subject: What Does A Soffit Do [print this page] One way to jazz up the exterior of your home is to add a nice soffit. Soffits are often mistaken for a Fascia boards. The term soffit actually has French origins. This is a flat board placed just below the roof. It hides the empty space below the roof and gives the upper part of your home a more solid appearance.
So what exactly does a soffit do other than to hide the space in between the roof and the lower part of the house. Here are actually some of its uses:
1. For gutter installation
A home gutter system is a drainage canal placed close to the roof to catch water during rainy days. Installing home gutter system to the soffits or the fascia board is actually paramount in order to avoid damage to the roof as a result of the collection of heavy water. This also ensures that water will flow correctly in your home drainage system. Without a gutter, water from the room will just fall directly onto the sides of the house. This might then cause damage to the roof cladding or cladding of your walls, windows and even the ground. Heavy rain on the same spot can drill holes in the ground. Sometimes, not even your roof cladding can protect your roof from the heavy downpour of rain.
2. Attic ventilation system
Another function of soffits is to add ventilation to your attic. Instead of keeping the small windows of the attic open, you can simply install soffits to permit air circulation. This can prevent birds from building their nest in the open windows. It also prevents the attic from turning musty or mouldy. More often than not, attics are prone to moulds formation because of the condensation in this area.
Soffits area a good ventilation system, particularly round soffit vents, these can help dispel hot air from the attic during the warm summer seasons. This also admits cool air inside. During winter, it prevents hot air from seeping out and hampers cold air from settling indoors.
3. Soffits add more colour to the exterior of your house.
Time to add colour to your home exterior. Paint the fascia board and soffits a different colour and it will immediately make the whole exterior of your house beautiful.
What You Should Know When Installing
After having your roof treated with roof cladding, you can then proceed to this project. Here are the important things you should know.
1. Measure the area where the fascia and soffits will be installed.
This will give you enough idea on how much you are going to buy for the materials. Get a measuring tool and begin measuring the under eave area first. To know how much material you are going to buy, multiply the amount you have measured with the width of the overhang. Now get the total for the overhangs you have measured and divide this by 100. This will determine how many metres squared you are going to need to cover.
Use the same measuring tool in measuring the makings of the linear feet. Make sure you measure the H bar, J channel and F channel. Now note 10 percent and add it to your total.
2. Look for a builder that can help you find the best kind of soffits to install in your home.
If you do not know where to start with the installation, you can always consult a professional builder. There are competent companies all over UK that can help you out. Determine your building requirements and understand the pros and cons of the different kinds of soffit materials. This will help you determine what sort of building material you are going to use.
3. Consider the colour.
If you are buying those that have already been painted or treated, make sure you get the right colour that can complement the colour of the exterior of your home. If not, choose a good brand of paint with the shade of colour you want and have it painted.
Soffit and fascia board installation can increase the value of your home. Should you decide to sell it in the future, you will be sure to find a buyer more easily. It also helps you maintain your home. In case your roof cladding is not up to par, the gutters integrated on the soffits or fascias will help keep your roof in top condition.
