Home improvement is one of the fastest-growing industries today, as many people make changes to their homes. If you've been looking into replacing your roof or siding, there's a good chance you've heard the term "soffit" tossed around at some point. Although you may not know what it is, soffit is an essential part of your home exterior. Keep reading to learn more about what it can do for you.
What Is Soffit?
Soffit refers to "something fixed underneath." While it can technically be used in any part of the home, on the exterior it covers the bottom portion of the roof that goes beyond the edge of your walls.
What Soffit Does for Your Home Exterior
While you may think soffit only serves an aesthetic purpose, the truth is that there are even more important reasons to make sure your home has soffit in place.
Provides Ventilation
One of the most important roles of the soffit is that it provides ventilation to your attic and roof. This is essential to ensure there's no humidity, which can lead to mold growth and structural damage over time.
Without proper ventilation, the enclosed space can also get hot. This heat can cause roofing tiles to warp, damaging your roof and forcing you to replace it sooner than normal. It can also drive up your energy bills as it takes more work to keep your home cool.
Keeps Out Pests
Everything from raccoons and squirrels to bees and ants may try to make their home in your roof if they have a way in. To prevent that from happening, you need to make sure you have a soffit installed so they can't get in.
Pests of any type can cause damage to the inside of your roof, which will once again force you to replace it sooner than normal or else risk interior damage to your home.
Protects From the Elements
Whether it's extreme temperatures, rain, or snow, the elements can infiltrate your home like a pest if you don't have a soffit. These can cause water damage on the inside of your roof or do other types of damage.
Adds Aesthetic Value
Lastly, soffits add beauty to your home. They create a finished look along the roof where it overhangs so you're not seeing just the inside of the roof and any wooden rafters.
This helps increase the value of your home because of the added curb appeal. It also adds value because of how well it helps protect your home from pests, moisture, and the elements.
Need Help With Soffit Design?
Now you know what soffit is and how it's an integral part of your home exterior and interior. As you can see, it will help protects your home and can even help you save money while increasing the value of your house.
If you want help with soffit design or practical tips, keep reading our blog. It's packed with posts that will help you turn your house into your dream home, like this one on matching your doggie door to your soffit.
