When it comes to the exterior of your home, reliable soffit and fascia are crucial to the performance of your roof. They are the parts of a roof structure that are closest to the gutters, so they are the first to become damaged by water should the gutters be clogged. If you notice peeling or discoloration on your soffit or fascia boards, it could be a sign that they’re due for repair or replacement. Contact our exterior services experts for a free home inspection that will alert you if there’s damage.

Fascia is a long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof. These boards are fixed to the lower trusses of a roof. The fascia board supports the lower edge of a roof’s shingles and carries all of the guttering around a home. In the photo above, the blue board that follows along the outline of the roof is the fascia, and the white on the underside is the soffit.

You can locate the soffit of a house directly under the fascia. The soffit usually has ventilation pockets in order to allow air flow into the roof. Without proper ventilation, moisture and condensation can become stuck inside the roof, increasing the chances of wood rot and decay.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to know when it’s time to replace your soffit and fascia, as most instances of damage are visible from the outside of your home. If you notice any of these signs of deterioration, it’s time to reach out to your local roofing contractors to assess the level of damage.

In some cases, damaged soffit or fascia can be indicators of more serious roof damage. Schedule a drone inspection, and we’ll be able to determine the extent of your roof damage. Our team of experts will recommend repairs based on data we gather from the drone inspection. Look for these signs of roof damage in order to determine if your soffit and fascia may need to be replaced:

One of the most obvious signs it’s time to replace your soffit and fascia is cracking or peeling paint. Aside from not being aesthetically pleasing, cracks in the paint can lead to leaking and water damage – neither of which are good for your roof.

Peeling paint and water damage can quickly lead to further roof problems. Many times, our team will recommend replacing the whole roof if we find extensive water damage on your soffit and fascia. Additional repairs will cost more money in the long run if there is a bigger problem elsewhere on your roof. Luckily, our inspections will determine if you have storm damage, so you may be eligible to submit a claim with your insurance company.

The attic, also known as the roof void, is the space between the roof structure and the ceiling joists in the uppermost part of a home. While this sign of damage can be a little harder to detect, it’s important to have your attic inspected for any signs of water intrusion.

Water in the attic can lead to a multitude of costly problems, including wood rot, mold, interior damage and damage to other parts of your roof. These issues are not only costly, but they could be unsafe for you and your family. Be sure to keep an eye on your soffit and fascia to make sure they are not letting water into your attic.

Finding pests or debris in your home is annoying, but it can also be an indication of a bigger problem. If you think bugs, rodents or other critters are causing damage to your roof or attic, it’s probably time to check your soffit and fascia boards. Soffit and fascia are part of a system designed to keep those things out.

The main purpose of a soffit and fascia system is to provide ventilation to your roof. If you notice your soffit is missing a soffit vent – or a vent installed into the underside of your eaves (where the soffit lives) – this is a sign of an improper soffit installation and should be evaluated by a roofing professional as soon as possible.

The soffit vent pulls fresh air into the attic, while hot, humid air is released through the roof vents at the top. This ventilation cycle lowers air conditioning costs in the summer and prevents moisture buildup in the winter. In order to check your soffit for proper ventilation, simply walk around your house and look under the eaves of your home. If you see regularly placed vents along your soffit, your ventilation is probably functioning as intended. If you don’t see any vents, however, you need to install them as soon as possible. If you do see vents but are concerned there might not be enough, Superstorm Restoration is happy to evaluate your property and offer advice regarding roof ventilation best practices.

When Superstorm Restoration performs a roof replacement, it is sometimes necessary to replace soffit and fascia. Chances are if the roof itself has incurred damage or is showing significant wear, your soffit and fascia may also need to be replaced. In the long run, homeowners can often save money by replacing roofing, shingles, soffit and fascia all at the same time instead of replacing components separately.