Know Your Roof · Soffit & Fascia
What Is a Soffit? Types and Materials
Quick answer
A soffit is the finished panel on the underside of your roof overhang, running from the exterior wall out to the fascia. It covers the open framing, keeps animals and weather out, and on most homes it has vents that let outside air into the attic.
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What a soffit does
It hides the rafter tails and the gap into the attic. It keeps birds, squirrels, bats and wasps out. It's usually where fresh air enters the attic, which is half of a working ventilation system (the exhaust at the ridge is the other half). And it's the clean line you see when you look up at the house.
Vented or solid
Vented soffit has slots or small perforations so air can pass through. Solid soffit doesn't. If you have an attic, it needs intake air from somewhere, so vented soffit is the usual answer. A common rule of thumb is 1 square foot of vent area for every 150 square feet of attic floor, split between intake and exhaust. Local code and your attic layout can change that number.
What it's made of
Vinyl is the common one: light and low maintenance. Aluminum holds up well and works for vented panels. Fiber cement is heavier and paintable, and often matches fiber cement siding. Wood shows up on older homes and needs paint and upkeep.
Signs it needs attention
Sagging, loose or missing panels. Peeling paint or dark water stains. Holes, or animals getting in. A musty smell in the attic.
Looking for another word? See the roofing terms glossary, A to Z.