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How to finish the roof eaves. Installation and selection of materials for lining the roof overhang. Why do you need to cover the roof eaves?

Roof installation is a complex undertaking that includes not only the installation of a roofing and drainage system. Most houses are designed taking into account the necessary projection of the roof on all sides relative to the facade of the task. This technology serves as additional protection for walls and foundations from rain and other atmospheric phenomena. And since there is such an overhang, it means that it needs to be decorated decoratively in order to protect the rafters and sheathing from moisture and give the house a complete appearance. How the roof overhangs are hemmed, what materials and components can be used - we will explain below.

Cornice and pediment overhangs and their purpose

Depending on the shape of the roof of the house, roof outlets can be implemented both in the eaves area (hip and hipped structures) and on the gable side (gable roofs).

Eaves overhang formed by a rafter system protruding relative to the walls of the house at a certain distance. Its value is determined by the project or can be set at the request of the developer. If there are additional vertical supports, the eaves outlet can serve as a canopy over the porch or a small veranda.

Gable overhang performed from the end (side) side of the building. Its optimal width is 60-70 cm, the minimum is 30, the maximum is no more than 100 cm. The load-bearing element for the outlet is the roof sheathing, so it is not recommended to make it too wide.


Roof extension options: on the left - cornice, on the right - pediment

In both cases, overhangs serve not only as a decorative finishing element for finishing the house, but also protect the walls, base and foundation of the building from excessive wetting. This point is especially important when using plaster as a façade material, which is more sensitive to moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to hem the gables and cornices under the roof. Otherwise, the protruding part of the roofing “pie” becomes vulnerable to rain and wind. Exposed wood construction and insulation may deteriorate. Strong gusts of wind in an unprotected place can weaken the roofing fasteners or completely tear off the material. Proper finishing of the overhanging part of the roof does not require further maintenance over a long period of operation.

Types of cornice filing

In accordance with the architectural preferences of the developer, the installation of roof lining along the eaves can be done in two ways.

  1. Along the rafter system (without box)
  2. Perpendicular to the wall of the house.

In the first case, the rafter legs extending beyond the walls are lined from the inside with lathing for further decoration of the overhang with boards or soffits. Thus, it looks more aesthetically pleasing due to the natural continuation of the roof.

Option for hemming along rafters

But this method is not always convenient, because... Most specialized finishing materials and components are made for the horizontal finishing option, where the roof overhang and the wall are located perpendicular (at an angle of 90 degrees) to each other. To do this, a special box is mounted, onto which finishing material is subsequently stuffed.


Roof release with box

In the photo on the left, the cornice box ends flush with the wall, and on the right it continues to the gable projection.

Materials for finishing overhangs

On the construction market, elements for decorating overhangs are presented in a wide range. The main raw materials for manufacturing include metal, PVC (plastic/vinyl) and wood. All over the world, ready-made soffits with the necessary set of accessories for convenient and quick installation are very popular. In addition to ease of installation, the advantages of this material include a variety of colors and durability.

Steel elements are manufactured to order in the form of panels ranging from 0.5 to 8 meters in length. You can also purchase finished products in standard sizes: 2.4 and 3 meters (values ​​are multiples of the overhang width of 600 and 500 mm, respectively).

In appearance, the material most often imitates natural timber or boards. The width of the panel depends on the profile and varies between 240-305 mm. The most famous are double and triple soffits.


Types of metal spotlights: on the left - double, on the right - triple profile

The image shows that all elements have perforations - small holes located partially or over the entire area of ​​​​the material. Their purpose is to allow air to flow through the eaves into the under-roof space. Read more about the natural circulation of air under the roof in the material “Counter grill: dependence on the slope and length of the roof slope.” The article describes in detail all the main points, indicates the dependence of the required area of ​​the eaves overhang openings on the value of the roof area.

Perforated soffits are only necessary when installing cornices. Finishing of outlets on the gable side can be done with products without ventilation holes.

Several types of metal soffits are known:

  • Copper;
  • Made of galvanized steel with a polymer coating (for types of polymers, see);
  • Aluminum. Also available with a colored layer.

Recommended thickness is from 0.45 to 0.5 mm. Galvanized and aluminum materials with paint and varnish coating are manufactured in a wide range of colors from the RAL and RR catalogs, as well as with patterns and textures like wood, brick or stone.

