Tag: soffits

Architecture & Building

Understanding the anatomy of a roof part 2

25th January 20220

When it comes to the roof of your home, there are quite a few components. Here you can gain an understanding of all of the details that make up a roof.   

Fascia –  

Firstly, a fascia is the attractive board along the side of the overhang and helps your roof appear finished. They are used to secure the gutters to the roof and keep them in place. Fascias also block water from penetrating the roof deck and coming into your home.  

How is a fascia attached? The fascia board is nailed to the rafter feet and usually has a rebate or lip for the soffit boards to slot into. They are then either fixed to a batten that is attached to the brickwork or sat on top of the last course of brickwork.  

Soffit –  

The soffit is the part of the overhang where your roof meets your siding. When rain or snow hits your roof, it runs down, and the overhang allows the water to flow away from your house. Soffit outlining the roofline allows for continuous ventilation and is one of the most effective ways to ventilate a loft.  

Where is the soffit on a house? The soffit is the material beneath the eave that connects the far edge of your roof to the exterior wall of your house. Besides being underneath your eaves, soffits can also be on the underside of a porch.  

Gutters –  

Guttering is a small thin trough that is used to collect water from your roof and completes the roofing protection system. It is used to direct rainwater away from the base of the building which helps protect the foundation. For a house to be complete, it needs a gutter system to function properly.  

Downspout –  

A downspout is a lightweight tube that extends vertically from the gutter trough to the ground. They exist to direct excess rainwater away from your home in a controlled manner. In addition, it is an important element of any gutter system that helps prevent soil erosion and damage to the property’s foundation.  

Flashing –  

Finally, flashing is a crucial roofing material that every roof needs to have. It is a sheet of thin metal material used to prevent water penetration or seepage into a building. Without flashing a roof would almost certainly develop leaks in sensitive areas.  

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Architecture & Building

What are eaves in architecture?

29th November 20210

What are eaves in a house?  

The area where a roof extends a small way past the wall of a building is usually referred to as the eaves. The term ‘eaves’ typically refers to the combination of soffit and fascia that adorn the overhang of a roof. 

Types of eaves –  

There are four basic types: 

  • Exposed – the finished underside of the roof and supporting rafters are visible from the underneath.  
  • Soffit – includes a soffit – the panelling which forms the underside of the eaves, connecting the bottom tip of the eave with the side of the building at a 90-degree angle.  
  • Boxed in – encases the roof rafters but meets the side of the building at the same angle as the roof pitch. 
  • Abbreviated – cut off almost perpendicular with the side of the building.  

Are eaves the same as soffits?  

To summarise the difference between the two, the eave is an area of the roof which overhangs the walls, whereas the soffit is the underside component of this area. In the widest sense, soffits can refer to the underside of almost anything that’s constructed, including arches and porches. An eave is part of a roof system and a soffit is part of the eave. In simple terms, eaves and soffits are two different parts of the same structure.  

Why do you need them?  

They can define the style of a home, and they also have a major function. They can protect the siding and foundation of a structure. A roof’s eaves sticking out beyond the sides allow snow and rain to fall from the roof away from the sides and to the ground. This can prevent leakage-related damage to the building façade.  

Eaves can also provide shading to windows, helping to maintain comfortable internal conditions. In the winter the low sun is able to enter through the windows to warm the interior. Whereas, in summer, they prevent direct sunlight from entering your home.  

How much does it cost to replace eaves on a house?  

The average cost to repair roof eave damage can be anywhere between £345 – £1000. However, most people pay around £675 to have a carpenter repair a 30 linear feet section of the soffits and fascia damaged by moisture or insects. The maximum cost of roof eaves can go up to £3,100.  

17,507 Eaves Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

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