Roof

How to hem a roof with soffit

The procedure for arranging the roof is not only the manufacture of the rafter structure, the direct laying of the roofing material and the installation of gutters, but also the process of filing its eaves. To do this, on the overhangs of the gables and cornices, filing is made of wooden lining, planed boards, vinyl or metal siding. But today on sale there is a more convenient material for filing a roof called roof soffits.

The need for roof lining

A properly built house requires that its roof extend from the wall to a distance of at least 50-70 centimeters to protect the walls of the facade from rainwater. In this case, an overhang is formed in the roofing plane, which is covered with roofing material from above, and hemmed from below. Hemming the roof will not only help to give the house a finished aesthetic appearance, but also solve the issue of roof ventilation in the space under the roof or between the insulation and the roofing material. This is especially true when constructing the roof of the attic floor.

In suburban housing construction, at present, for the most part, two types of roofs are built - attic and attic. Thermal insulation in the case of a cold attic roof is placed in the attic of the house, in the insulated attic - between the rafters. Since the house is able to "breathe", the wet steam from the premises will pass through the insulation, although it should not linger in the thermal insulation layer. In this case, condensation forms, and the properties of the insulation deteriorate.

In addition to reducing the quality of the material, the elements of the subsystem will also suffer from moisture - wooden beams begin to rot, metal parts - to corrode. Various waterproofing films play an important role in solving this problem, but it is important not to neglect the creation of ventilated roof overhangs and providing draft for ventilation from the eaves to the ridge.

When filing the roof, the spotlights are mounted with a gap of about 10 - 15 millimeters. In this case, a draft of the air flow will be created, which comes from the lower mark of the overhang into the space under the roof, heats up gradually and rises to the ridge, after which it exits through the ventilation holes. Thus, continuous air circulation and effective weathering of moisture are ensured, which allows the roof to remain dry. Good ventilation can extend the life of your roof by preventing mold and mildew.

It is customary to carry out filing of overhangs not only for practical reasons to ensure good traction in the under-roof space. This is also necessary to protect the roofing pie from the settlement of insects, birds and rodents, because no one would like to observe such a picture.

Traditionally, roofing was done using wooden clapboard. However, you should think about the shortcomings of wood - it must be periodically treated with a special solution against decay and fungus, and tinted. In addition, the lining is able to absorb moisture and blacken over time, so it is not the best option for filing the roof.

Vinyl siding, which is intended for the walls of facades, looks unattractive after hemming the roof, and its appearance will only worsen when making holes for ventilation, which is not provided initially. Galvanized metal siding is not protected from corrosion, and since it is placed on the overhang of the eaves, where condensate often accumulates, it has a rather short service life. Brown rust spots appear very quickly on this material, which is especially noticeable if the color of the roof lining is white or fairly light.

Fortunately, progress has not stood still for a long time, and now there is a more practical material for filing the roof - roof soffits, which are distinguished by good visual compatibility with the roof, facade materials and drainage system, and are also characterized by an affordable price. In addition, the price of spotlights for the roof is democratic.

The concept of a soffit for filing a roof

In the construction industry, soffits are panels designed to cover various horizontal surfaces that face down. Soffits are the same siding or lining, but with a special structure that allows air to pass through and does not interfere with its free circulation, which helps protect the roof from dampness, fungus and mold. It is the presence of perforation that is the main difference between spotlights that are used outdoors and other decorative panels.

These panels are fixed to the box along the edge of the roof. The panels are joined together by a locking connection, which makes it possible to hide their fasteners. The length of the spotlights is most often 3 - 3.6 meters, and the width is 22 - 30.5 centimeters. Specific sizes of roof soffits vary by manufacturer. American and Canadian manufacturers often make a triple profile 30 centimeters wide and 3.6 linear meters long, which is considered the most optimal size for roofing. Soffits of domestic manufacturers may differ in dimensions.