Plastic soffits

Plastic soffits are the most popular due to their low price and ease of installation. Based on their composition, they are divided into two types: vinyl (PVC - polyvinyl chloride) and acrylic (improved using special polymers). They are mainly produced in lengths of 3 m and widths of 0.305 m with three sections.

According to the ventilation properties, plastic panels differ in:

  • Perforated (all 3 sections have holes);
  • With partial perforation (holes only in the central section);
  • Solid (no perforation).

Types of plastic spotlights

Decorating the roof overhang with corrugated sheeting

A more economical option relative to those outlined above. Metal soffit accessories can be used as additional elements. The most attractive profile is C-8 (or 10) or an ordinary colored flat sheet. High profile sheet (20, 21, etc.) will not work in this case. The disadvantage of this option is the lack of ventilation sections, so you will have to install additional supply grilles.


Ventilation grilles in the filing

Also, unlike ready-made panels, fastenings on a metal sheet will be noticeable. It is better to connect them together with screws with a press washer in the color of the corrugated sheet, or with short roofing screws (4.8x19 mm).

Wooden filing

Here, moisture-resistant wood species are used as material: the most popular and affordable are larch and aspen. Installation should not be particularly difficult. The only thing you need to understand is that natural resources tend to change their geometric dimensions over time, which can affect the appearance of the object being developed. The rule applies to OSB and moisture-resistant plywood.

Open rafters

Many people prefer not to use any additional materials at all. In places where the roof is removed, a continuous sheathing is nailed, which will hide the roof from prying eyes. The rafters are trimmed evenly and, if necessary, treated with decorative moisture-resistant varnish or paint.

Overhang design without additional materials

To implement this method, you need to make the correct sheathing at the stage of constructing the roof.

Soffit installation instructions. Two ways + video

Before starting work, you need to familiarize yourself with the components for the spotlights. Some additional elements are used when installing siding. For example, an external corner or a final (finishing) profile. Typically the corner size is 50x50 mm, the length of the elements is 3 m.


External corner and finishing profile

There are also specialized accessories for installing spotlights: a J-chamfer (“jay” or “ji”) is used for the end finishing, and a J-profile is used to fasten the panel in the corner of the wall.


J-chamfer and J-profile

Depending on preferences and conditions, the end technology can be made in three combinations.

In the first option, we use a combined J-chamfer and finishing profile.


1st method: finishing the end using a j-chamfer

It must be taken into account that the J-bevel is usually produced in a width of 200 mm. This value should be sufficient. Otherwise, you need to use the methods below. If the width of the end is smaller, cut off the excess part from the strip and insert it into the originally installed finishing strip.

If the end is too wide, you can use an alternative option using an external corner. And also install a soffit on the vertical area.


2nd option using an external corner

And finally, another combination in which we replace the outer corner with a J-profile. The method is the most cost-effective, because The j-bar is 4 times lower than the cost of the angle.


3rd option: installation with J-profile

For corner connections between the spotlights, you can use an H-profile or two J-profiles.


Soffit corner connections

1. Installation of horizontal roof outlet using a box

We will step by step consider the installation of soffits with an extension located perpendicular to the wall. To do this, you need to prepare a special box that will support the entire structure of the binder. We fix the block to the wall so that its edge is flush with the bottom point of the rafter.


Box installation diagram

Next, we nail a front board or several, depending on the width, to the end of the rafters. We measure the distance from the wall to the front board: this is exactly the size that the soffits need to be cut. We perform hemming according to the instructions outlined above.


2. Overhang filing without frame

To decorate the roof with plastic elements, you will need the following tools: level, pencil, tape measure, corner, screwdriver, knife, hammer, hacksaw and cord.

Step-by-step example of filing with siding or soffit. The work is carried out from the inside of the rafters, without installing a box. Materials used: siding and soffit with central perforation and white color, external corner, J-profile, self-tapping screw with press washer 4.2*16 galvanized sharp (for wood), nails, edged board 25 * 120 mm.

Before installation, make sure that the rafters are cut at the same distance and parallel to the plane of the house wall.

To begin with, we pull the cord along the bottom from the first to the last rafter leg. This will show us at what level it is better to install the front board. In this case, the width was two boards with a small gap. We fix them with nails to the ends of the rafters. Now you need to install the outer corner for further installation of siding. We fix the bar with self-tapping screws and a press washer. Correct installation is easier to control with a stretched cord. A combined chamfer is not suitable for this option, because designed for soffit installation at 90 degrees relative to the end.


