Your eavestrough and soffit system work together so problems with one often affect the other. We get a lot of calls from Pickering residents who need eavestrough repairs. When we go to look at the problem we often find their soffit is also damaged. These two are right next to each other along your roofline. Knowing how they work together will help you make better decisions on how to take care of and protect your home.
Soffits are the panels that cover the bottom of your roof overhang. They look finished and serve many important functions. They allow air to flow through small holes that let air into your attic space. This airflow keeps the temperature in your attic stable and prevents moisture from building up which can cause mold to grow and wood to rot. Soffits also protect the rafters and roof structure from weather and pests that can get in. When eavestroughs break and water overflows it often runs back against the soffit panels which can cause staining, warping and eventually rot.
We see this all the time at Professional Roofers Toronto. We get a call from a homeowner about water damage on their soffit and we find the problem is clogged or broken eavestroughs that have been overflowing for months. Or someone calls us to replace their eavestrough and we find out years of water damage has rotted parts of their soffit that also need to be replaced. When we look at your roofline we always check both systems at the same time. Because treating them as separate, unrelated parts doesn’t give us the full picture of how your roofline works. We check both your soffit and eavestrough during a standard roof inspection. We look for signs of water damage, make sure the soffit panels are securely attached and ventilated and the eavestroughs are mounted correctly and have the right slope for drainage. We also make sure the eavestroughs are doing their job of directing water away from the soffit area. If the eavestroughs had been cleaned and fixed on time many of the soffit problems we see could have been avoided. Water is persistent and patient and even small amounts of repeated overflow can do a lot of damage over time when it hits the same weak spot.
Some common soffit problems are panels that have rotted from being in water too long, panels that have sagged or come loose from the fascia board, pest damage where animals have chewed through to get to the attic and blocked ventilation that makes the attic too humid. These problems often happen at the same time as eavestrough problems like not having the right slope, seams that aren’t connected, hangers that aren’t strong enough or a capacity that can’t handle your roof size when it rains hard. Instead of just fixing the obvious problem and ignoring the damage that will cause more problems in the future we fix both systems completely.
In many cases it makes sense to replace the soffit and eavestrough at the same time. If your soffit is badly damaged or worn and your eavestroughs are no longer useful replacing both at the same time will save you money on labor and scaffold rental. It also makes sure everything works together by using colors that match and installing things in the right order. Pickering homes have to deal with tough weather all year round like heavy rain, snow loads and very hot or cold temperatures. Keeping these protective systems in good shape prevents problems that can cost a lot of money from happening later. The materials you choose matter for both. Vinyl soffit is more prone to water damage and aluminum soffit keeps its shape and colour longer without warping or fading. Aluminum is a great choice for eavestroughs because it lasts long and comes in colours that match your trim and soffit. We help homeowners choose materials that are affordable and will protect their home for a long time. You may save money upfront by using cheaper materials but they often need to be replaced sooner and can break when you need them most like during bad weather.
Professional Roofers Toronto is proud of their quality work that takes into account how each part works with the others. When we put in or replace soffit and eavestroughs we make sure air can flow freely, water flows away from your home and everything is securely fastened so it can withstand wind and weather. We also give you tips on how to take care of your roof so it will work well for many years to come. The state of your soffit and eavestrough has more effect than just how it looks. These systems keep your roof safe, keep the attic at a comfortable temperature, keep pests out and safely direct water away from your foundation. We tell Pickering residents to have both systems checked regularly and fixed right away so they don’t become big costly repairs.