Before you hem the roof, you need to choose one of three types of soffits:

Solid. This material is perfect for covering the ceiling of your open porch, porch or garden gazebo. Thanks to constant access to all internal surfaces of the air roof, all open structures will not require repairs for a long period and will retain their excellent appearance.
Fully perforated, which is recommended for roofs that are covered with non-profiled materials, such as seam or shingles. Perforated spotlights are indispensable for filing the protruding parts of the roof: overhangs, cornices, ridges, gables and peaks.
With perforation in the center, which provides effective ventilation of the space under the roof. At the same time, a composition is formed on the overhang of the cornice with the alternation of two continuous strips and one perforated strip. Regardless of the presence or absence of perforation, the cost of the soffit is the same.

Advantages of soffits for filing a roof

The indisputable advantages of spotlights over traditional materials are their following properties:

Mechanical durability - resistance to damages, blows and influence of an atmospheric precipitation. This ensures that the appearance of the house remains unchanged throughout the entire period of use. They do not change their color and do not fade under the influence of sunlight and high humidity, and also do not rot.
Versatility. Soffits can be used to hem the ceilings in the room and the under-roof space. A wide range of colors of the product allows them to be combined with various types of finishing and roofing materials, as in the photo of roof spotlights.
Ease of care. Soffits do not need updating and painting throughout the entire period of operation. To recreate the appearance, they should be periodically washed with water and detergents.
Flawless appearance. Soffits are able to easily hide wiring and various communications, and the locking connection allows you to hide the panel fastening joints and facade components.
Resistance to biological factors. Soffits, unlike facing materials that are made of wood, are not affected by fungus and do not become moldy.
Ease and convenience of installation. Installation work due to the use of spotlights can be carried out at any time and in a wide temperature range. Products do not crack and do not corrode at temperatures from minus 60 to plus 120 degrees Celsius.
Ecological and fire safety. All spotlights are made of non-toxic and non-flammable materials, which allows them to be used in special construction with increased requirements for fire safety and resistance to aggressive influences.

Types of soffits for filing the roof

Let's look at what types of soffits exist for filing a roof today.

Plastic spotlights

The most common type of soffit is plastic, as its price is small. Vinyl soffits have good characteristics - they are wear-resistant, elastic, do not fade, resistant to sudden changes in temperature, easy to install, finishing the roof with plastic soffit is produced almost without waste. Such products are white, brown and colored. White soffit is an elegant, calm vinyl material that costs less than colored and brown soffit.

Brown soffits emphasize the character and personality of the house, because they often match the color of the roof, and are more resistant to ultraviolet rays, since the sun acts more strongly on dark surfaces. Colored vinyl spotlights occupy the golden mean between white and brown goods in terms of cost. It is often customary to use spotlights complete with siding so that the cornice filing does not stand out against the background of the facade.

Steel spotlights

Metal soffits are the most durable material used for eaves and come in a wide range of colors. They perfectly withstand mechanical loads, are often supplied with the roof, as they are made from polymers along with metal tiles. The guarantee of such a product, of course, surpasses all its competitors.

These soffits are perforated and without perforation, filing with a metal soffit guarantees your home high-quality anti-corrosion protection for many years. White, colored or brown products can be used on open verandas and gazebos in the country. The cost of a metal roof soffit is acceptable for a material of this quality.

Aluminum spotlights

Aluminum soffit today occupies a leading position in sales and hemming of cornice overhangs, as it has established itself as a high-tech and practical material at a reasonable price. Soffit panels of this type are used in private construction and original architectural projects.

The light weight of aluminum soffits is a big advantage, which results in ease of installation, which allows even high-rise buildings to be hemmed. If you have started renovations or decided to give the facade its original look and hide defects, then perforated brown aluminum spotlights are best suited for this. In addition, aluminum soffit panels do not have the ability to expand at temperature, like plastic.

Copper spotlights

Roofing, the lining of which is made of copper, will last longer than other materials due to the auto-extinguishing corrosion of the copper sheet and exemplary resistance to aggressive environments - more than 100 years. Such spotlights are connected to each other with a lock that hides the fasteners. Perforated copper soffits close horizontal spaces on the street, and without perforation they are usually installed inside the premises.

