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The rafter tails that extend past the walls make up
the eaves and the horizontal board that ties the rafter
tails together is known as the fascia board. The structure
on the underside of the eaves is known as the soffit.
In modern residential construction the fascia board
and the underside of the eaves are often covered with
vinyl aluminum, or steel cladding. Previous to this
soffits often were not installed as the open eaves
style was popular. As soffits became more popular
plywood was commonly used, however, it is being replaced
with low maintenance materials.
The Soffit and fascia covering is usually installed
prior to interlocking siding but after brick or stucco.
The installer starts by attaching a channel to the
house, level with the bottom of the fascia board.
The soffit material is slid into the channel against
the house and nailed to the underside of the fascia
board on the other side. The fascia covering is then
slipped under the drip edge and pushed upward to cover
the outside soffit edge and then nailed to the fascia
board with colored nails. Since the soffit and fascia
are made from vinyl, aluminum or steel they are virtually
maintenance free. Many colors are available but white
is most common.
Click on thumbnail
below to view soffit cross-section
Since most eaves contain vents, it is necessary to
use vented soffit panels in the soffit. Vented material
has small slits in the surface to permit air flow
through the soffit structure. Typically one quarter
to one half of the soffit material will be vented.
If the vented soffit is not installed the attic air
circulation will be inhibited.
In the "old days" gutters or eavestroughs
as they were sometimes called were made from copper,
steel or even wood. Today rain gutters are usually
made of aluminum, copper, steel or vinyl. The vast
majority being made of painted aluminum. They are
attached with spikes driven into the fascia or by
straps that attach under the bottom shingle. Gutters
are attached at a slight slope to allow the runoff
to drain. At the end of the gutter a downspout is
attached to carry the water to the ground.
Seamless gutters are custom made on site with a forming
machine to the exact length needed. Seamless gutters
are usually made from aluminum or copper. Copper is
several times more expensive than aluminum. Steel
and vinyl gutters usually come in 10' lengths. Handymen
typically use steel and vinyl gutters. Seamless gutters
leak far less often than sectional gutters and are
virtually maintenance free.
Storm water can be dispersed in the yard with a splash
block or diverted to a storm drain. In some areas
you will be required to divert storm water to a storm
drain. It is recommended that storm water is diverted
to a storm drain in areas where poor bearing soils
exist. It is not uncommon for a house to settle excessively
(causing a cracked and shifted foundation) when storm
water is allowed to run down the foundation, eroding
the soil under the footing.
Soffit and Fascia installation is typically done by
siding contractors who specialize in vinyl and aluminum
siding. Prices seem to vary widely for soffit and
fascia installation so get several bids. Soffit, fascia
and gutters are usually priced by the foot. Aluminum
is generally slightly more expensive than vinyl. We
highly recommend seamless gutters because they are
less likely to leak and require no maintenance. |
