You’re probably familiar with your roofing structure, but you might not understand how the soffit and fascia boards work on your roof. If you see them damaged, you may think that it’s okay to leave them be for now, but in truth, choosing not to repair them can compromise the entire structure of your roof.
To understand why you shouldn’t ignore the damage from your soffit and fascia, one of the most trusted roofing and siding companies, Silver Leaf Contracting, explains below what you need to know:
How Soffit and Fascia Boards Work
The soffit is the exposed surface beneath the overhanging section of a roof eave. It’s also referred to as the horizontal underside of similar architectural structures such as an archway, a staircase, or a ceiling. Part of its function is to help ventilate the attic, featuring a plain design with small holes that provide air circulation.
As for the fascia, it’s a vertical finishing edge connected to the ends of the rafters, trusses or the area where the gutter is attached to the roof. Its primary role is to act as a layer between the edge of the roof and the outdoors, and is meant to protect the wooden board against water damage that can occur during certain weather conditions.
How They Get Damaged
Homes that have wood soffit and fascia boards installed can deteriorate from constant exposure to water and sunlight, which leads to wet or dry rot and crumbling boards. Squirrels and other pests can also accelerate the damage to the soffit and fascia boards by chewing or gnawing at them.
Vinyl soffits can also become cracked due to physical damage wrought by the endless heating and cooling cycles of outdoor exposure. So, if you’re already seeing damage on your soffit and fascia boards, make sure to call one of your trusted roofing and window contractors to check and repair the damage.
Why You Should Repair Damaged Soffit and Fascia
As a homeowner, you should always keep your home in its best condition for as long as possible. This includes keeping the exteriors well-maintained if you want your interiors to stay dry and protected from the natural elements. Soffit and fascia, in particular, are needed to keep moisture and pests out of your roofing system. If you repair what’s damaged and follow regular maintenance, you can be sure to save yourself from having to spend on costly repairs later on.
As one of the most trusted roofing and window companies in the area, you can count on Silver Leaf Contracting to get the job done! For more information, contact us now at (330) 236-4010 or you can fill out our online contact form.