What is the difference between soffits and fascias?

Soffits and fascias both protect your roof and help to make the exterior of your home look nice. However, they’re not the same thing. If you’re wondering what is the difference between a soffit and fascia, we’re here to help.

Soffits and fascias both protect your roof and help to make the exterior of your home look nice. However, they’re not the same thing. If you’re wondering what is the difference between a soffit and fascia, we’re here to help.

What is a soffit?

A soffit is a flat board that covers the underside of an overhanging roof. It tucks under the fascia board and covers the space between the fascia and external wall. Its purpose is to protect the parts of the roof that are exposed and prevent the rafters from rotting.

As soffits are very visible from street level, they change the look of a roof. So, they can be a way to make the exterior of your home more aesthetically pleasing too. Although soffits are mostly used for the main roof, they can also be fitted under porches and flights of stairs.

What is a fascia?

A fascia is a long, flat board that runs along the bottom edge of a roof, attached to the ends of the roof trusses. They are also known as the roofline.

As well as completing the look of your home, your fascia serves a more practical purpose. It usually supports the bottom row of roof tiles and guttering, alongside working with the soffit to protect the rafters from damage.

Difference between soffit and fascia

The soffit and fascia are two complementary parts of a roof that work together. The soffit tucks beneath the fascia, so together, they box in the lower edge of a roof and protect the underside from weather damage.

Without these parts in place, the rafters would eventually rot. And this, in turn, could let mould into your home. The cost of installing a soffit and fascia is much lower than the cost to fix the issues that could be caused by not having them in the first place!

That said, it’s crucial that the area covered by the soffit and fascia gets plenty of ventilation, as otherwise, it could collect condensation and then decay. Most soffit boards nowadays have built-in ventilation but over-fascia ventilation is another way to allow air to flow in between the roof and fascia board, while continuing to protect the roof fully.