From Gutters to Soffit and Fascia: Understanding the Parts of a Roof
When it comes to the roof of your home, you want a product that is durable, safe, and will add to the exterior look of your home elegantly, if you can. Most importantly you want something that will be a good long-term investment.
So when you are looking to make repairs or renovations to the roof, or are buying or building new, you need to know the difference between soffit and fascia, and the gutters of your home. Here are those parts explained before you begin your top down repair or renovation.
What Are Soffit and Fascia?
If you are underneath an overhang of any building, look above you. You likely will see soffit and fascia right over your head.
These are the two main parts to the overhang of any roof. The soffit is the siding part that you see in slats of aluminum or vinyl, and the fascia is the wooden or vinyl overhang in the front of the overhang that is visible to the naked eye looking at your house.
Soffit is generally exposed, so you can see it when you are standing underneath it, but not from the curb of the street. It is usually a neutral color but many designers are beginning to incorporate color and lighting trends with soffit to add more ambience to a space.
Soffit is used to add ventilation to your roof and keep the flow of air between your roof and attic even to avoid moisture build-up in the attic. It also helps to keep your home free of bugs and animals.
Fascia
Fascia is the component of the roof that is very similar to siding, and is the siding that goes over the soffit. This is the exposed part of the roof that can be seen on the overhang and from the street.
This is usually where the gutter of your roof is installed as well. It is usually made of aluminum, vinyl, or wood, with vinyl being the most durable.
Fascias are important because they will hold your gutters up during difficult weather.
Gutters
Gutters are the drains attached to your roof that help keep moisture and debris away from your home. Most homes need a gutter, but if your home is on a steep grade or have a long roof overhang you may be able to get away without a gutter.
Gutters redirect rain and weather from your home as well as your roof, and help to prevent erosion of your roof and siding materials.
Invest in Quality
Learning the parts of the roof may seem a mundane task, but terms like soffit, fascia, and gutter are important to know when you are a homeowner. You will need to replace or update your roof at some point if you intend on staying there for over a decade.
And you may be interested in updating your roof and adjusting its current neutral look to one that is trendier, such as with the installation of an accent shade for your soffit and fascia work to add a pop of color to your exterior.
Stay informed about soffit and fascia trends when you visit the soffit blog offering everything you need to know to create the most beautiful roof investment on your street.
