What is soffit and fascia

Why Soffits and Fascias Are Important

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Photo courtesy of Therma Tru

Photo by: Eric Eggly

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An exterior soffit is located on the span beneath the rafter tails, while the fascia is the exposed horizontal band you see at the end of the rafters. These architectural elements found along the eave area do more than just add visual interest and give a finished look to your home. They help protect the exterior of your house by keeping out pests like bats, birds and squirrels, and give you a way to disguise ventilation for your attic.

«If you’re living in a climate with high winds that causes rain to swirl up under the eaves, your soffit keeps water from blowing into your house,» says Dave Leff, president of Leff Construction. «If it’s not maintained well, it’s a place for water to collect. Once a year when you clean and inspect your gutters, that’s the time to inspect your fascia and soffit for peeling paint and other problems. Keep everything well-painted, sealed and caulked.»

While soffits and fascia are traditionally constructed from materials like aluminum and wood, many homeowners are now choosing ones made from synthetic and composite materials like UPVC and vinyl because they offer easy maintenance and durability. Vinyl soffits (some are beaded or smooth, while others offer the look of wood grain) and vinyl fascia and trim products come in different styles to complement the architecture and look of your home. There are also products available made from recycled materials, for those who want an eco-friendly alternative.

Making sure your soffit and fascia are installed correctly and properly waterproofed is the best way to prevent problems down the road. Damaged flashing or gutters that don’t function properly can also create issues.

«You really need to keep your gutters clean,» says Bill Bartlett, president of the design/build firm Home ReBuilders of Atlanta. «When the water backs up, the first place it wants to go is the fascia board.»

What is the Difference Between Fascia and Soffits?

When you’re completing the exterior of your home, there’s more to the facade than just your roof and siding. There are also a lot of finishing pieces that help to complete the design, appearance, and function of your exterior. Two pieces that are installed along the roofline of your home are the fascia and the soffit. Because they’re installed close to one another, many people assume that they’re interchangeable, but the two materials each serve a distinct purpose, with the soffit, in particular, being necessary for the protection of your eaves.

What is Fascia?

Fascia or fascia board is installed at the edge of your roof, just under the roofline. It’s usually a flat piece of trim, wider than the trim used on the rest of the home, but normally made of the same material. Occasionally, it may be decorative in style, but normally fascia is fairly subtle in presentation.

Fascia is considered the last line of defense for your roofline and rafters against the elements. It’s what your gutters attach to, and it helps block out some of the rain, snow, and wind from getting underneath your roofline.

Fascia is normally made of timber or wood, but can be found in PVC, aluminum, and vinyl as well. It’s typically installed at the same time as your roof or gutters in order to help complete this area of the home.

Some homes may not use a fascia board. It largely depends on the type and style of roofing, and whether or not you have a soffit installed. You will need a fascia board if you have traditional rain gutters.

What is a Soffit?

Most roofs will overhang the building slightly in order to offer additional protection to the home. This overhang is sometimes called the eave of the roof, and usually contains the ends of the rafters. If your home or building has an attic, you may be able to see the space where the building ends, but the roof continues to extend down past the walls.

If this space was to be left open, rain, snow, and wind could get up inside. This could do a lot of damage to the underside of the roofdeck and to the attic and interior of the home. That’s why this area is usually covered and protected by a material called a soffit.

The soffit installs under the overhang of your roof, and helps protect your roofdeck and attic from moisture. A good soffit is often perforated as well, to allow air to circulate better, removing built up moisture and helping to eliminate issues such as mold or wood rot caused by condensation.

The soffit isn’t as obvious as the fascia when you’re looking at the home from the street, but it is obvious once you get up close to the home, and look up at the underside of the roof. Without a soffit, you would see the rafters and eaves of the roof, and the home would have an unfinished appearance.

Like fascia, soffits can be made of many different materials. This area needs to be made of a material that can withstand significant moisture, as it will be dealing with the warm air from within the attic, as well as the elements outdoors. That’s why you’ll often find soffits made of materials like fiber cement, which are strong, durable, and resistant to moisture issues.

While a fascia isn’t always necessary for a home or roof, soffits generally are. Without a soffit, not only would the home not have a finished appearance, but the rafters and eaves would be exposed to the elements, and at risk for problems like wood rot, interior leaks, mold growth, and roof deck failure. Soffits also help keep insects, rodents, and other pests out of your eaves and attic. Without a soffit, your attic and eaves are essentially left open, which can lead to a lot of problems.

