What are eaves? | Roofing Best Advice

Roof eaves are overhangs on the outside of a wall face in a roof system. which extends to the side of the building. Roof Eaves play an important role in the decoration and practical functions of the home.

Eaves of Roof designs majorly affect the overall look and feel of your home. The style of house eaves you opt for can change the entire architectural design you are trying to achieve. Roof eave designs always incorporate roof eaves on all sides of your home or structure.

Eaves will also help save you time and money. The overhang created by your eaves of house will direct water away from the walls and windows during the rain, which means less cleaning and greater longevity in your build house.

This article will help you to choose the material for eaves of house and also helpful to know about how roof eaves work and their benefit in the hose. There are so many reasons for which eaves will be used in the house.

What Is a Roof Eave?

Eaves are the part of the roof which is under the topmost layer of the verge and supports them. Eaves hold vertices and also give thickness and also overhangs the wall of the house so that all the rainwater will easily flow out and people will not get difficulty in cleaning and walls of the house also do not get damaged by water.

Eave of roof is good support for tiles used in the roof.  House Eves make the flow of rainwater directly to the gutter system. Eaves are primarily made in buildings with a hut type of roof. The eaves are a civil engineering technique used in making the roof of the house. Eaves provide ventilation on the roof and protect buildings. It also works as a support system for the soffit.

What Are Eaves on a House?

The main function of the eaves is to keep the rainwater off the walls and to prevent the ingress of the water at the junction where the roof meets. The eaves may also protect a pathway around the building from the rain, prevent erosion of the footings, and reduce splatter on the wall from rain as it hits the ground.

The underside of the eaves roof is filled with a horizontal soffit which is usually fixed at right angles to the wall. The soffit may be decorative, but it also seals the gap between the rafters from vermin and weather. Eaves must be designed for local wind speeds as the overhang can significantly increase the wind loading on the roof.

Also Read: Eave Vs Soffit: What Is the Difference?

Parts of Eaves of a Roof:

Here, the two main parts of the roof eaves are as follows.

1. Soffits
2. Fascia boards

Let’s discuss in brief soffits and fascia boards.

Roof Soffits

Soffit Definition: A soffit is the underside of a part of a building, like a protective covering under the eaves of a house or the surface of an arch as seen from below.

The soffit is basically, any finishing material, such as wood or fiber cement, that is installed to cover the underside of your roof overhang.

A roof soffit is installed between the shingles of your roof, where the fascia and gutters are attached to the exterior wall. However, it is placed through the overhang of houses and roofs that lack overhangs where soffits are not installed.

The soffit is placed in the attic for continuous ventilation. Air circulates through vents to remove heat and moisture-laden air from the home through the soffit.

It is easy to fix and maintain, and it also has a long-lasting nature and is stable in different weather conditions, and this type of material, painting, can be skipped. Still, painting and other maintenance will be needed if another material is used, such as wood or cement.

Soffits are important, give a nice look to the roof, and protect rafters. Soffits should be placed properly; if they are not fitted properly, rafters will mold and cause a problem. If soffits are not correctly fixed and any issue occurs due to them, it will cost higher to fix them.

They work as a ventilation system in the house and prevent all the moisture because air circulation is maintained by them properly. Wooden soffits have fewer time periods of survival than PVC. That is the reason people prefer PVC soffits more than wooden soffits. Soffits are fixed horizontally and give the house a beautiful interior or exterior.

Roof Fascia

Fascia is the part that is fixed at the meeting point of the roof to the outer wall. It’s a roofline where it is fixed vertically, and these are the boards that are straight, and at the lower end which is the edge of the roof, it is fixed.

The main function of the Fascia board is to give support to the tiles, which are fixed in the last row. Fascia board also helps in supporting the gutter system. Fascia boards are a very important part and give nice look to the building and help to protect homes from extreme weather conditions or damages which are caused due to weather conditions.

It is very essential to choose the best material for making these boards, and the most commonly used material in the making of fascia boards is wood to make these boards durable, it is necessary to give them a polished finish and paint them timely. Wooden fascia boards give a very mesmerizing look to the building’s top and are in high demand.

These wooden fascia boards are cost-effective in nature, which do not cost much and people can easily afford them, but because of their lesser period or less durability, it is necessary to replace them if they get damaged. When choosing wooden fascia boards, it is essential to remember that you have to replace them whether you are repairing them or not, there is a time when you have to replace them.

There are so many other options too which are now available in the market for making fascia boards recyclable. plastic, timber, and other material. There are various options in PVC which are made according to color combination and are long-lasting, and the price of these is not much cost than wooden fascia boards, so people can opt for these options too.

Eaves and Fascia

The main difference between the fascia and the eves is that the fascia is bordered by a low-slope roof. It is a wide strip of material covering the edge of the roof, sometimes supporting the gutters in a sloping roof. When the eves are the lower side of the roof that extends outwards on the outer walls of the building.

Also Read: Eavestrough Vs Gutter: Which Is Better for Your Home Drainage?

Different Types of Roof Eaves Styles on a House

Four Different types of eaves are as follows

• Exposed Eaves
• Soffit Eaves
• Boxed-in Eaves
• Abbreviated Eves

These are the four basic Eaves styles on a house we discuss below.

1. Exposed Eaves:-

Exposed eaves are those in which rafters are visible and fitted under of the roof area.

