Soffits may be a small feature compared to your whole roofing system, but their vital function makes them important to include, particularly when you have your roof replaced. While soffits don’t attract attention to themselves, they play a vital role in shielding your exterior from moisture damage by covering your rafters and venting them.
What are Roof Soffits, and Why Are They So Essential?
Your roof soffits are located between the eaves of your roof where your fascia and gutters connect to the walls of your home. They serve as the underside of your roofing system and give the finishing touch to your roof replacement. Here are six of the top reasons they are so important:
1. Provide Aesthetic Appeal
Soffits give a polished look to your home, and come in different styles and finishes to choose from so you get the optimal look for your exterior. They ensure you get a cohesive, refined overall aesthetic to your property. When you complement your current siding and trim with the optimal soffit material, style and color, you’ll elevate curb appeal and home value.
2. Help Your Home Breathe
Heat builds up inside most attics due to energy rising from inside the home and the sun beating down on it. If air doesn’t circulate in and out of your attic, heat builds up. This causes condensation, mold growth, wood rot, roof damage, and the premature aging of your roof. Your roof shingles will break down more quickly under these conditions, and leaks may occur as a result. An overheated attic also leads to increased energy use and therefore higher utility bills.
When air circulates through your attic due to your soffits (intake) and roof vents (exhaust), humidity levels in your attic stay lower, which contributes to a healthy roof that will serve you for its lifespan (rather than wearing out early!).
3. Prevent Ice Dams
During the winter, it’s important to keep your attic cool and help prevent snow on your roof from melting, running to the edge, and collecting where it could form an ice dam. A major cause of roof leaks is ice dams, so it’s essential to guard against them.
4. Keep Pests Out of Your Attic
Soffits not only safeguard your home from weather, but also keep pests, insects, squirrels, and rodents from entering your attic and nesting there. If soffits are missing or harmed, your house will become compromised and therefore vulnerable to these pesky intruders. If left unaddressed, pest problems will only multiply and create the need for expensive repairs.
5. Avoid Moisture Damage
When precipitation comes into contact with your home, it may seep into cracks in your walls or between boards on your roof deck. This opens the door to unhealthy mold growth. Your soffits and fascia (also known as your roofline) work together to keep damaging water out by covering the areas of your exterior where it would try to seep in.
6. Improve Energy Efficiency
Properly installed and well-maintained soffits deliver a reliable layer of protection between your home and the elements, which contributes to the temperature in your interior. This yields lower energy bills and preserves your heating and air conditioning unit because it doesn’t have to work as hard.
Vented vs. Non-Vented Soffits
Non-Ventilated Soffits
This affordable soffit option will ensure the area under your eaves has a finished look, contributing to your home’s overall aesthetics. The downside to non-vented soffits is that they won’t provide the airflow your attic needs, which could lead to roof damage and leaks.
Ventilated Soffits
Vented soffits allow air to flow into and out of your attic, improving temperature regulation just under your roofing. This is important because without it, ice dams may form on your roof during the winter and cause costly damage.
Soffit Material Choices
Soffits are made of wood, vinyl, or fiber cement and provide a finished look to your exterior.
Wood
If you have wood siding, wood is a material to consider for your soffits. However, it requires tedious scraping and painting to prevent moisture intrusion. It can rot or warp if you don’t stay current with its maintenance.
Vinyl
If your home is covered in vinyl siding, this would be a logical choice for soffit material. Just realize it can sometimes warp in hot weather and may fade over time.
Fiber Cement
If you are looking for a low-maintenance material that is known to stand up to the elements for years to come, fiber cement is a great option. It comes in smooth or wood grain finishes and either vented or non-vented, so you can create a custom solution for your exterior.
If your house is covered in Hardie siding, it’s smart to likewise have Hardie® Soffit Panels installed. When you match the strength and durability Hardie siding provides for your home with Hardie soffits, you can rest at ease that your abode will be protected from the elements.
Safeguard Your Home from the Elements and Enhance Its Beauty with a New Roof
Old roofing puts your home at risk of damaging leaks and decreases its curb appeal. Get Owens Corning roofing materials installed by our experienced team and ensure your home’s defense is in top condition.
At Bluff City Exteriors, we are an industry-leading Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, so you can rest at ease your roof will be installed with precision that delivers high performance and lasting results. We help you unlock the full potential of your home exterior with beautifully designed, low-maintenance, durable roofing and remodeling solutions. Learn more about how our roofing services can add reliable resilience to your home.
