Exterior soffits are installed to enclose the eaves located underneath the roof overhang, making them extremely important for the home’s longevity. They protect the exterior of your house from moisture, which can cause mold to the rafter.
Exterior soffits also prevent termites from causing wood damage and pests from entering your attic and nesting. Mostly unseen and usually the last detail of the exterior, most people do not even pay attention to installing soffits. However, soffits can be aesthetically appealing if designed right as they complete the house’s look. Without them, you would be looking at the rafter tails underneath the eaves.
Style Options
Although traditional homes use vinyl material that looks like siding to finish the soffits, there are trendier options available to give the house an architectural appeal. Exterior soffits made with steel planks give a seamless look that is clean, modern, and unique. Most of the time, you will be able to customize many features on your new soffits.
Steel comes in a multitude of colors. The material can also appear smooth or textured like wood grains. For a uniform look, you can paint metal soffits the color of your choice to compliment the exterior of your home.
They can also be custom-made from full aluminum sheets cut to fit into the soffit with fewer joints for a seamless look. This design aspect creates a smooth and continuous appearance. Similar to steal, you can paint Aluminum in different colors to go with your home’s exterior facade.
Exterior soffits can also be finished with stucco to match the rest of the house. However, a contrasting color or material looks more designer and gives the home a trendier appeal. Soffits are also a great place to place recessed lighting along the perimeter of the house.
Overall, designer soffits will make the exterior of your home architecturally more appealing, as long as you take the time to match the soffits’ style and themes with your home’s exterior.
Soffit Materials
Usually, soffit materials come in wood, vinyl, or Aluminum. Although, you can find it in plenty of other quality materials. Wood is a good option if you’re looking for a rustic style, but it needs maintenance. The upkeep required for wood prevents warping and rotting in the soffit. As long as the proper exterior grade wood is used, paint is applied, and all the small holes are sealed, wooden soffits can last a long time.
Aluminum and vinyl are two materials that can resist water damage. They will not rot or fade as time passes, making them the better option for most people. The materials last longer and can provide your roof with the protection it needs from the elements.
Typically, these materials will come in white, as it is the standard for soffit. If you want to change the colors, you could paint them or ask for a custom design. Fortunately, these materials are simple to paint, so you should have no problems creating something unique to your home.
