Beginners Guide: What to Look for When Buying Soffit for Your Home

An image of soffits.

Before you jump in the car and head to the store to buy some soffits, there are a few things you need to know. Here's a quick beginners buying guide.

3 min read

Updating your home to look exactly how you want it to look is an exciting process. Part of that is making the changes that you think are practical, yet aesthetically pleasing. How would soffits be able to give your home a new look? Truthfully, they are coming back as a trendy part of the house's overall look!

If you're interested in learning more about adding soffits to your home, check out more information about them below.

What Are Soffits?

You may have heard the term soffit before, but do you know what it means?

When someone talks about a soffit, they are referring to the portion of the ceiling that is built a little below the area surrounding it. They aren't as common today, but they used to be extremely common and are actually making a comeback.

You may see soffits on the outside of the home or inside of the home. A common place for them is near gutters or on top of cabinetry. In reality, there are a lot of areas that they may look perfect in any home.

When they are located outside, they are great for ventilation! They also provide protection from unwanted pests.

Soffits that are located inside are great for aesthetics and overall appearance. In general, the type of soffit you choose and the material you prefer is going to be important.

Types of Soffit Styles

An important distinction is that soffits and fascias are not the same thing. A fascia is a board that runs on the end of a structure and can have exterior items, like guttering, attached to it.

There are two main styles of soffits that you can choose between. The one that you pick will be dependent on your preference of appearance and ventilation needs.

Vented Soffits

These are convenient because they already have vents within them. They are cut to be exact and do what you need them to do, which makes it easier when you are installing them for ventilation purposes.

Solid Soffits

A solid soffit will be used in areas where extra ventilation is not needed. You may use these in accent areas of the home, but they can be used outside as well. Just be sure they are spaced apart properly for ventilation and air circulation.

Soffit Material Options

The good news is that you can easily customize the appearance of soffits with the right material. There are several material options that you have when selecting the one for your home.

The soffit materials you may find include:

  • Aluminum
  • Wood
  • Steel
  • Vinyl
  • Fiber cement
  • Acrylic (pre-finished soffit)

One of the easier ways to choose soffit is based on appearance alone. Which one matches the rest of the home and looks like it belongs?

Choose Soffits for Your Home

When selecting the perfect soffits, you have many options to choose from. A positive side of this is that you don't have to settle for something you don't like!

Find a soffit that will be the perfect fit for your home! Not all of them are equal, so check out our buyer's guide to see how you can find the soffit that you want.

An image of replace soffits.

When Is the Right Time to Replace Soffits?

Deciding when to replace soffits or simply follow up with some maintenance is essential to keeping the home looking spick and span.
An image of installing soffit vents.

How Does Installing Soffit Vents Improve Your Home's Value?

If you are looking for ways to update your home, one option that is gaining population is installing soffit vents. Here is how it can improve your home's value.
An image of soffit vs. eave.

Soffit Vs. Eave: What's the Difference?

Wondering what the difference is between a soffit and an eave? This guide to soffit vs. eave will explain all you need to know.