Most homeowners can name shingles, gutters, and flashing. The rake is the edge they walk past daily without knowing its name, and it takes more wind-driven rain than any other part of the roof. So what is rake in roofing, and why does one narrow strip need this attention?
What Is Rake in Roofing?
The rake is the sloped edge of a roof, running from the peak down to the eave. What does a roof rake look like? On a gable roof, look for the wall that rises to a triangular point. The two angled lines framing that triangle are the rakes.
Rakes are most common on gable roofs, though shed roofs, dormers, and gambrels have them too. Any roof ending on a slope has one.
Three terms come up alongside rake. The eave is the horizontal bottom edge, where gutters are typically installed. The fascia is the vertical board running along the eave, usually behind the gutter, and Roof pitch describes how steeply a roof slopes.
Want to understand the difference between an eave and a rake? Check out this Quora discussion, where users explain these two roof edges and how they differ in terms of location and function: What is the difference between an eave and a rake?
Telling rake, eave, fascia, and pitch apart makes the rest easier to follow.
Why Is the Rake Edge Crucial for Your House?
So what are rakes on a roof doing? Three things:
1. Water Control: Rain runs downhill, and the rake holds it on the roof until it reaches the gutter on the eave.
2. Wind Resistance: Wind load peaks at a roof's corners and edges. A firmly fixed rake holds down the last row of shingles and the deck beneath, while a weak edge lets wind peel them back. Solar installers follow the same rule when they plan mounting solutions.
3. Appearance: The rake shapes the roof's visible edge, and its trim (the finishing material that covers that edge) gives it a clean look from the street.
How well it does all three depends on how it was built.
Open, Boxed, and Decorative Types of Rake Construction
Rake construction falls into three styles:
- Open rake: The framing stays visible. Air moves freely around the wood, but rain and sun reach it directly, so it needs more upkeep.
- Closed or boxed rake: Soffit and fascia boards wrap the framing, so the wood isn't exposed. Most new homes use it for a cleaner look and better protection.
- Decorative rake: Shaped molding or applied trim adds detail, a common feature of Victorian and Colonial homes.
Whatever the style, a single board finishes the edge.
What Are Rake Boards and Why Do You Need Them?
A rake board, or barge board, is the flat board fitted along the rake, covering the cut edge of the roof deck and the framing behind. What are roof rakes finished with? Wood, composite, and PVC are the usual materials.
Roof decking is thin sheets of wood glued together, and a bare cut edge lets water seep between them. The board cannot work alone, though. The International Residential Code requires a metal drip edge, a bent strip that carries water clear of the wood, at both edges.
The metal is installed differently at each edge because water flows differently. At the eave, the underlayment goes over the metal so water drains onto it. At the rake, the metal goes over the underlayment to push water away from the edge. Install them incorrectly, and water slips behind the board and causes rot.
Knowing the answer to “what is rake in roofing?” doesn't make the edge maintenance-free. Even a properly built rake can face five common problems.
Common Roof Rake Problems and Their Causes
Most rake problems start when the rake is no longer isolated from the elements.
- Too few nails: A loosely fixed board leaves a gap. Wind finds its way in, lifts the board, and rain follows behind.
- Ice buildup: Warm air leaking from the attic melts snow on the roof. The water runs down and refreezes at the colder edge, forming a ridge of ice that traps meltwater under the shingles.
- Aging paint: Paint on a wooden rake board cracks with age. Once it breaks, rain soaks into the bare wood and rots it.
- Poor ventilation: A boxed rake seals the framing in, so water that gets past the trim cannot dry out, and damp wood rots.
- Pest damage. The rake runs beside the attic, so gaps here let birds and squirrels nest inside.
Two inspections a year catch most of these early.
- Inspect the rake in spring and fall, and after major storms.
- Repaint wooden rake boards before the existing coat cracks or peels.
- Clear leaves, twigs, and other debris from the sloped edge.
- Look for gaps where sections of drip edge meet.
- Check for loose trim, damaged flashing, or signs of water seepage.
Choosing a Rake Style That Fits Your Home
Selection depends on the house, the weather, and how much upkeep the owner wants. Simple sheds suit an open rake, larger roofs do better with boxed rakes, and cold or coastal regions favor moisture-resistant trim.
The short answer to “what is rake in roofing?” is that it is the sloped roof edge, where appearance and weather protection are settled by a single choice.
