What You Should Know About Fascia and Soffit Replacement

 

Your fascia and soffit are key components of your home, but many homeowners don’t know what they are or what they do until it’s too late. These little “trim components” play a huge factor in how your home breathes and functions.

Should something go wrong with your soffit and fascia, you can see significant problems like moisture damage, curling shingles, pests, and wood rot. You shouldn’t ignore or overlook these components—they’re critical to your home’s proper ventilation.

So before you look at fascia and soffit replacement, here’s what you need to know about these pieces.

What are Soffit and Fascia?

These funny words come up frequently when we’re discussing roof replacement, siding replacement, or addressing issues with peeling wood. Many homeowners aren’t very familiar with these terms. Unless you’ve looked at soffit and fascia before (or had a leak issue), you may wonder what the heck soffit and facia are!

The soffit is 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. The soffit is underneath the overhang, between the roof’s edge and side of your home—the bottom of the triangle, if you will. Not every home features a soffit (depending on the roof style), but it’s a common component, especially in Wisconsin.

The soffit helps regulate your home’s temperature, allowing your roof to “breathe.” Cool, dry air is drawn into the soffit vent, and hot moist air is forced out of roof exhaust vents.

The fascia is the attractive board along the side of the overhang and the roof that helps your roof appear finished. Your gutter sits atop the facia board. The fascia is also known as a “transition trim” between the home and the roofline. The fascia supports the shingles and helps to keep moisture out.

Your soffit and fascia protect your roof and allow ventilation for your home. These are important components, but they usually don’t get (or require) much attention.

The reason why many homeowners don’t spend time thinking about soffit and fascia is that these components of your home are typically maintenance-free. The trim pieces, especially in a modern home, are often made from the same material as your siding or other trim, like aluminum, wood, or synthetic materials like vinyl and PVC.

In the case of newer homes, especially with synthetic, aluminum-covered soffit and fascia, there is no need to sand, paint, or stain the trim.

When Soffit and Fascia Replacement is Needed

Soffit and fascia are critical for preventing roof and shingle damage, primarily due to winter weather like rain, snow, and ice. Ice damming can seriously damage soffit and fascia. One of the biggest problems we see with soffit and fascia is improper installation, leading to issues with flashing.

Without proper flashing, you may see roof ventilation issues like rotting wood, peeling paint, damaged insulation, and even mold. Because the soffit and fascia are part of your roof’s ventilation system, it’s a crucial component.

How do you know if you need soffit and fascia replacement due to damage?

• You’ll see rotting wood, or you’ll notice there’s a leak somewhere.
• The fascia may look like it needs painting.
• Paint may peel, or the surrounding areas may look discolored.
• You may even see pests or small animals getting into your home.

In short, soffit and fascia issues are a big problem for the look and comfort of your home. If you’re having your siding replaced or your roof replaced, then it’s a good time to consider also replacing the soffit and fascia.

If you think it’s time to get your soffit and fascia replaced, contact your Weather Tight representative today. It’s important that you work with a company you trust, as many companies cut corners with soffit and fascia. It’s a vital component of roof ventilation and can even damage your warranty if it’s not installed correctly.

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Watch this video from Tod & Todd’s Home Improvement Tips showing how important it is to consider fascia when doing a gutter or roof installation.

 

 

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Adding to the Beauty of Your Home

You wouldn’t think a small component like soffit and fascia would have such an outsized impact on your curb appeal, but it really does. It’s incredible how much beautiful trim can add to brighten up the exterior of your house.

Color options for soffit and fascia are nearly endless. At Weather Tight, we use Quality Edge materials that come in a wide array of options. The Quality Edge components are some of the best in the industry, highly durable and long-lasting. You can choose colors to match or complement your trim, with plenty of designs and styles to select from, as well.

If you think your home may need soffit and fascia replacement, don’t wait. A problem with the soffit and fascia can quickly lead to more significant damage throughout your entire home. It’s also a good idea to explore soffit and fascia replacement if you’re replacing your roof or siding.

A new or updated soffit and fascia is a small investment in the long life and beauty of your house. Contact us today to explore the many soffit and fascia options available for you to choose from.