What Is The Difference Between Fascias & Soffits?

Unless you’re a roofing professional, the chances are that you’ve never heard of fascias and soffits. Despite not being common in the vocabulary of your average homeowner, fascias and soffits make up a fundamental part of any roofing system.

In this month’s blog, the team at Stay Dry Roofing & Guttering Ltd will outline the difference between fascias and soffits, what they actually are and why it’s essential that they’re correctly maintained.

Read on to find out more.

What are fascias and soffits?

Fascias and soffits always come as a pair, and are also frequently referred to as eaves or rafters. Situated just below a roof’s overhang, they form what looks like a box on the front and underside of the overhang. The fascia is the front system with the soffit being the underside. Together, they act as an essential seal between your home’s wall and the roof.

Primarily, the fascia will support the bottom row of tiles on your roof, while also coping with the weight of your guttering system which can be heavy – particularly after lots of rain.

Whereas the main role of soffits is to enhance ventilation. Hot air that leaves your home will always rise and typically meet your attic area. The air already in this area is often already hot due to its proximity to the sun, meaning the combination of the two types of hot air meeting can result in your roof overheating. This can then lead to condensation in your home as well as rotting wooden beams and structures. But, soffits will sit underneath the guttering system and often have vented systems in place that allow the hot air to escape safely, while being replaced by cooler air. This is a fundamental process in your property’s ventilation.

It’s vital that both fascias and soffits are in the very best condition at all times. If not, a whole host of problems could occur.

Why is it important to maintain fascias and soffits?

Like your entire roof, fascias and soffits spend all of their time outside and so are exposed to everything the elements throw at them. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that they can suffer from wear and tear over time. It’s important to conduct regular maintenance in order to ensure that your fascias and soffits are in good working order, and to nip any potential problems in the bud.

Sometimes fascias and soffits can separate from each other. There are a whole host of reasons this could happen from worn-out glue, screws becoming loose and damage sustained from storms. If this happens it’s usually a quick fix that simply involves clamping and new glue to stick them back together. However, in some cases rot could be the cause of the separation. Usually, this is the case if your fascias and soffits are made from wood. If this has happened, then they will need to be replaced. Upgrade to uPVC or aluminium made products to prevent rot in the future.

If gaps have been left in the fascias and soffits after installation, you could find your home becomes a nest for unwanted guests. It’s been known for birds and squirrels to get in between the gaps and set up their new home. If you hear scratching or clunking sounds this could be a sign you have this problem. Get your fascias and soffits checked after nesting season (between March and August) if you suspect this is a problem.

While you sometimes might be able to inspect your fascias and soffits from the ground, we’d always recommend calling upon a professional roofing company to conduct an inspection. This should happen on an annual basis, as it’ll give you the best chance of catching any potential problems early before they get any worse.

At Stay Dry Roofing & Guttering Ltd, we provide leading roofing services to customers throughout Beaconsfield, Amersham and High Wycombe. This includes the installation and maintenance of quality fascias and soffits. Contact our team to find out more.