Here are the roof framing terms you'll hear from your builder, in plain English, so you know what you're looking at during your frame inspection. Knowing the words also means you can ask sensible questions on site instead of nodding along.
If you're heading to the frame stage, my frame inspection checklist covers the roof framing checks in detail.
C7 - Frame Stage Inspection Checklist
$119.00 AUD
Last updated 28 Oct 2026 · Revision 5 · Free updates for life
Checklist Type: Major (Frame Stage)
Form Factor: Fillable, print-ready PDF (A4, 48 pages)
When to use: Frame stage: after the frame and trusses are up, before linings go in
A 146-point frame stage checklist. Check walls, openings, trusses, bracing and tie-downs against your drawings before the linings go in, while changes are still simple.
Trusses and rafters
Most new Queensland homes have prefabricated roof trusses: triangulated timber or steel frames made in a factory, delivered to site and stood up on the wall frames at set spacings. Older homes and some architectural roofs use rafters, which are single sloping members cut and pitched on site.
Over the trusses or rafters run battens (for a metal roof) or tile battens (for a tile roof). The roof sheets or tiles are fixed to the battens. On larger spans you'll also hear about purlins, which do a similar job on heavier framing.
Gable
A gable is the triangular section of wall at the end of a pitched roof, between the two sloping roof edges. The roof pitch sheds the water; the gable is just the wall that fills the end.
What matters for you:
- The gable end needs proper bracing and tie-down. In Queensland's wind classifications a poorly braced gable is a common weak point in storms.
- Check that gable vents, if fitted, are installed and sealed as shown on the plans.
Dutch gable
A Dutch gable is a hip roof with a small gable at the top of each end. You get the clean lines of a hip roof with a little triangular gable sitting up high, which can also help with roof space ventilation.
It's not the same as a gambrel. A gambrel has two slopes on each side, like a barn.
Verge and barge
The verge is the edge of the roof that runs along the top of a gable end. The verge overhang is how far the roof extends past the gable wall. Verge overhangs are typically 300 to 450 mm and should match your plans.
The barge (or barge board, or fly rafter) is the framing member and trim that finishes that sloping edge. Get the barge straight and properly fixed, because a wavy barge line is the first thing you notice from the street and it's very hard to fix later.
Eaves and fascia
The eaves are the part of the roof that overhangs the walls along the low edges of the roof. Wide eaves shade walls and windows and keep rain off them, which helps both your energy rating and your cladding.
The fascia is the board or metal section along the end of the eaves that the gutter is fixed to. The underside of the eaves is lined with soffit or eave lining.
Ridge, hips and valleys
- Ridge: the peak of the roof, where two sloping sides meet at the top.
- Hip: the external angle where two sloping roof planes meet, running from the ridge down to a corner of the house. A hip roof has slopes on all four sides and no gable ends.
- Valley: the internal angle where two sloping roof planes meet. Valleys collect a lot of water, so they need a valley iron or flashing installed correctly to stop leaks. More valleys means more complexity, more cost and more places for things to go wrong.
Sprocket
A sprocket is a short piece fixed to the bottom of a rafter or truss that flattens the pitch at the eaves, giving the roof a slight kick at the edge. It's mostly for looks, though it also slows the water a touch before it hits the gutter.
Why this helps you
Once you know the terms, you can follow what the roofers and frame inspector are saying, spot obvious problems early and check the work against your plans. After you move in, look over the roof edges, valleys and flashings after big storms, because finding a problem early is a lot cheaper than fixing a ceiling.
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