The Importance of a Healthy Roof System
If you’re like many people, you probably don’t spend a ton of time thinking about your roof. As long as your roof is doing its job, it’s understandable why the top of your building doesn’t always stay at the top of your mind. But when your roof isn’t performing correctly, it can certainly get your attention in a hurry!
Your roof system serves the essential function of being the protective shield over your home or business. It stands watch over your people, property, and assets 24 hours a day, and it never sleeps or takes a break. Because this is true, it’s important for you to have a basic understanding of what makes for a well-functioning roof system. In this blog, we want to make you aware of three roof components that sometimes fly under the radar, but are incredibly important all the same – your soffit, fascia, and gutters
Soffit, Fascia & Gutters Explained
Are you familiar with what soffit, fascia, and gutters are? Know how they work? You’re probably not unaware of gutters, but unless you have some direct experience with roofing you may not even be able to pick soffit and fascia out of a lineup! That’s OK, we’re here to enlighten you! Keep reading to learn the basics about these three key unsung heroes of your roof system.
Soffit
Two main features to the overhang of almost every roof are soffit and fascia. Soffit is the exposed portion you can see if you’re standing directly underneath, but may not necessarily notice if you’re looking at your building straight on. Soffit serves the aesthetic purpose of covering what would otherwise be exposed beams, decking, and open attic space, but it also does something more important than that. It serves the essential function of allowing for attic and roof ventilation. Soffit typically has a series of built-in vents to assist with air circulation. This serves to benefit your home or business by drawing heat and moisture out of your attic, and away from your roof.
Fascia
Just below your roof’s lower edge there’s a vertical board in place to provide support for the bottom of your roof structure. This board is also usually the place where gutters are attached. These boards are typically covered with something similar to siding, commonly known as fascia. Fascia is ornamental, but it also serves to protect the board from water damage and associated threats. Both soffit and fascia can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, aluminum, vinyl, or fiber cement. Vinyl and fiber cement are known to be preferred soffit and fascia materials for their durability and low need of maintenance.
Gutters
Gutters are the third unsung hero of your roof. Whenever it rains or whenever that snow starts to melt, all that water has to go somewhere. Gutters serve the important purpose of collecting all those gallons of liquid flowing off of your roof, and directing them safely away from your home or business. Gutters come in many styles, but two of the most common are the K-style and half-round shapes. You also have the option of choosing sectional gutters or going with seamless gutters. Seamless gutters are built to match the exact measurements of your roof, and they also carry the advantage of not having any seams in the middle where leaks can occur. Gutters are available in a number of materials, but three of the most popular are aluminum, galvalume steel, and copper.
A&A Roofing & Exteriors Takes Care of All Three!
We hope this little explanation of the three unsung heroes of your roof system has been helpful and informative. We also want you to know that A&A doesn’t just offer the best in roofing & exteriors services; we also have all the tools, training, and experience to take care of your soffit, fascia, and gutter needs, too. We can even install quality gutter guards to prevent you from having to get up on a wobbly ladder to pull out those leaves!
