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The soffit is the material beneath the eave that connects the far edge of your roof to the exterior wall of your house. They are often vented. Besides being underneath your eaves, soffits can also be on the underside of a porch roof.
What is the purpose of a soffit on a house?
Soffit outlining the roofline allows for continuous ventilation and is one of the most effective ways to ventilate into the attic. Air from the soffit cycles to the vents to draw heat and moisture away from the house. Moisture is mold’s breading ground and the cause of roof rot and poor air quality.
What is the difference between an eave and a soffit?
Eaves are usually made of wood and then covered with roofing material. Soffit materials coordinate with siding and fascia boards on the exterior walls, and generally follow the aesthetics of the residence.
What does soffit look like on a house?
The soffit is part of the overhang where your roof meets your siding. When rain or snow hits your roof, it runs down, and the overhang allows the water to flow away from your house. The soffit is underneath the overhang, between the roof’s edge and side of your home—the bottom of the triangle, if you will.
What is the difference between a soffit and fascia?
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.
Is soffit venting necessary?
A roof may need soffit vents if there is no other ventilation allowing for adequate air movement. However, if the attic space is properly sealed and insulated, there is no need for this type of ventilation. Soffit vents are an easy, aesthetically pleasing way to vent the attic space.
Do I need soffits?
Soffits have an important job on the outside of a house. They protect the underside of the eaves from moisture and rot. Moisture can cause big problems, not only to the eaves, but also to the attic. Finally, soffits help keep unwanted intruders like insects, pests and birds out of the attic, too.
What’s the overhang on a house called?
What Is a Soffit? Your roof by necessity, will often times extend over the walls of your home. This overhang can go by a few names, such as the house eaves or the rafters of your roof. The underside of this overhang, when given a finished appearance, is known as the soffit, which means “something fixed underneath”.
Is a soffit the same as an Eve?
In the widest sense of the term, soffits can refer to the underside of almost anything that’s constructed, including arches and porches. To summarise, an eave is part of a roof system and a soffit is part of the eave. In simple terms, eaves and soffits are two different parts of the same structure.
What is the border around the roof called?
Eave: An eave is the lower border of the roof that overhangs the wall usually located in the first three feet of a roof.
Does every house have soffit?
What are soffits? Not all roofs have soffits installed but for properties that do, it is easy enough to spot. A soffit is an additional covering that sits along the edges of your roof and the adjacent walls of a house. The idea behind this installation is to protect the rafter by sealing it in.
Are soffits ever structural?
Because kitchen soffits are purposeful and involve integral structural and functional elements of your kitchen, it’s important to discuss your ideas with a home remodeling professional before taking any steps or making any decisions.
Do soffits lead to attic?
Soffit vents are roof ventilation devices installed underneath the eaves of a roof that extend past the warm wall line. When properly combined with other roof ventilation devices, soffit vents allow fresh air to enter into an attic creating air flow.
How much does soffit cost to install?
The labor costs for soffit and fascia installation can vary from contractor to contractor. Fascia installation costs range from $6 to $20 per linear foot, while soffit installation tends to be cheaper than fascia at $1 to $3 per linear foot.
What is the purpose of fascia and soffit?
Located in the exterior of your home, specifically the roof, the primary role of the fascia and soffit is to give the roofing system a smooth appearance as well as offer protection. It is thus vital that these two are properly installed so as to improve the overall functionality of the roof.
What is kitchen soffit?
Kitchen soffits are usually installed above your cabinets, closing the gaps between the cabinets and ceiling. While kitchen soffits were very popular in older homes, the style has fallen out of favor for many homeowners and interior designers. The lower ceilings create a cramped atmosphere that can feel restrictive.
