What Are Soffit and Fascia?
Soffit and fascia, gutter aprons, ice and water barriers – they all have one thing in common. They’re technical jargon that doesn’t mean much if you’re not a roofing expert.
Whether you are in the market for a new roof or merely in the research phase, all of the jargon you encounter can leave you more confused than when you started.
Feeling so frustrated you want to throw your keyboard? Rescue My Roof is here to help.
Amongst all of the jargon used in the roofing industry are soffit and fascia. They can be vital components to your roof- but what are they really?
Soffit and fascia are two words we’re extremely familiar with because we explain them to our customers every day. Additionally, we understand how important it is for you to completely comprehend the roofing process to make the best decisions for you and your home.
We are going to go over what soffit and fascia are and their importance in the roofing process. And at the end, you will feel even more secure in your involvement in the decisions that occur during a roof installation.
What are soffit and fascia?
Besides being classified as roofing jargon, soffit and fascia play an important role in the roofing process.
Their sole purpose is to provide a space for gutters to hang and potentially install intake vents.
However, we’re going to break it down further so that you have a complete understanding of what you’re looking at the next time you see a roof.
Fascia
Fascia is a long, straight board that runs along the edge of your roof. When looking at your home straight on, the fascia board will be running horizontally alongside the roof’s edge.
Fascia is directly attached to the roof’s edge, providing a space for the gutters to hang off of. Because gutters are essential to protecting the exterior walls from water damage, the fascia is also necessary for your roof.
That is why all homes traditionally have fascia installed. However, there is an additional fee to add fascia to your roofing package. Talk with your contractor about what your best options are.
Fascia, when installed correctly, can also last the lifetime of a roof. So it is not something you will have to maintain regularly.
Soffit
Soffit is another board that is tucked underneath the fascia. When you look straight-on at a house from a distance, you will only be able to see the fascia.
If you move closer to the home to where you can see under the roof’s ledge, you will be able to see where the soffit board is hidden. It will be connected to the fascia at an angle and reaches across the home’s exterior.
Soffit is the ideal place to hide intake vents necessary for your roof’s ventilation. When hot air rises to the top of your attic space and makes its escape through the exhaust vents, cool air is needed to replace it and maintain airflow throughout your home.
That’s why intake vents are placed near the bottom of your roof, and if you want them to be hidden for cosmetic purposes, they can be placed in the soffit.
However, because it is mostly a space for ventilation, soffits are unnecessary for most homes. There are other means of ventilation that are also available that don’t require soffit vents.
At your estimation appointment for a new roof, the inspector will evaluate the existing ventilation. If there is improvement needed and more intake vents can be added, one of the first considerations will be adding soffit vents to your home.
Read more about roof ventilation systems here.
The cost of adding soffit to your roof
Because soffit ties into your ventilation system, it costs extra money to add it to your home.
On average, ridge vents are $10-20 per linear foot. Other vents, such as static vents, can be up to $100 per vent.
Ridge vents are the most inexpensive of the two. And because adding ridge vents to an existing roof may only take a few hours, labor costs will be low as well.
However, the low costs are dependent on where you start. Most hames have a static pod or mushroom vents. To switch over to a ridge vent system, it may be more expensive than sticking with the original style.
If you’re adding them to a new roof installation, the price will be added to your estimate. The labor costs will be lower with this option as well because it does not add much additional time to the project.
Why are Soffit and Fascia Important?
Soffit and fascia are important because they add the foundations necessary for your gutters and roof ventilation systems.
Without fascia, there would not be a space for your gutters to sit. This could cause issues with ice dams in the winter as water and ice can build up on your roof and may cause leaking issues.
As for soffit, this is not required on a roof but is still important nonetheless. Having proper roof ventilation saves you from leaks, water damage, delimitation, and more.
And as the typical cause for improper ventilation is not having enough intake vents, soffit vents are a great solution for modern-day homeowners.
If one of the reasons you are installing a new roof is for an updated curb appeal, then soffit and fascia also add a more finished and polished look to your home.
Some roofing companies may even offer a variety of soft and fascia in different styles and colors to give you more options for how you want the finished product to look.
So if the only reason you want to do a new roof is cosmetics, then soffit and fascia may still be important to consider.
What Do You Do Next?
There are two options:
- Call a roofing expert today to schedule an estimation appointment
- Do more research
If you need a new roof or potentially want to update the soffit and fascia on your home, then you can schedule an appointment for an estimate.
A sales representative will walk you through everything you need to know about the cost of your new roof. However, if you’re curious ahead of time, you can check out “How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost?” and “What To Expect At Your Roof Estimation Appointment.”
Or, if you live in the greater Milwaukee Area, Rescue My Roof is at your service! You can contact us today to schedule a free estimate!
Maybe you’re not ready to dive into the world of roofing yet. It’s understandable because there’s a lot more to learn than what soffit and fascia are and why they’re important.
If you want to learn more about the elements of a roof, timelines, or payment options for a roof, you can visit our learning center to check out articles surrounding each topic!