If you’re a homeowner looking to maintain your roof and keep your house protected, then you’re probably aware by now that numerous components are involved in your roofing system. While most people are familiar with the high-profile aspects of a roof that can typically succumb to wear and tear such as broken shingles and rusted flashing, in some cases, it is the soffit that can canse problems.
Unfamiliar with this aspect of roofing? The soffit actually plays an important role in preventing moisture damage to a roof as well as the house it sits upon. A soffit is a covering between the outer edges of a roof and the adjacent wall of the house. If you were to stand under your roof’s overhang and look up, then you’d be staring directly at the soffit – provided, of course, that your roof has one (most do, though some do not). Since many homeowners aren’t even aware of what a soffit is and what it does, they do not tend to inspect it on a yearly basis to ensure that it is in good shape. As a result, older soffits – particularly those made out of wood – tend to rot over time.
Fortunately, not all roof soffits are constructed out of wood. These days, more homeowners are taking the steps to have their older, wooden soffits replaced with ones made out of vinyl. A.W. Ross is the controller of Lundberg Roofing, Windows & Siding, a company that has been serving Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1979, and according to him, vinyl soffits are a useful addition to most roofing systems.
What’s so great about vinyl? Unlike wood, which has a tendency to rot when exposed to moisture, vinyl will not easily degrade over time. As houses age and gutters aren’t properly maintained, water has a way of seeping into the soffit area and sitting there for extended periods of time. A wet wooden soffit can quickly decay, thereby putting the rest of the roof and the associated home at risk. Vinyl, on the other hand, is able to withstand these types of circumstances. Vinyl is also cost-effective in the grand scheme of construction-related materials; the cost of replacing an old soffit with a new vinyl one is unlikely to break the bank.
Not only will a vinyl soffit help keep your property water-free, it can also save you energy. These days, most roofing companies will install vented vinyl soffits that allow for the circulation of air into your attic space while keeping moisture out of the picture. This increase of air flow can actually save you money by dissipating attic heat and cooling your house in the process.
If you have an old, wooden roof soffit in desperate need of replacement, then contact a roofing company or contractor who can remove your rotted soffit and install a new vinyl one in its place. After all, when it comes to home maintenance, your roof is one of those things that you just don’t want to ignore.