2. Soffit Eaves:-

In this type of eaves, soffits are fixed to the end of the eave and connect the side of the eave to the building.

3. Boxed-In Eaves:-

In this roof, rafters are connected, and the sides of the roof are met with the building.

4. Abbreviated Eaves:-

There is a cut-off in this eave which is perpendicular to the side of the building.

This is a short description of the types of roof eaves on a house.

Also Read: Lean To Roof Ideas | Sawtooth Roof | Hip and Valley Roof | Catslide Roof 

Why Are Roof Eaves Important for Your Home?

There are various reasons for which you should go for eaves while constructing your new home.

1. Aesthetic Appeal:-

The Eaves have a great impact on the aesthetics of the home. Classic Italian and Spanish luxury homes often sport intricately decorated overhanging eaves and slightly pitched roofs. Craftsman bungalows and original ranch-style houses have deep and wide eaves to create a homey look.

2. Temperature Control:-

Eaves will help to shade your windows from the extreme heat in the summer season and help you to maintain a comfortable temperature. During the winter days, the low level can still enter the room of your house.

3. Weather Protection Sun Can Enter:-

Eaves have good weather resistance and it helps to protect from the bad weather and also protects from the rain, snow, etc.

Also Read : What Is Roof Valley |  Foam Gutter Guards | Modified Bitumen Roof 

Maintenance of Roof Eaves:-

Maintenance of eaves is very necessary to make them long-lasting. Timely inspection is required to check gutter, eave, roof about leakage and damages if any.

It is very necessary to repair leakage because it will damage the interior and walls of the house which can cause higher expenses. Leakages will be examined by observing rusty or yellow stains on soffits.

Roof eaves will be maintained by filling the gaps using soffits to prevent birds and pests. It will be easy to clean if gaps are filled and fix soffits properly. It is necessary to check holes in the eave on a regular basis.

There are so many options available to repair the eaves, such as seals, liquid glues, wires, etc. if there is a gutter in your house, then it is necessary to clean it and repair it timely.

Timely checking of eaves is necessary to prevent these major issues because it will cause major harm to the house if not observed at the time. Proper maintenance of the eave is required so that it will survive for a longer time.

Roof eaves are a very important part of the house, so they will be maintained properly, and as material also available in the marketplace, so it will be easy for people to repair them timely using cost-effective techniques or methods.

Also Read: Lean To Roof Ideas | Sawtooth Roof | Hip and Valley Roof | Catslide Roof 

Advantages of Roof Eaves on a House:-

There are various advantages of roof eaves that are as follows:-

1. This helps prevent moisture in the house.
2. This work as a guard for the door and windows of the house.
3. Its give protection to the walls of the house and prevent them from severe damage caused due to water.
4. This are the most important part of maintaining dryness in the foundation of the house too.
5. This give support to the tiles which are fixed above the house.
6. Roof eaves act as a frame that gives a perfect structure to the roof of the house.
7. Roof eaves will also be used as decor for the house. It will look beautiful to the house.
8. Roof eaves are easy to maintain and repair, just regular inspection is needed and everything will be easily done.

Also Read : Clerestory Roof | Composition Roofing | TPO Roofing | Butterfly Roof

Disadvantages of Roof Eaves on a House:-

There are also some disadvantages of roof eaves that are as follows:-

1.  Installation cost is very high, and if you are opting for wooden eaves, then it will be an expensive option.
2. Required regular inspection to avoid damages.
3. Roof eaves got damaged after keeping them safe by using various techniques, but at some point, they need to be replaced.
4. Wooden roof eaves have less lifespan.
5. Roof eaves are difficult to maintain, and the maintenance cost is also high and requires regular care, so it will become hectic for people.

Also Read : Conservatory Roof | Gable Roof | Bonnet Roof | Saltbox Roof | Gambrel Roof | Types of Curved Roof

Roof Eaves Repair Cost:

Roof eaves usually cost around $ 6 to $ 20 per foot for a simple repair. In addition, it can cost up to 500 3,500 to repair complex problems such as rotten roof eaves. Sometimes repairing roof eaves requires replacing some roof components.

These total repairing roof eaves may include repainting and repairing soffit, fascia, or gutter parts. Prices may vary depending on the size, accessibility, and material of the roof eves.

Also Read: Chimney Flashing | Roof Flashing | Counter Flashing | Gutter Guard | Gutter Helmet Vs Leaf Guard

Roof Eaves Replacement Cost:

When severe damage occurs to the eaves of the house then it will cost according to the material will be chosen for replacement. As we know that there are so many options available for the replacement of the eaves like wood, fiber, aluminum, steel, etc.

The cost of these will be shared below as per market price.

1. Wood – $1 to $4

2. PVC – $3 to $8

3. Aluminum – $8 to $22

These are the rates of different materials which are used in roof eaves and will be chosen according to the choice of the customer as per price and quality.

Conclusion:-

Roof eaves protect the home from outer weather conditions and prevent damage to walls caused due to rainwater and help in maintaining the dryness in the foundation.

The roof eaves prevent moisture from getting into the house and made proper ventilation in the roof. Roof eaves are in trend and loved by people as they give a nice look to the house.

Maintenance is required timely, so the lifespan of roof eaves will be increased and at the time of high damage, they will be replaced. The material for replacement is also easily available in the market.

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