Installing an outside corner for siding and soffit

When the corner is installed, you can start installing the siding panels at the end. Cut it to the required length. As a rule, the length is equal to the width of the rafter cut. It is better to prepare two or three pieces at a time, as the sizes may vary slightly. When installing vertically, ensure that it is secured with a lock. We also fasten each panel with self-tapping screws. The lower part will “fit” into the corner, and the upper part can be placed under the cornice strip or a finishing profile can be installed.


We attach siding panels to the end of the rafter system

To decorate the lower overhang, it is better to use soffits (in this case, triple ones with central perforation). It is installed similarly to siding. One end is inserted into the outer corner, and the other into the J-profile. The panels are snapped together using a locking connection. They are attached to the sheathing with PSh self-tapping screws. It is convenient to cut the panels using ordinary metal scissors or a hacksaw.

Soffit from the eaves side

Installation of roof ends

Hemming on the pediment side, unlike the cornice, is carried out at a right angle to the wall of the house. Therefore, the installation of the ends can be done using a J-chamfer or an external corner. The developer decides which option to choose. Sometimes such an element can be a roof wind strip, provided that the width of the bottom shelf is sufficient.


Wind strip and chamfer from the end of the house

Video instruction

For clarity and taking into account all the subtleties of the installation of plastic spotlights, we suggest watching the video. The material succinctly outlines the points for installing roof overhangs and installing panels from the VOX company.

There are many material options for lining roof eaves: wood, plastic lining, siding; recently, lining the eaves with soffit, etc. is increasingly being done. Lining roof eaves with plastic lining is impractical; most often, eaves lined with lining are torn off by strong gusts of wind.

Lining the roof eaves with wooden clapboard is much more reliable, but wood is highly susceptible to moisture and requires a protective coating that needs to be renewed quite often, which is not always easy to do, especially at the height of the second or more floors.

Siding is also impractical due to the insufficient strength of the material.

The most suitable option, due to its high strength, practicality and aesthetic appeal, is metal profile cladding. The profile is galvanized, primed and painted, which creates reliable protection against corrosion.

Materials for covering cornices with metal profiles

  • board 100×30 mm;
  • metal wave profile;
  • plastic end profile L-ka;
  • plastic connecting profile N-ka;
  • screws 100 mm long;
  • galvanized screws 50 mm long;
  • 12x4 rivets.

Tools for filing roof eaves

  • level;
  • screwdriver;
  • metal scissors;
  • riveter

Sheathing roof eaves with metal profiles

To file the roof eaves, we will prepare a base to which the metal profile will be attached.

We fasten a board with a cross-section of 100×30 mm along the wall to the bottom of the beam; for leveling we use a level and a stretched cord.

In places where the board does not fit smoothly to the beam, you can slightly level the surface of the beam by cutting it off with a chisel, and in places where there are gaps between the board and the beam, you can place plywood scraps or a thin plank.

After making sure that the board lies flat, fasten it firmly using a screwdriver and wood screws 100 mm long



Then, using a level and a cord, we prepare the second board for fastening; the lower part of the cornice should be horizontal; we check it using a level. By pulling the cord along the end of the board, we level the board.

Secure the board firmly with screws





Preparing the wave metal profile for installation

We pre-cut the profile into strips of the required size; you can cut the profile using a grinder. To protect the edge of the profile from corrosion, we use a plastic L-piece.

Having placed the L-piece on the profile, we drill through holes with a diameter of 4 mm in it and the profile.

We attach the L-shape to the profile with rivets.



We join the profile in order to secure the L-piece to the next profile strip.



We drill and fasten the L-shape of the next profile.

Thus, we prepare the required amount of profile.

We proceed to the installation of the side profile of the cornices; we first drill holes in the metal wave profile.

All fastenings with screws must be located in the inner wave of the profile.
Having finished installing the side profile of the eaves, we begin to attach the lower profile of the soffits.



Also, having previously drilled through the metal, we fasten it with screws.

Having finished fastening the profile, we proceed to installing the decorative metal corner. Before attaching the corner, we place wood or plywood pads at a certain distance (60-80cm) under the outer wave of the metal profile for future fastening of brackets under the drain gutter.

