Proper roofing is essential in the construction of any structure. The stability and quality of a roof provide a particular level of integrity to a building. The roofing is a part of the building’s exterior and is one of the first things that are looked at to determine the quality of any structure. The roof is the structural component that protects the entire building from weather factors such as rain, frost, hail, and so on.
Eaves
The eaves are the roof edges that overhang the face of a wall and, in most cases, extend over the side of a building. The term eaves are derived from the Old English Efes (singular), which means “edge,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The major function of the eaves is to keep rainwater off the walls and to avoid water penetration at the roof-to-wall juncture.The eaves may help shield a pathway surrounding the structure from rain, prevent footing erosion, and reduce rain spatter on the wall when it strikes the ground. As a form of passive solar building design, the secondary role is to manage sun penetration; the eaves overhang can be built to change the structure’s solar gain to suit the local climate, latitude, and orientation. The eaves overhang may also protect ventilation apertures in the roof space.This is the most important aspect of keeping the building’s base dry. Roof eaves function as a frame that provides superior structure to the building’s roof.
Types of Eaves
There are four types of Eaves of the house that are as follows
Exposed Eaves
The rafters and underside of the roof may be viewed with exposed eaves. Most modern homes do not have this form of eave because it exposes the roof and rafters, which can attract pests such as wasps, bees, and birds.
Soffit Eaves
A soffit board is attached with majority of soffit eaves. Soffit boards are longboards that are attached to the bottom of the rafters that connect the roof’s overhang. The soffit board covers the rafters and connects the eaves overhang to the structure’s side. This is accomplished at a perpendicular angle.
Boxed-in Eaves
Boxed-in eaves extend beyond the structure’s outside wall. These eaves are protected from the elements by boards or mouldings that are not visible from the outside. Because they are encased, boxed-in eaves are similar to soffit eaves; however, with boxed-in eaves, the side of the structure is attached at the same angle as the roof pitch.
Abbreviated Eaves
This eave is carved at nearly a 90-degree angle and has a very little overhang. Although abbreviated eaves are close to the elements, they give protection from pests as well as the elements such as wind and rain.
Part of Roof Eaves
the two main parts of the roof eaves are as follows:
- Soffits
- Fascia boards
Soffits
The soffit is the material beneath the eave that connects the far edge of the roof to the house’s external wall. They are commonly vented. Soffits can be found on the bottom of a porch roof as well as beneath the eaves. There are three types of soffits, namely,
- Solid Soffits
- Vented Soffits
- Hollow Soffits
Fascia boards
Fascia is the section of the roof that is joined to the external wall at the connection point. It is attached vertically, and these are the straight boards, and it is fixed at the lower end, which is the border of the roof.The Fascia board’s primary function is to offer assets to the tiles in the last row. The gutter system is supported by the fascia board.Fascia boards are a very important item that provides an attractive look to the building and helps save homes from extreme weather conditions or damages caused by weather conditions. There are 4 types of fascia boards,
- Wooden Fascia
- Vinyl Fascia
- Aluminium Fascia
- Unplasticized Vinyl Fascia (UPVC)
How to Fix
Building eaves are related to the pitch of the building’s roof. A steep pitch will produce a narrow eave, while a wide pitch will provide a wide eave. Wood eaves are used on north-facing windows to provide optimal heat shielding, and the width of the eave should be 45% of the height of the window. The eaves are attached to the roof edge that overhangs the siding.
Eaves can be formed from a variety of materials, including PVC, wood, and aluminium. Cedar is the most commonly used wood for eaves. There are several types of cedar to pick from Eastern Red Cedar White Cedar The Yellow Cedar.
Maintenance
Eaves require regular maintenance to ensure their longevity. Inspecting the gutter, eave, and roof for leaks and cracks regularly is required.It is critical to reducing leakage since it damages the internal walls of the building, resulting in increased costs. Leaks will be detected by looking for rusty or yellow stains on soffits.To manage birds and pests, roof eaves will be carried by covering gaps with soffits. Cleaning will be simple if cavities are closed and soffits are properly repaired. It is critical to inspect holes regularly.
There are numerous options for repairing the eaves, such as sealants, liquid glues, wires, and so on.
Examining eaves regularly is critical for controlling these types of serious problems because they can cause significant damage to the property if not addressed at the time. Proper eave maintenance is required to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.Roof eaves are an important part of the structure, so they will be well kept, and as materials are readily available in the market, it will be simple for people to repair them regularly using cost-effective ways or procedures.
REFERENCE:
Team, D., 2022. Roof Eaves: Parts, Styles, Uses, Maintenance, Cost, Advantages & Disadvantages. [online] Dream Civil. Available at: <https://dreamcivil.com/roof-eaves/> [Accessed 11 October 2022].
The Spruce. 2022. What Is an Eave and What Does It Do?. [online] Available at: <https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-an-eave-177510> [Accessed 11 October 2022].
- [online] Available at: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-eaves-in-architecture-definition-design.html> [Accessed 11 October 2022].
En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Eaves – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaves> [Accessed 11 October 2022].
