Exploring Soffit and Fascia: What Is the Difference?
A beautifully constructed home is made up of more than just walls and roofs. It's the lesser-known elements that often play significant roles in adding visual appeal and maintaining structural integrity.
Take soffit and fascia as two examples — to the untrained eye, these components may not seem important. But in reality, they have a large impact on the longevity and health of your home.
What is Soffit?
An exterior soffit is found on the span beneath the rafter tails of a house. Its primary role is to cover the underside of the roof overhang and provide a finished look. It’s not just about aesthetics though — the soffit has several essential functions. It assists in ventilating the attic to help prevent heat and moisture buildup, which could otherwise lead to dampness and rot within the roof structure.
Moreover, soffits are instrumental in keeping out unwanted pests, like bats, birds and squirrels, from finding their way into the attic. They also serve to protect the house from the elements, particularly in regions with high winds that might cause rain to swirl up under the eaves.
What is Fascia?
The fascia is the visible horizontal strip that runs along the end of the rafters. It acts as a trim that enhances the exterior appearance of the house while also providing support for the bottom row of roof tiles and gutters. The fascia plays a key role in preventing water damage. If the fascia becomes damaged due to neglected gutters, it can cause serious structural problems for the house.
Elements of Fascia
When looking at fascia trim, it appears to be a single piece, and in some cases, it is. In the case of a home that uses wood or fiber cement as the finished product for the fascia board, there is no additional trim piece. The wood or fiber cement is painted or stained.
For homes that prefer a no-maintenance exterior, the fascia is usually comprised of two components
A wood board that acts as the structural part of the fascia
The trim surface that covers it
The trim over the fascia board can be either vinyl or aluminum. However, vinyl is more affected by extreme temperatures, so aluminum is often the favored material for this issue.
Installing Soffit and Fascia
Installing aluminum or vinyl soffits involves several steps and requires some basic construction knowledge and tools. You need to be prepared to work at heights and also handle materials carefully to avoid damage or injury. The following is a basic list of step-by-step instructions for this task.
Materials Required:
Aluminum soffit panels
J-channel
Aluminum fascia
Drip edge
1 ½-inch trim nails
Basic Tools Required:
Hammer
Utility knife
Tape measure
Chalk line
Trim nail punch
Pair of tin snips (for straight lines)
Pair of left- or right-cut snips (for curves)
12-inch folding tool (for making small bends in fascia) or metal brake
Instructions:
To start, remove the existing shingle molding, frieze boards and gutters from the edges of the roof. Then, carefully examine the fascia boards and swap out any decayed wood with new lumber.
Inspect the current soffit vents and add more ventilation holes if needed to increase the airflow. When installing vented soffit panels, it is recommended to remove the present vent covers in order to optimize the airflow.
Calculate the number of soffit panels, J-channel and fascia you need. For soffit panels, calculate the total square footage of the soffit area, divide it by the area covered by one panel and add an extra 5% for waste and overlap. For J-channel and fascia, measure the total length, divide by the length of one piece and add an extra 5%.
To properly install the J-channel, first you have to nail the J Channel to the home. The channel must be applied level to the bottom of the fascia board. Place the aluminum piece against the house and fit the soffit into it. Make sure the house side soffit goes into the J Channel and the exterior side soffit fits into the fascia.
To install the soffit panels, begin at one end and work your way toward the other. Nail or staple the soffit to the rafters at the eave, going from the home to the exterior fascia board. The soffit panels should lock into each other.
The aluminum fascia should be installed above the wood fascia and should have a lip at the bottom to overlap the outer edge of the soffit. It should be the final piece installed that will give a finished look and cover the edges of the soffit panels.
To prevent water from accumulating on the fascia, install a metal drip edge extending from under the shingles.
Remember to check for any existing roofing problems before you start the project. Water damage to the soffits or roof framing should be addressed prior to installing new soffits and fascia. This can prevent further decay and damage once the new materials are installed.
Also, depending on your specific situation, you might need a helper to assist with cutting and handling the materials, especially if you're working on a larger home. Safety should be your priority while working at heights and handling tools and construction materials. Always follow the manufacturers' instructions for the materials and tools used.
Alsco® Metals Has the Right Soffit and Fascia for Your Home
For all your soffit and fascia needs, you can count on Alsco Metals. We provide high-quality soffit and fascia products in various materials and styles to fit the architecture and design of your home. Not only that, but we also offer siding, roofing and other trim products in multiple colors, all backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Contact us today for more information!