Once you start exploring different home improvement and roofing projects, you’re likely to stumble across lots of unfamiliar terms. Two terms that you’ll often see are “eave” and “soffit”, but without a professional or technical background, you might not know what those are.
These features are incredibly common in residential construction, so if you’re going to make improvements to your home, you should know what they are. Here’s a comprehensive explanation of eaves and soffit, what they are, their differences and why you may benefit from having them.
A house eave is one of the most common architectural features of a roof. Simply put, it’s the lower section of the roof that overhangs beyond the walls. While it’s an essential part of a roofing system’s design, this area can be vulnerable to outdoor elements and may pose a structural threat to your attic and walls.
The eave carries the runoff water from the roof and displaces it far away from your home. As a result, it prevents water damage to your home’s walls and foundation.
Flat roofs often don’t have eaves, which increases their chances of water damage. The size of an eave is relative to the roof’s incline and the developer’s aesthetic. If you want to protect your home from inclement weather, poor ventilation and wind-driven rain, eaves are essential.
Soffit, on the other hand, is an architectural element that is installed on the underside of a home’s eave. While eaves may be exposed, boxed-in or abbreviated, using soffit is the best way to protect your home and provide proper ventilation. Many use “soffit” as an umbrella term to describe the underside of a roof, but that’s not always the case because some eaves don’t have soffit.
As valuable as an eave is for protecting homes from water, it can’t do the job alone. That’s where soffit comes in! The purpose of the soffit is to create ventilation for the attic, regulate heating and cooling in the home and prevent water runoff or wind-driven rain from seeping into the attic, walls and foundation.
Soffit can be crafted from many different materials, which can vary based on aesthetics, cost, durability and overall effectiveness. Here’s a brief breakdown of each material used to create soffit:
Wood
Wood soffit is an aesthetically pleasing option that provides a chic look for a home’s exterior. Unfortunately, wood is the least durable option and may be susceptible to water damage, rot and warping.
Composite
Composite soffit is one of the most expensive options on the market, but that’s because it’s both aesthetically pleasing and highly durable.
Vinyl
Vinyl soffit is more durable than wood and relatively inexpensive, but it may be prone to discoloration when exposed to the elements.
Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the all-around favorites for soffit materials because it’s affordable, highly durable and provides a clean exterior design aesthetic.
At this point, you might be asking yourself if you should install soffit on your home. It’s true that they aren’t necessarily required, but they are still incredibly beneficial. Here are five benefits of installing soffit on your home:
Soffit is your roof’s first line of defense, and it is crucial for roof protection. Without soffit, you’re leaving your eaves, attic, walls and foundation vulnerable to outdoor elements like wind-driven rain, inclement weather, insects and more.
Soffit also looks better than some of the alternatives, especially exposed eaves. While many people may like the simplicity of that, there’s just something chic and aesthetically pleasing about vented soffit. They provide a clean look while offering a ton of functionality.
Soffit requires much less maintenance than other eave treatments. This is especially true if you choose a durable soffit material like aluminum or composite. Lower maintenance equals lower cost, which is a win-win for anyone.
Installing soffit on your home also increases its resale value. If you’re interested in adding a low-cost feature that will increase your home’s value and make it more likely to sell, soffit is the ideal option for you!
Soffit can come without ventilation options, but it’s to your benefit to choose an option with ventilation. This increases the air circulation in your attic, which can prevent build-ups of extreme temperatures. Plus, it can do wonders for the internal temperature in your home and help reduce your overall energy consumption.
Are you searching for high-quality aluminum soffit from a company that understands and values durability and style? If so, look no further! At Rollex — we offer industry-defying warranties, and each of our products is crafted to last. Contact us today to learn more about our incredible aluminum soffit product line!