Soffit And Fascia

If you’re a new homeowner, or even if you’re not, you may not know all the technical terms for the components that make up your roof. And more importantly, if you don’t know what bits and pieces are there, you also won’t know what to look for when something goes wrong. For this reason, we have decided our next All Weather Exteriors blog series will describe the parts that make up your roof and the common problems associated with each.

What is Soffit?

While not all homes have an overhanging roof, most homes in Winnipeg do – particularly those with sloped roofs. If your house has an overhang, the ‘soffit’ on your house is the wood or vinyl material that covers the underside of your roof’s overhang. Essentially, it is the material that protects your roof’s framing (rafters and beams), insulation, and vents from beneath. When looking for the soffit on your home, bear in mind the soffit is ONLY from below. The materials that protect the side of your roof’s overhang are our second term today: fascia.

The soffit covers the underside of the overhang of your home’s roof. If you want to see your soffit, stand under your roof where it extends out from an exterior wall and look up. The ‘ceiling’ you see on the bottom of the overhang is the soffit.  You may notice small holes in the soffit panels or a series of vents. They let air into the attic to maintain good circulation. In addition to helping with attic ventilation, your soffit installation makes your home look better by covering the ends of the wooden studs that support your roof.Soffit may become damaged if your gutters are overflowing (this is especially likely to happen if they are clogged) or if ice is damming up in your gutters over the winter, which is a pretty common occurrence. You might even get icicles coming down through the vinyl of your soffit. This isn’t good for your roof.

A good soffit will be able to stand up to the elements, which is important because soffits are likely to be exposed to the wet and damp. Maintaining your gutters well is a good practice for keeping your soffits in good condition.

What is the Fascia?

The fascia protects the edge of your roof from the outside. It’s a board attached to the rafters or other elements that make up your roof. Fascia is also very important. Subject to moisture, if fascia starts to rot or otherwise degrade, it’s important to get your contractor to look at them as soon as possible. If they wear away, the exposed interior of your roof may suffer water damage.

It’s important to maintain your fascia because of their protective function, but also because if they’re highly visible to passersby. If they’re in bad condition, they may detract from the attractiveness of your house. Because fascia is so highly visible, it’s important that you and your contractor be on the same page about the materials that will be used and how your roof will look once the new fascia is installed.

Together, the soffit and fascia of your roof play a variety of important roles in the overall roofing system. Primarily, they are key to the proper ventilation of your attic and they also play a big role in the appearance of your home.

Why Choose All Weather Exteriors for Your Soffit and Fascia Installation

Considering that home comfort, roof integrity and creature infestations are at stake, it’s smart to choose All Weather Exteriors a roofing company with over 10 years of experience installing soffit and fascia in all types of homes and roofs. Our experienced crews will help to match you with the appropriate parts, materials, gutters, and gutter protection so that you don’t have to worry about your roof again for a long time.