The Finishing Touch: Fascia, Soffit & Trim
One of the best ways of transforming the look of your home is through exterior trims. Updating your house’s trim is an easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal and add value to your home.
There are a handful of ways that exterior carpentry can bring your home together, from the trim of your doors and windows, to the soffit and fascia. It’s important that you understand what works best for your home, as well as what looks best.
The three areas of exterior carpentry that Integrity specializes in are:
Soffit
Fascia
Trim carpentry
Often overlooked by homeowners, these components work together to complete the look of your home, while providing protection to the roofing system and your home’s interior.
In addition to your roof’s shingles, flashing and gutters, soffits and fascias are two of the most important components of your roofing system.
Soffits are the underside of the roof overhang, and help ventilate the attic and prevent rafters from rotting.
The fascia is the vertical finishing material that connects your roof to rafters, trusses or gutter system. They serve as the barrier between the elements and your roofline.
Trim carpentry includes the molding and trimming found around windows and doors.
Properly installed and designed soffits, fascia and trim help unify your home’s exterior and appeal, while also adding protection.
Soffit
Soffits are more than architectural elements that add visual interest and give a visual interest to your home, they help protect the exterior by keeping out pests like birds, squirrels and bats. They can also disguise your attic’s ventilation.
How soffits protect your home
Soffits helps your attic’s ventilation with small holes in it that provide air circulation. This air movement helps prevent moisture in the attic which can lead to mold, mildew, and wood rot in the sheathing and rafters.
Soffit also keeps water from blowing into your home, and if it’s not well maintained water can begin to pool and collect. You should inspect your soffit yearly; keep it well painted, sealed and caulked to prevent problems down the line.
In addition, during the summer if heat isn’t properly ventilated and doesn’t receive the correct airflow, it can cause your roof to become superheated, which can quickly cause damage to your shingles. Damaged shingles can lead to water leaks and further damage to your roofing system.
Does your soffit need to be replaced?
If you have any of the following issues, your soffit might need to be repaired or replaced:
Insect and animal infestation
Signs of interior water damage
Leaking gutters
Lack of ventilation
Cracked or flaking paint
Water/moisture in roof void
Fascia
The fascia wrap has three main benefits for your home. The first is its protection of the fascia board from the elements which can cause rotting and molding. The second is the prevention of having to paint, because painting fascia can be quite taxing since the gutter is in the way. Lastly, a proper fascia wrap provides a clean consistent look to your home.
Properly installed fascia protects the entire roof and the interior of the house from weather damage by blocking its entrance to the home. It’s important to keep your fascia boards in good shape because a damaged board will lead to bigger problems such as rotting in the roof joists and may require repairs or even a new roof.
Aside from its functional role, it’s also an important aesthetic role since it creates a smoother, more even appearance for the edge of the roof. Fascia provides curb appeal to your home since it’s one of the most visible trim elements of the exterior.
Trim Carpentry
Exterior trim carpentry revolves around the molding and trimming found on windows, doors and other ornamental pieces. It’s also called finish carpentry because the carpenters typically complete the job, and make the project look finished. The main purpose of the casing is to surround all doors and windows, this will cover any space or gap left between the drywall and frame. It also helps define the architectural style of the room as well as transform the look of the space.
Window trimming involves different components, however they all provide the same protection your home needs to keep out rain and they make your windows more energy efficient. They’re made to cover gaps and add decorative appeal to your home. Sills are an important part of the window trim, it includes the head casing, side jambs, and the apron, each playing a part in keeping the windows structurally sound and the elements out.
