Rake

The rake edge of a roof is the inclined perimeter at the gable end — the diagonal line that defines the visible edge of the roof slope when viewed from the side of the building. This edge must be carefully finished and sealed to prevent wind-driven rain from entering beneath the roof covering and to provide a clean architectural detail. The rake is typically protected by a barge board (a timber or metal board fixed along the underside of the edge), with a metal verge flashing or verge cap dressed over the top. On tile roofs, the verge (rake edge) is traditionally finished by bedding the end tiles in mortar and capping the edge with a pointed mortar fillet. On metal roofs, a barge flashing is formed from matching Colorbond steel and screwed over the sheet ends, turning down over the barge board. The barge flashing must extend far enough beyond the roof edge to prevent water from running back underneath. In Gippsland, the rake edges of gable roofs are exposed to prevailing weather and can be a source of leaks if the barge flashings or mortar verges deteriorate. Town & Country Roofing repairs verge mortar on tile roofs during restoration work and installs custom barge flashings on metal roofing projects to ensure a durable, weatherproof finish along the rake edges.