Understanding the Parts of Your Home's Roof That May Need Repair

Posted on: 10 July 2017

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If your home's roof is leaking, sagging, missing shingles or otherwise shows signs of needing repair, it can be good to know a little bit about the different parts that make up that roof. This can help you better understand the terms used by your roofer as he or she explains those needed fixes to you, and so you have a better understanding of what you might be facing by way of repair bills.

Soffit

A soffit is constructed around pipes or vents that hang from the ceiling or inside the roof rafters; in the home's interior rooms, a soffit may be constructed to simply hide those pipes and vents from view. However, in the attic, a soffit may help to contain any moisture or humidity that develops around such pipes; the soffit may also be vented to allow for air circulation, keeping those pipes free of condensation.

If a soffit in the attic should leak or crack, this can lead to humidity and moisture build-up along the attic rafters and building materials. An attic soffit is often considered part of the roof, so it may need to be repaired by a roof if it should suffer damage or any wear and tear.

Flashing

Flashing is the roofing paper that is installed under shingles; this paper is also used to cover seams and connections, such as around a chimney, vent, drain, and the like. Flashing may sound very delicate since it's made of paper, but it's actually very thick and durable and meant to withstand exposure to the elements, hail, and strong winds. However, it can eventually suffer rips and tears or lose adhesion, so that water then seeps into those connections and other such areas, and your roof begins to leak. The flashing then needs to be replaced or repaired.

Fascia

Fascia is like an edging or border to the roof; it's usually made of metal, and may be applied inside the roof, along the rafters. It's also usually applied outside the roof line, to act as an additional barrier against water leaks; you may be able to see the fascia, working as a border along the roof eaves.

If the fascia of a roof should pull away from its connectors or come loose along the roof line, the roof may then suffer water leaks or damage to the flashing under the shingles. This fascia may then need to be replaced, to provide a watertight seal along the roof line.