Roofs protect the home from rain and snow but not all moisture is vertically distributed. When the weather gets rough and the rain and sleet begin to drive sideways at the home a roof becomes a marginal protection and water damage may be the result. As well, roofing directs a disproportionate amount of water over the sides and into a concentrated area which could ultimately run into the basement. This is where gutters, soffits and fascia come in.

Soffits Fill the Gap

A soffit is a single piece of sheet material or vinyl shaped to go underneath the projecting rafters of a building frame, perpendicular to the house wall. Although vented, the soffit prevents water from getting up under the rafters ans onto the joists which form the ceiling for the rooms below. Besides making the ceiling wet the water can make the insulation in the attic ineffectual.

Before the use of metal soffits the underside of the rafters was clad with plywood and painted. In many cases over the years the wood would warp and crack which would allow moisture to penetrate. Prepainted aluminum soffits, made in standard widths of 12 to 48 inches and in lengths up to 12 feet, made the job of both building and replacing soffits easier. These are fastened to a horizontal strip which runs both along the wall of the house and on the lip of the fascia, which covers the “rafter tails” of the roof. The soffits are lain on top of these strips and fastened to them.

Fascia

Fascia is the “facing” and can be made as wide as the rafter tail and is, in essence, the cladding which protects them from rot. They are installed under the drip edge of the roof so that water runs over into the gutter. Like the soffits they can be made from vinyl but most homes use aluminum because they can be bent on site to the exact dimensions.

Gutters

Although vinyl has made inroads in the past 20 years aluminum and steel are the two most commonly installed gutter materials. The pros of aluminum gutters are that they' are inexpensive and will never rust. Steel gutters are stronger and resist denting from ladders and tree damage and will hold their shape. However, water sitting in a steel gutter will have a high probability of causing rust and perforation.

Installation

Gutters are usually formed onsite for a seamless, leak-proof job. Thes companies had a machine which forms the gutters from a rolled aluminum (.032” - .025” thicknesses) that is formed into several profiles and sizes, the most common of which are the “K” and “U” shapes. The channel for the water removal is usually made to 5 inches and the downspouts are 2” x 3” or 3” x 4” rectangular tubes. You can go larger, or have round ones made, especially if there are a lot of trees where the leaves can easily cause clogs.

The mounting of gutters is against the fascia and this edge is tucked under the drip edge of the roof so that the leading edge of the shingle will direct the water into the channeling. Your contractor will hang the gutters along a chalk line for a slope of 1/4 inch for each 10 feet toward a downspout. Without this slight incline the water will sit in the parts of gutter that are slightly lower than the lipof the downspout. In wintry areas this can freeze and compromise the seals or even pry the gutters from the rafter tail making them loose and prone to being blown off by a high wind. As well, standing water breeds mosquitoes and black flies.

For more information on sheet metal gutters, soffits and fascia go to Renovation Experts.