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Why Are Fascias and Soffits Important?
As a homeowner, it is important to know the different parts of your roof and the function they serve. Understanding the importance of each part will help you in case something needs to be repaired. Two important pieces of your roof are the soffits and fascia. While the soffits and fascia add to the visual aspects of your roof, they serve an essential role. They also help protect the exterior of your house and provide important ventilation to your attic. To help you better understand each of these pieces, we’re going to walk you through how you can identify them and what purpose they serve.
You know that your roof is an essential element of your home. It protects you and all your stuff so problems with the roof can be devastating if not caught before a storm arrives. But there are other parts of the roof you may not be familiar with. For instance, what are fascias and soffits? We’ve found that many homeowners don’t know about and understand some of the peripheral elements of their home’s roof. These architectural elements help protect your roof so your roof can keep on protecting you.
What Are Fascias and Soffits?
If you’re a homeowner, then you know there are always repairs and updates to be made. Whether your home is new or you’ve been living in it for years, there are always things that need to be fixed or improved. One part of the house that often goes overlooked is the roofline. This area includes the fascia and soffits, and if you’re not familiar with them, it’s time to learn more!
1. What Are Soffits?
Whether you are calling professional or doing it yourself, it’s important to know the components of your roof. An exterior soffit is that material located right below your roof and the fascia is the exposed horizontal ring that you see in the finish overhangs of your home. These are essential and crucial parts of your roof and do a lot more than just add visual focus and a finished look to a house. They help protect a house by preventing water from seeping into your interior and stop pests from getting in and calling your attic or basement home.
Let us begin with soffits. In most cases, they’re the component of siding right beneath the roof overhang. Many people think that soffits improve the aesthetic expression of your home. However, soffits also improve your roof’s functionality and actually rarely increase your home’s curb appeal. Soffits and fascias are often mistaken for one another and it’s our goal in this article to help you understand the differences. Soffits are much more noticeable when one is standing close up but even then most soffits blend into your home’s siding, making them that much harder to notice. Although a very disguised part of your roofing system, they provide a very necessary purpose for the roof.
Most soffits are comprised of either wood, vinyl, or aluminum and when you select your soffits or fascia, you should think about not only the aesthetics but also how they will stand up to your climate. For instance, most wood soffits, although very pleasing to the eye, are a bad choice for cold and damp climates or those that have harsh winters. If not treated regularly wood can deteriorate rapidly in the wrong climate. Soffits are the part of the roofline that runs along the edge of the roof, and they play an important role in protecting the home. The soffit adds the finishing touch under your eaves. If there weren’t soffits, the bottom part of the eave would be open and exposed to the elements. You can’t see the soffits unless you’re standing right under the eave and looking up, so they don’t really affect the curb appeal of your home as much as your roof or siding.
It’s not often that rain travels upward on your siding (thankfully), so you may be wondering why soffits are so necessary since they’re largely hidden underneath the eaves. It’s true that water won’t be pouring into your home without the soffits, but over time splash back and other sources of water can get up into the roof. Moisture in the roof is a recipe for disaster. If it occurs frequently and is there long enough you’ll have a rotting roof. The soffits also help keep rodents, bees, and other unwelcome critters out of your home. Completely sealing off the eaves isn’t a good idea either. The attic needs proper ventilation. Without it, moisture in the air can condensate and build up, causing mold in the attic and other problems. That’s why you have soffits vents to help provide adequate air circulation. They also offer another way for hot air to escape from the attic during the summer months.
Soffit Materials
Soffits can be made from the same material as the siding on your home. They are also commonly made from aluminum, wood, composite material, and vinyl.
Soffit Replacement
Soffit replacement and repair is an important part of home maintenance and it’s something that every homeowner should be familiar with. Soffit replacement is necessary when they become damaged or worn out, so here’s what you need to know:
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replacing soffit is an ordinary and necessary part of home maintenance
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soffits play an important role in protecting the home
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soffit replacement is typically done by roofing companies, siding contractors, and carpenters
2. Fascias: What is fascia on a house?
Fascia are the flat boards perpendicular to the roof that finish off the edges. Gutters, if you have them, will be installed along the fascia. Fascia on a house do affect your home’s curb appeal so you’ll want to keep them in good shape. It’s important to choose a material that is easy to maintain and you won’t have to worry about them as often.
Why Are Fascias Important?
In addition to protecting the ends of your rafters, house fascia support the last line of shingles on your roof. Without them, the shingles could bend and even snap off during strong winds. They also provide a sturdy anchor point for mounting the gutters. Be sure to keep your gutters clean at all times to avoid water pooling along the house fascia. This could lead to rot and mold if left for too long.
Roof Fascia Materials
The fascia board is the part of the roof that provides the facing trim above the soffit. It’s an important part of the roofline, and it’s made out of a variety of materials. Here are some of the most common house fascia materials:
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wood
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aluminum
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vinyl
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composite material
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copper
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steel
Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose one that will work best for your home. Talk to a professional to learn more about which material is best for your roofline.
Fascia Repair
Due to the proximity of fascia boards to the roofline and the house gutters, they are prone to become damaged over time. When this happens, it’s important to repair or replace them as soon as possible.
Here are a few tips on how to repair or replace fascia:
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If the fascia is only slightly damaged, you may be able to repair it with a sealant or caulk.
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When the fascia is severely damaged, you’ll need to replace it entirely.
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In most cases, you will need to remove the gutters in order to work on the house fascia.
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Always use caution when working on the roofline, as it can be dangerous.
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If you’re not comfortable doing the repairs yourself, contact a professional contractor for help.
Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose one that will work best for your home. Talk to a gutter and roofing professional to learn more about which fascia repair method is best for your home.
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If you discover mildew or mold on your soffit, use a soft brush or broom and a cleaning solution made with bleach and water to clean it.
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Periodically check for bee, hornet or wasp nests. If you’re not comfortable working on a ladder or the nests are extensive, call a professional to remove the nests.
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If installing your vinyl fascia yourself, it helps to cut the pieces a bit longer than you measured so you can overlap the joints.