Roof Soffit: What Is It, and What Does It Do for Your Home?

Typically used around the roof, the soffit is derived from a French term that means “something underneath.” While it isn’t that visible, it does a lot for your roof and the rest of your home. This component is usually available in vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement, wood and steel.

What Is the Soffit?

You can find the soffit between the roof eaves, where the fascia and gutters are attached to the wall. If your roof doesn’t have an overhang, then it doesn’t have soffits.

Various factors can affect its installation, including the depth of the overhang, size of your home and materials. Aluminum and vinyl are popular options due to their durability and appeal. Another great option for soffit is steel and aluminum. While wood can give your home a warmer look, it is prone to rot.

For What’s a Roof Soffit?

The soffit keeps the rafters protected against harsh outdoor elements. Exposed rafters can experience mold growth and rot, which would require a costly replacement. Also, mold at home isn’t only unsightly, but it can be harmful to your family’s health. When getting roof maintenance, you should have the soffit inspected, too.

Another function of the soffit is for ventilation. Vented soffits allow air to flow through the vents and give your attic constant air circulation. Sufficient airflow keeps your attic from getting too hot and is essential in preventing moisture-related issues, such as mold and rot.

Moreover, it prevents pests from entering your home via the roofline or gutters and coming into your attic. These animals can damage your roof and electrical system. They can also harm your indoor air quality.

Always do your research before hiring a roofer to avoid storm chasers. Choose an experienced and reputable contractor like Scro’s Roofing Company for your project. Call us at (919) 461-0937, or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC

What Is the Soffit?

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