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Many homeowners think of soffit panels and fascia boards as cosmetic features, while some are unaware of exactly what they do. Probably the most overlooked exterior finishing elements, they are as important to a home’s exterior as the roof or gutters.  Here are a few reasons soffit and fascia play an important role in protecting your house from water damage.

What is Soffit?

The edge of a roof typically extends about 18 inches to 2 feet out from the house.  Soffit is siding enclosing the underside of the roof’s overhang.  While it usually doesn’t immediately impact curb appeal, soffit can be seen when standing on the porch or entry steps; underneath the overhang; walking by at street level.  Traditionally made from wood, today soffit panels are also manufactured from composite wood, vinyl, and aluminum.

Soffit is the exposed siding underneath your roof’s overhang.  Since your soffit is located on the underside of your roof, it’s often not visible in terms of curb appeal.

However, soffit can still be seen when you’re close to the home and when you’re underneath it or at street level.  Soffit is usually the same design and color as your home’s siding, but can be different depending on your own personal tastes and preferences.  Soffit can be made from wood, aluminum or vinyl.  It’s important that you have a soffit material suitable for the climate you live in.

Why Is Soffit Important?

Soffit is important because it has venting that helps keep a steady airflow between your roof and attic.  You’re probably thinking, why do I want outside air in my home?  Your attic needs to be well ventilated or else moisture can build up causing mold to form.  The last thing you want in your home is mold.  Aside from keeping moisture out, soffit helps release heat from your attic during the hot summer months.

Soffit also helps keep animals and insects out of your home.  Bees and wasps love to nestle up in soffit, so you need to keep it maintained to prevent them from invading.  It’s important to make sure your soffit has no cracks or holes in it and if it does, you must repair or replace it right away.

What is Fascia?

Fascia is the finishing edge covering the ends of a roof’s rafters, trusses, or the area where the gutter system is attached to the roof.  Fascia boards keep rain and snow from entering a home that might result in water damage such as mold, pooling water, and rot.  Standard gutters – not hidden or drainage systems for flat roofs – are generally attached to the fascia.

Fascia goes hand-in-hand with your home’s soffit.  Fascia is the area of siding directly above the soffit. It’s the exposed board you see on the front of your roof’s overhang.  Your fascia is also where gutters are placed.  Fascia is very visible and needs to be in good shape so your home’s curb appeal isn’t in jeopardy.  Just like soffit, fascia can be made of aluminum, wood or vinyl and the best option is vinyl.

Why Is Fascia Important?

Fascia consists of the long straight board along the lower edge of the roof, so how can it be so important?  For starters, it’s the last line of support for the lower edge of the bottom row of roof tiles or shingles.  Plus, it’s what your gutters are installed on.  Gutters are extremely important and your fascia needs to be able to hold them up even during torrential downpour.  Fascia is also important because it’s visible to everyone.  If you want to maximize your home’s curb appeal, your fascia needs to look great as well.

Important for Ventilation

The rise in temperature or heat escaping from the attic is one of the main causes of ice dams forming on a roof.  It is important for the attic of your home to be properly ventilated to ensure it remains dry, eliminating potential leaks and other moisture-related problems.  Soffit and fascia prevent the elements from coming inside your home.  Vented soffit is designed to specifically increase or improve the circulation of air throughout an attic, with small holes or thin slots to air to flow.

Important for Pest Control

Soffit boards and fascia panels keep pests out.  Hibernating animals or ones that just want shelter when the weather gets colder find attics, gutters, and roof overhangs very attractive.   Pests such as birds, rodents, squirrels, bats, and insects (wasps, bees) can gain entry through compromised soffit and/fascia.

Important for Protection

Soffit and fascia protect your home from water, wind, and pests.  When a home is missing soffit panels or fascia boards, rainwater and moisture can be blown into the attic during a heavy rainstorm.  The same can be said of improperly installed or damaged soffits and fascia – water that can damage your home is allowed to enter.  Keeping gutters maintained helps prevent overflowing, which also can lead to damaged soffit, fascia, and siding.

Why Vinyl Soffit and Fascia Are Better than the Rest

You know what soffit and fascia are and why they’re important, so now you need to know what type to get in order to maximize all the benefits associated with them.  As mentioned earlier, the main materials of soffit and fascia are wood, aluminum and vinyl.  Wood soffit and fascia doesn’t make sense because it’s susceptible to warping and rotting when exposed to moisture.

Aluminum soffit and fascia absorb heat and will make your roof and attic extremely hot which will decrease your home’s overall energy efficiency because you’ll have to rely more on your air conditioner.  Vinyl soffit and fascia are the clear winners.  Vinyl is resistant to cracking, warping and rotting so it’s virtually maintenance-free.  All you’ll need to do is clean it every once in a while.

Plus, you have more options with vinyl and can even choose wood grain finishes if you want the beauty of wood without the negatives.  Vinyl is the most energy efficient option as well because it’ll keep rain, snow, rodents and insects out of your home better than wood or aluminum.