What is a cutout?

• A. The topmost part of the shingle that overlaps the next.
• B. The open portions of a strip shingle between the tabs.
• C. A sheet of metal used at roof edges.
• D. The horizontal row of shingles along the roof.

Answer: (B)

Cutouts are the open portions between the tabs on a strip shingle. They create the tabbed look that distinguishes strip shingles and determine how much of the shingle is exposed on the roof. They aren’t the part that overlaps the next shingle (that’s the headlap), nor a metal edge, nor a horizontal row of shingles. In a typical strip shingle, the spaces between the visible tabs are the cutouts, and their size and shape help define the overall pattern of the roof’s appearance.