The Purpose of Soffit

Like many parts of a home’s exterior, soffit serves both an aesthetic and a functional purpose.  Functionally, the basic mission of soffit is to protect rafters from the elements. Keeping moisture away from the rafters reduces the chance of mold, and helps preserve the life of the materials.

Aesthetically, soffit is an easy way to add character. Soffit is available in many colors and designs because it can help make the façade of the home more interesting whether you’re standing on the street or relaxing on the porch.

Depending on the design of your roof system, soffit may serve another important functional role: it’s the key to achieving natural ventilation in the attic.  Soffit isn’t necessarily vented at all, but if a home has attractive roof overhangs, it usually presents an opportunity to introduce air into the attic space and facilitate natural ventilation. To achieve the best ventilation, intake at the eaves must be balanced with the exhaust through roof vents at the peak. Generally, modern ridge vents are able to exhaust an impressive amount of air, and it’s important to find soffit that can match the flow.

In modern home construction, attic ventilation is used to improve indoor air quality, increase energy efficiency through natural cooling, and prolong the life of building materials through moisture management.

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