A front porch is a great spot to have your morning coffee or hang out with neighbors, but there is some maintenance that comes along with this luxury. While you may be sitting on the porch, what’s above you is essential. Find out here why a porch soffit is so important to your front porch.
What is a soffit?
Every roof system has a soffit. The soffit sits below the gutter system, underneath the overhang of your roof. It completes the final look of any home’s roofing system and is necessary for porches too. The roof of both your home and your porch have support systems that keep them sturdy, and the soffit covers and protects these systems.
What’s the role of a porch soffit?
Soffits are especially necessary for porches because they typically have a lower roof than the rest of your home, so the underneath is very visible. Soffits can come in many colors and textures that match the style of your porch. Matching your soffit to your house’s trim color will create a unified look. This detail will connect your porch to your home and create a more coherent look.
Not only are porch soffits required in terms of the design of your house, but they play an important role in protecting the structure of your roof. The porch soffit is connected to the overhang of your roof and covers the underside to protect it from outside weather. Without protection, components of your roof’s structural system are exposed to the elements and are more susceptible to deterioration, mold and mildew buildup. By providing protection and ventilation your porch soffit is helping to prolong your roof’s lifespan.
The porch soffit can also help keep out critters and bugs who also find the protected porch a perfect place to spend some time. The porch soffit creates a barrier for pests to slip inside your home.
What is a porch soffit made out of?
There are a few options to choose from when it comes to the material of your soffit. Porch soffit comes in wood and aluminum, but it is most often made out of vinyl because it is the most durable.
What do I need to do to maintain my porch soffit?
Porch soffit requires very little maintenance. There are some things you can do to help prolong its lifespan along with that of your entire roofing system.
- Remove any nests
- Rinse off the underbelly of your porch to remove dirt and mildew
- Clean gutters
- Check the porch soffit for proper caulking
Front porches are inviting and add curb appeal to your home. Make sure your front porch includes a porch soffit to not only give it a perfect finish but to protect the roofing system. If you’re adding on a porch or unsure if your roofing system needs an upgrade, call our experts at Thompson Creek. We have all the roofing expertise under one roof.