Protect Your Roof

In most homes, you’ll have both a fascia board and a soffit working together to protect your roof and eaves from moisture and to help give your home a finished appearance.

While a fascia board is not always necessary, however, to the installation and performance of a roof and home, soffits will help protect your home and keep it functioning properly, while also giving it the finished look you desire. Make sure you install a durable soffit, such as one made from fiber cement, to help ensure your home’s continued performance over time.

The experts at Allura are ready to help you select the best materials for your next project. For more info on soffits and fascia boards, contact Allura today.

What Are Soffits & Fascias?

What is a soffit, fascia and gutter?

Soffits, fascias and guttering all play an important role in keeping your home pest free and dry, but they are also highly important from an aesthetic point of view. Having sparkling soffits and fascias makes your home look far more attractive and appealing to buyers. If you are thinking of selling your home, then sprucing up the outside of your house is a good investment. Replace soffits and fascias that are old or worn helps to protect your roof and walls, preventing damp and water damage. Clean new gutters and ornate fascias can greatly increase the value of your home and will impress the surveyor too.

Here’s our guide to all things roofline, including an overview of the roles of soffits, fascias and gutters which are the key elements in the modern roofline.

What is a Roof Soffit?

A roof soffit is a covering which sits between the outer edges of your roof and the adjacent wall of the house, protecting and sealing the rafter feet. If your roof has a soffit (not all do), you will be able to see it if you stand underneath the overhang of your roof and lookup.

Modern soffits are usually made of uPVC. UPVC soffits and fascias are hard wearing and cope well with exposure to moisture. Wooden soffits are a popular rustic or period feature, but they are more likely to rot and decay quickly, threatening the integrity of the rest of the roof structure.

What are Fascias?

Fascias are traditionally a softwood board which is mounted to the exposed edges of your rafters, however, in recent years, this has been replaced with high-grade uPVC as softwood has a tendency to rot. The purpose of a fascia is to protect and seal the roof and the interior of your home from exposure to the elements, to support roof tiles at an eaves level and to provide support for the guttering. Fascias also serve a cosmetic purpose and are much nicer to look at than exposed rafters.

What is Guttering?

Guttering is used to collect rainwater from the roof and direct the flow of water as it drains. Gutters catch the water and direct it into the downpipes, and towards a drain. Guttering is fixed with the appropriate “fall” to prevent the water from pooling in places that it should not, which could eventually lead to your gutters overflowing, which is then likely to cause other problems.

Contact us today to discuss our full collection of roofline products.

An Overview of Your Roofline

There are many parts which go into the edge of a roof, including:

Bargeboard – The bargeboard provides a decorative finish to the gable end of your home, sealing the end rafters and the verge.

Box end – Forms the link between the fascia and the bargeboard on gable ends. All the fixings and rough edges are covered with trim, not only to look as neat and professional as possible but also to ensure that the roofline remains as secure and moisture resistant as possible.

Guttering – Collects rainwater from the roof and discharges it into the downpipes. All gutters are levelled and aligned to ensure that they have the correct fall, leading to the rainwater running in the correct direction and down the downpipe.

Fascia Boards – Protects and seals the rafter feet to prevent them from contracting any rot and it progressing up the rafters and into your roof. The fascia also supports the roof tiles and provides a fixing point and support for the guttering.

Soffit Boards – Soffit boards run across the underside of your roofline, with the purpose of protecting the underside of the rafter feet. The expanded core of the soffit is lightweight, whilst the highly polished surface acts as a seal to water damage.

Downpipe – Carries rainwater from the gutters and down into the drains. Should be screwed into the brickwork to provide a secure fix.

Sprockets – Sprockets are made to size on-site from uPVC and fixed securely and level to the rafter feet. This then provides a fixing point upon which to mount the fascia and soffit. Once aligned and levelled, the sprockets guarantee the fascia remains straight and true for years after the installation is complete.

Ventilation – Vents can either be cut into the soffit when manufactured or fixed to the top of the fascia board before it is installed which is likely to be the cheaper and neater option. Ventilation is essential to allow your roof timbers to breathe and prevent the build-up of moisture.

