Flat Roof Soffit Overhang

These guidelines are useful in the construction of any gable or any cantilevered or flat roof.

Flat roof soffit overhang. In hot climates the general rule of thumb is to lengthen and extend the overhang. Damage is also caused by birds and squirrels nesting inside eaves. The goal is to balance the amount of solar heat gain and amount of shading. The default in eave design is a flat soffit.

And once water has seeped in the rot spreads quickly because the wood stays soggy inside the dark dank space. Closed eaves with flat soffit and no raised heel. Metal panels untreated wood panels and vinyl attic vents figure 1. Closed eaves with flat soffit and raised heel.

Roof overhangs are the amount that the roof hangs over the top of the siding in residential home construction. For instance i think that in heavy snow country large overhangs can lead to ice dams forming on the overhangs snow melting. Proceed with extreme caution when using a flat soffit. Soffits a soffit encloses the underside of sloped or flat roof overhangs.

Most homes these days have boxed soffits but i find that a bit of creativity at the roof edge goes a long way toward style. See below i need to acknowledge there are some good reasons in some places to not have a large overhang. To determine the number of squares of soffit required measure the under eave areas and multiply the length by the width for each overhang. Soffits are commonly constructed from fiber cement panels metal panels stucco vinyl panels or wood sheathing.

Even if most people don t register what it is that makes a home seem special using a sloped soffit is an easy way to make a home look old or built with more craftsmanship than typical new homes. Add up the total of all overhangs and divide the total by 100 to determine the number of squares. While flat soffits work well in some situations in most they result in pork chop eave returns. Soffited eaves and gable overhangs are susceptible to water damage caused by ice dams improper flashing torn shingles and faulty gutters.

The siding underneath the overhang is known as the soffit. The exposed timber rafters and decking are susceptible to ignition and. This video will.