What Is a Soffit and Why Does Your Roof Need It?

Homes with updated or well-fitted soffits are protected from excess moisture buildup that can cause structural damage, including damage to roofing systems. The life expectancy of your roof depends mainly on the quality of your roofing system, which consists of soffit, fascia, eaves, and more.

At Woodbridge Home Solutions, we offer customers quality siding and trim options that are guaranteed to last longer than the average expectancy across the nation. Our team of professionals takes pride in their craftsmanship and puts customers first. If we install or update your eaves, you can rest easy knowing that we have your back.

Woodbridge offers several vinyl soffit installation options to suit your home. Replacing soffit? Great! Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

Please keep reading to learn more about soffit and why it’s vital to your home’s structural integrity.

What Is Soffit?

A soffit is the roof’s bottom part that overhangs a building’s side. Typically, when a roof slopes, it extends from the side of a house by a foot or more. When this happens, without a soffit, the bottom side of the roof is exposed to the elements, rodents, birds, and other potential hazards. 

The soffit is another integral part of a roof system. It connects the roof’s edge to the main building’s wall and to the fascia board. It protects the roof substrate, attic, rafters, and decking. If these are exposed, the life expectancy of your roof system is cut drastically short. Exposed rafters lead to moisture buildup, which can lead to rot, mold, and worse.

What Are the Benefits of Soffit?

Depending on how well-constructed a roof system is, soffit has various benefits to the home. These benefits include:

• Deters insect infestation: Insects like bees, hornets, wasps, etc., love building nets in exposed beams. Exposed wood beams also attract termite infestation, damaging your roof and other parts of your home.
• Deters rodents: Squirrels, rats, mice, and other wildlife creep into homes through holes in the roof, overhangs, or eaves. A properly built roof system with soffit makes it harder for wildlife to encroach. Wildlife attracts other wildlife; you don’t need your home to be a zoo!
• Mitigates moisture buildup: Rain, snow, and other wet elements can enter your home if you have exposed portions of your roof’s overhang or a poorly installed soffit. Over time, the exposure to moisture leads to health hazards and structural damage. Mold and wood rot are typical results of moisture damage.
• Ventilates attic space: A badly ventilated attic typically has a musty, mildew smell caused by moisture buildup. A well-installed roof overhang with a soffit system alleviates this because it’s built to improve air circulation.
• Preserves roof’s lifespan: A roof soffit contributes to preserving the lifespan of the complete roofing system. It protects vulnerable parts of the roof like the human skin protects our internal system.

If you notice your soffit and fascia are warped, cracked, or otherwise unkempt, it’s time to contact us. We will help safeguard your home with a durable soffit system that matches its exterior wall and components.

Our soffit products come in a variety of colors and finished looks, from matte to bold. Whatever your aesthetic, Woodbridge Home Solutions has the product to meet your needs. 

Types of Soffit Materials

Roof soffits are made of various materials with varying durability, cost, and aesthetics. Woodbridge’s soffit product line is made from state-of-the-art and low-maintenance vinyl. Vinyl is a durable soffit material immune to rot, rust, and termite infestations. It is also impact-resistant, mainly because we infuse resin into the product.

Soffit panels come in different materials, including:

Vinyl soffit: These are affordable and can last between 10 to 20 years and more if well-installed and maintained.

Wood soffit: This type of soffit could last 5 to 15 years, depending on the wood quality and maintenance.

Aluminum soffit: Although costly upfront, they can last up to 15 to 20 years.

Fiber cement soffit: These are among the most expensive and longer-lasting soffit types, with a lifespan of up to 30 years.

Other types of soffit include steel and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC), which is similar to vinyl soffit.

The Woodbridge Guarantee for Your Soffit Needs

To avoid costly roof repairs, it’s best to partner with a trusted company when you want to upgrade the exterior of your home. If you’re thinking of replacing vinyl siding, roof eaves, or other exterior soffit or fascia, contact Woodbridge Home Solutions. For decades, we have helped homeowners with their home improvement projects.

We offer a premium product warranty and an industry-leading labor warranty. We stand proudly behind our solid soffit materials and installation to suit every home design.