When I first started working for Conservation Construction I asked this same question. Someone had come up and started talking about Soffit and Fascia near my desk. I didn’t know what these items were. My boss told me I needed to learn quickly because they are not only something we remove and replace at Conservation Construction, but it’s essential to a functional home. These items seem like smaller ticket items so they are easy to overlook.
What are Soffit and Fascia?
Soffit: is the exposed siding underneath your roof’s overhang.
Fascia: goes hand-in-hand with your home’s soffit. Fascia is the area of siding directly above the soffit. It’s the exposed board you see on the front of your roof’s overhang.
See the images below for a visual picture.
Why are Soffit and Fascia so important? We can list the reasons below:
- They protect your home from high winds and rain. Soffit also guards under the eaves of your house and prevents outside things from blowing inside.
- They prevent water from accumulating, allowing it to sheet off and away from the house.
- Soffit is important because it has venting that helps keep a steady airflow between your roof and attic. Your attic needs to be well ventilated or else moisture can build up causing mold to form.
- They can keep the house more insulated from conditions outside.
- Soffit and Fascia Board draw heat away from the house.
- Your gutters are installed on Fascia. Your Fascia needs to be able to hold up the gutters during sunshine and rain.
- Fascia is visible to everyone who sees your house because it sits on the edge of the roof. You can get maximum curb appeal by painting or replacing it.
Now that we know what Fascia and Soffit are, and why they are important, we can talk about the different types out there.
- Wood
- Steel
- Vinyl
- Cedar Ridge
- Fiber Cement
These are just a few types of Soffit and Fascia manufactured in today’s market. Wood and Steel, although once ubiquitous on most houses throughout the United States, are being used less. The more modern sidings such as Vinyl, Cedar Ridge and Fiber Cement are manufacturing Soffit and Fascia to go with their products. These types of Soffit and Fascia are much more durable than earlier counterparts.
Soffit and Fascia can be replaced at any time, but they are most commonly addressed when siding is getting replaced. That’s because people are already up on a ladder fixing the siding, they might as well get this done too. You can get up on a ladder and inspect your Soffit and Fascia when you clean out gutters. Warped or cracked panels indicate that it’s time to replace the Soffit and Fascia.
Finally, here at Conservation Construction we remove and replace soffit and fascia so you don’t have to get up on a huge ladder and risk life and limb to do it yourself. On top of this we offer a wide variety of sidings to complement the new Soffit and Fascia. Our estimates are always free too, and are good for one full year.
In Conclusion, Soffit is the exposed board under the roof, and Fascia is the are just above the soffit that holds the gutters. Fix Soffit and Fascia when you notice water damage. Soffit and Fascia are important in insulating, protecting your home from pests, keeping water from settling, holding up your gutters, and giving your house curb appeal.
We’ll see you next time.