Copper soffits are quickly covered in air with an oxide film, which gives them a characteristic yellowish-red tint. During operation, they become gradually brown, and then covered with a patina due to weathering and acquire a malachite-green hue. Therefore, true connoisseurs of antiquity buy only copper.

The procedure for filing the roof with soffits

Before you hem the roof with spotlights, it is necessary to insulate the walls of the house from the outside. Most of all, this is true for the most common boxes that are sewn not directly along the rafters, but in a horizontal direction. The key to successful filing of overhangs and cornices with spotlights is the correct measurements, so before you start filing the roof with spotlights, make a high-quality drawing that will help you navigate the general information and the sequence of actions.

By itself, the procedure for installing spotlights is considered quite simple, but remember that they must necessarily fit into the overall appearance of the house. The design of the box itself can be individual, depending on the specific design of the roof, but there are two most popular options that include common filing elements:

Hemming along the rafters, when an angle is selected for filing, which coincides with the angle of the slope. This technique is intended for the most part for roofs that have a small angle of inclination, while the installation of spotlights is carried out on the rafters parallel to the plane of the walls. If the bottom plane of the rafters is not level, it must be leveled to ensure high-quality filing of the roof. To do this, you can screw on the sides of the rafters with screws cutting boards with a thickness of at least 4 centimeters, and a length of at least 10 centimeters. First, the first and last boards are screwed, between which the threads are pulled and the rest of the boards are fastened. In the areas of convergence of the slopes on all sides of the corner rafters, the boards are fastened.
The most common solution is when a horizontal box is installed to the wall from the edge of the rafters, while the frame for filing the roof with spotlights is made of boards. One edge is fastened to the bottom of the rafters, the second - to an additional board, which must be lowered and attached at the point where the rafters and the wall touch. The board in the corners of the convergence of the slopes should be laid flat, because in this place there will be a joint on which the ends of the boards are fastened. Such a joint should extend up to the angle of convergence of the walls from the angle of convergence of the slopes, as a result of which a rigid structure independent of the wall is formed. It is recommended to pay due attention to the reliability of the fastening created, it can be done with screws, but it is better to use metal plates and corners.

Installation of soffit panels is carried out on such a crate. To fix the details of the spotlights to it, you should use self-tapping screws that are equipped with a press washer. To install the first strip of soffit, you need to determine the starting point of the installation, retreat from it by about 77 centimeters and horizontally beat off the line throughout the entire perimeter of your house.

The initial strip must be installed directly below it. To make corner elements and equip the edging, installation of external and internal elements of spotlights is required. Make sure that the bottom end is below the edge of the starting strip. Corner parts are recommended to be fixed on the self-tapping screw with the upper groove, other self-tapping screws should be installed in the middle part of the grooves. In this case, the openings should be surrounded by edging or trim.

Parts should be joined at right angles. Soffits are installed to the top of the original strip. Details of spotlights need to be joined into a lock. Before installing the last panel, install the finishing strip. Cut the wall panel to the desired length and, holding the cut end in the last strip, mount the wall panel. It remains to hem the eaves and overhangs of the roof.

For high-quality installation of soffits for the roof, it is necessary to use nails: start hammering them from the middle part of the soffit panels towards the edges, but not all the way to avoid gaps. Finally, cut the panels using a circular saw. The operation is carried out at low temperatures. For cutting small parts, special metal scissors are most suitable.

Thus, after the construction of the roof frame, it is necessary to make sheathing with spotlights. Since rain, snow, cold, wind, insects, birds and rodents penetrate this area of the roof, it is recommended to choose the sheathing material very carefully. Thanks to the emergence of such material as soffits, roof filing allows not only to protect yourself from bad weather and its harmful effects, but also to solve the issue of high-quality ventilation in the space between the insulation and the roof.