Roofguard Eaves Protector – Inserted under the bottom roof tiles, the eaves guard protects the often damaged bottom end of felt in your roof and curves into the guttering, preventing any rainwater running behind the fascia board or guttering.

Birdcomb – Installed where appropriate, this helps prevent birds from nesting in your roof, by blocking any voids which lie between the tile and top edge of the fascia.

Dry Verge – Dry verge can be installed to protect the verge area above the bargeboard on the gable and prevents you ever having to have this area re-pointed again.

Do I need soffit and fascia?

You do need soffit and fascia because they protect the bottom of your roof rafters from the weather and wildlife extending their life and reducing maintenance and insurance costs.

What is the part under a gutter called?

The horizontal part underneath the gutter is called a soffit. It is fitted tightly under the guttering and the role of the soffit board is to protect the underside of the rafter feet from wear and tear from tough weather conditions.

The vertical part under a gutter is called the downpipe. The pipes are aligned vertically downwards and their role is to take rain and debris to the ground floor level, and out of the guttering into the drainage system. Downpipes are also referred to as downspout, drain spout, roof drain pipe or a leader.

Common problems with fascias and soffits

Improperly installed soffits and fascias, or ones that are old and worn out, must be replaced to protect the integrity of your roof. Common signs of damaged soffits and fascias include:

Flaking and peeling paint – sanding and re-painting the affected area promptly can prevent further damage. This is a job which will have to be repeated year on year, as painted timber fascias and soffits will continuously flake and peel due to the extreme weather conditions they are subject to.

Rot and damp – Sections of rot and damp on your roofline are likely to spread quickly and can cause significant damage. If you notice that your roofline is starting to become rotten you should seek to have it replaced.

Leaking gutters – gutters can easily develop leaks if they are not cleaned frequently. Balls, leaves and other debris can clog up gutters, and during the colder months those pools of water freeze and expand, damaging the gutter.

In addition to the above problems, there are several other reasons why you might need to replace your soffits and fascias, including:

Asbestos – This is not a problem in new homes, however, any home built before the year 2000 could contain asbestos which was incredibly commonly used in homes built before the 1990s. Asbestos was used as a fire retardant, but it is an incredibly dangerous substance, and prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres can cause serious lung problems.

Infestations – many pests make their home in small damp spaces, and rotting fascias can be a home to many kinds of insects and rodents.

Birds Nests – birds frequently make their homes in the rafters and disused chimneys of homes. Many of those birds are protected species, so care must be taken when moving them. Seek professional advice before interfering with a bird’s nest.

Installing and fitting or replacing roofline products

Installing or replacing soffits, fascias and guttering is a complex process which must be carried out by a professional installer. The existing roof felt and tiles must be inspected, the felt may need cut back or replaced if it is already damaged. Working on a roof can be dangerous for both yourself and your property. If you do not have the correct scaffolding, safety equipment and training there is a high risk of seriously injuring yourself when working at height.

Here is an installation guide featuring our Stormclad professionals.

The end tiles of the roof must be removed, and the rafters inspected to ensure that they are in good condition. Assuming the roof is generally in a good condition, the installer will fix sprockets to the rafter feet, to ensure that the fascia and soffit line up correctly to give your roof a smart, professional appearance.

Once the soffits and fascia are in place, guttering and ventilation can be installed. If you have profiled tiles on your roof, then you may opt to have bird combs installed to prevent small birds from gaining access to your roof space.

Once the soffit and bargeboard is installed on any gable ends your property may have, the box ends are fabricated to exact size on site. They must be measured and cut carefully to ensure that there are no unsightly gaps which might let water, or pests, into your home.

Installing soffits and fascias is not a DIY job. Not only is there a risk of personal injury, or damage to your home, there is also the possibility of finding asbestos in the existing roofing materials. Working with a professional company ensures that the job is completed safely and promptly, with minimum fuss.

What goes on first fascia or soffit?

When installing the soffit panels go on first and then the fascia. The soffit goes on first because it will determine the position of other roofing elements including the fascia.

Choosing the best style of roofline product for your home

Traditionally, timber fascia and soffits would be installed; however, this merely creates a lifetime of difficult maintenance. You repeatedly have to be up a ladder to ensure the condition of the timber remains good through continual painting, treatment and repairs.

