The roof may be designed to keep your home from rain and other harsh elements coming from above, but what protects it from factors coming from below? Today, the leading roofing contractor in the area talks about roof soffits and their most important roles.
Physical Barrier
Roof soffits can be considered the equivalent of shingles for the roof’s underside because they also create a physical barrier against wind and rain. Without the soffit panels, wind can get underneath the roof and cause negative pressure that makes the roof more vulnerable to wind damage, while water blown in by the wind can cause moisture-related issues later on.
Ventilation
Air coming from indoors can get trapped in a poorly ventilated roof. This not only causes the roof to heat up but also increases the humidity within the area, potentially causing condensation on the roof’s more vulnerable components. Roof replacement experts say that the soffit acts as an exit point for air, with some panels perforated or fashioned like grates to allow good airflow.
Downspout Location
Some home designs have gutters that have downspouts coming from right under the eaves. A soffit panel can be used to “frame” the downspout to improve its look. The panels also add stability to a downspout since it also keeps the pipe from swinging side to side as water runoff flows through it.
Cosmetic Feature
If you notice in other roofing systems, soffits often have the same color as the gutter and other trims found in the rest of a home’s exterior. Roof repair services say that this is intentional since one of the most important functions of soffits is to hide the less aesthetic components such as the roof trusses and ducts. Soffit panels can even have patterns or textures that complete the look of the roofing system.
Have a roof with high-quality soffits installed by our team. Genesis Roofing is the leading roofing contractor in Des Moines, IA, as well as other parts of Iowa. You can call us at (515) 303-2753 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.
