, once you start explaining it to folks, you can see the lightbulb go on. It’s a good reminder that even the “weird” stuff has a purpose... and hey, if it gets people more interested in how their home works, that’s a win in my book.