In recent years it has become common practice to install uPVC roofline as this needs far less maintenance than timber products and therefore is generally preferred to the timber option. UPVC roofline comes in many different styles, with different shaped moulded fascia, coming in different colours and effects. For instance, if you live in an old property and want to retain the authentic look, you can have great looking woodgrain effect products installed.

Guttering also comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes, so be sure to find out all your options rather than just square or round gutter in white or black.

Cost of new fascias, soffits and guttering

The cost of soffits and fascias will depend on the size of your home and the products that you choose. One thing you can be confident of is that installing soffits and fascias will protect your home and make your property far more appealing.

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Stormclad also provides windows, doors, conservatories, and much more for homeowners in the East Midlands. Contact us today to begin your home improvement journey.

Soffit vs. Fascia: Differences & How They Work Together

When planning a roof project, you’ll often hear soffit and fascia mentioned in the same breath. Together, this pair of roofing materials serves aesthetic and functional purposes. They cover unfinished structural parts of the roofline while protecting it from exposure to water, pests, and other potential damage.

While soffit and fascia work together, are installed near each other, and work together to serve a similar function, they are quite different. Read on to learn the differences between the two.

In this article

What is a soffit?

Picture a building with a roof that hangs over the exterior wall. This overhang is called the eave. When you look up, you might see that the area beneath the eaves is protected by soffit.

Soffit is siding or other material that runs from the edge of the exterior walls to the edge of the eave. It conceals those raw, unfinished rafter tails from view for curb appeal. On a practical level, soffit prevents moisture from getting into the roof deck to damage the home and blocks pests like insects, birds, and squirrels from the attic.

Soffit can be made of materials such as wood, vinyl, or aluminum. Some soffit panels have pre-cut holes for ventilation. Other soffit panels are solid, and require the vents to be installed to ensure airflow.

Note that not all eaves—and thus not all homes—have soffit, as some homeowners prefer the look of exposed rafters.

What is fascia?

Fascia, which is Latin for “band,” is the board that runs along the roofline where the roof and walls of the house meet, installed perpendicular to soffit. Fascia can be made of several materials: wood, vinyl, composite, plastic, and aluminum.

Like soffit, fascia board also covers up the rough look of the rafters while keeping moisture and pests out of the home. But fascia has a few other important jobs. Gutters and drain pipes are secured to the fascia as part of the system that protects the roof from weather damage. Because fascia is installed at the edge of the roof, it can support the bottom row of the roof’s tiles or slates as well.

Another type of fascia is found in building decks. Here the board is installed along the perimeter, just below the surface line of the deck, to help cover unfinished joists and other structural support.

What are the best soffit and fascia materials?

Together, soffit and fascia protect your home from pest and water damage so durable materials are the best option if they are within your budget. Builders can choose from several materials and each have their pros and cons.

MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications.

Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.

What is Soffit & Fascia? | Why Are They Important?

Did you know that the soffit and fascia around your home is one of the most neglected areas, but they provide one of the most important protections for the roof? Many homeowners don’t even know the purpose of soffit and fascia and assume they are purely of aesthetic value, but this is definitely not the case.

What Is Fascia?

As a vital part of proper roof construction, fascia is found underneath the roofline just behind the gutters. Think of fascia as trim around your roof which is mounted on the exposed ends of the rafters or the top of the exterior walls to create a layer between the edge of the roof and outside. The most commonly used materials for fascia are wood, plastic and aluminum.

What Is Soffit?

Derived from the French language literally meaning “something fixed underneath” which is exactly where soffit resides tucked away underneath the fascia board. It can be used under porches, flights of stairs and most commonly around a home’s roof. Soffit can be made out of aluminum, vinyl, fiber cement, wood and steel. Soffit can be vented to allow the flow of air into your roof which is ideal. Without having adequate ventilation, condensation will form in your roof increasing rot and decay.

You may ask then what are the features and benefits of properly functioning soffit and fascia on your home. Well you are about to find out!

Soffit & Fascia Benefits:

Soffit & Fascia Provide:

See Our Award-Winning Soffit & Fascia Contractors in Action:

What Type Of Material Should I Use When Having New Soffit And Fascia Installed?

Many older homes have wooden fascia, but the most commonly used material used in the US today for the replacement of soffit and fascia is aluminum or vinyl. This is in large part due to being more practical and economical. Here are a few reasons to choose aluminum or vinyl for your next project.