The corner is made independently from galvanized sheet metal and painted. The manufacturing method is described in the article “How to make corners for a metal profile with your own hands.”

We fasten the corner with rivets to the outer wave of the metal profile. We drill holes for attaching the corner in the lower profile, then in the side one.







We fasten the corner with rivets





We connect the cornices at the corners of the building by cutting the lower metal profile at an angle of 45 degrees, and carefully close the joint using a plastic connecting profile.

We also cover the ends of the cornices with a piece of metal profile.

Type of completed work.







Lining the roof eaves with your own hands allows you to protect the roofing pie from external influences and give the roof an attractive appearance. Currently, there are many cladding options. We will focus on the most popular ones in this article.

Features of the binder

It is recommended to carry out work on covering the roof overhang after installing the rafter structure, but before installing the sheathing for laying the roof covering. Before filing the eaves, the roof waterproofing should be laid and it is advisable to insulate the roof from the attic side. In addition, it should be taken into account that it is preferable to sew up the roof overhang before the external insulation of the walls of the house begins, so as not to damage the wall covering while working with the cornice.

At the first stage of work, the protruding parts of the rafters should be sawed off along one line, which should be parallel to the adjacent wall of the building.

The overhangs of the pitched roof are sewn up in such a way that gutters can be installed and ventilation of the roofing pie can be ensured. For these purposes, various materials and installation technologies can be used.

Selection of materials

Traditionally, roof sheathing is done using edged and planed boards. To make the roof look aesthetically pleasing, you should use boards that are the same in thickness and width. In addition to boards, various materials are widely used today, which should:

  • provide reliable protection of the eaves of the roof from moisture, frost, and precipitation;
  • provide the necessary roof ventilation;
  • be resistant to external influences and durable;
  • have aesthetic appeal.

Popular materials for arranging eaves overhang include:

  • lining (wooden and PVC);
  • soffit (vinyl and aluminum);
  • corrugated sheeting

Edged and planed boards 1.5-2 cm thick are a practical material for installing sheathing, which makes it possible to ensure high-quality and uniform roof ventilation. To do this, the elements should be stuffed with a gap of 1-1.5 cm.


Wooden lining. This material should be selected with special care: the roof eaves lining is used outdoors, therefore, the lining must be made of high-quality wood of medium humidity and have a sufficiently large thickness - this will avoid warping.


It is recommended to use wooden paneling that has been stored outdoors for at least a month, since its humidity corresponds to the humidity of the environment.

PVC lining. This is an inexpensive and easy-to-install material. Moisture-resistant lining is designed for a long service life. To install this material, you should immediately purchase U-shaped plastic strips for covering the edges and special corners for fastening the joints.

Soffit. This is a special aluminum or plastic panel with which the roof eaves are hemmed. Externally, the soffit resembles siding, but it is made of thicker plastic and is equipped with perforations, which allows you to create the necessary air ventilation under the roof. The advantages of aluminum and plastic soffit include high weather resistance and durability. UV stabilizers are added to plastic for making spotlights.


The soffit panels are cut to the length of the eaves overhang and installed perpendicular to the wall.

Corrugated sheet. Profiled sheets of galvanized steel with colored polymer coating are usually used for lining roofs made of the same material. The corrugated sheet has a fairly high rigidity and is resistant to external influences and extreme temperatures. Corrugated panels are cut according to the size of the eaves overhang. The ventilation gap of such a filing is equal to the wave height of the corrugated sheet.


Cornice sheathing frame

Hemming the roof eaves is done after installing the roof frame and adjusting the protruding edges of the rafters to size. After sawing off the rafter legs, the first sheathing board is installed along the line, which then serves as a guide for work in the next stages. Next, you should cover the overhangs, choosing the appropriate type of structure:


Do-it-yourself roof eaves lining involves creating a roof eaves box. In both versions of the sheathing device, it is performed in the same way: a board is placed on the sheathing along the pediment, and it is required to measure the distance, which should correspond to the width of the overhang. The board is then nailed parallel to the gable wall.

Installation of the binder

Sheathing the eaves of the roof with soffit requires the use of a J-shaped strip, which is secured with screws along the eaves and along the wall. The soffit sheets are mounted between the slats. The length of each panel should be equal to the distance between the mounted strips minus 6 mm for thermal expansion of the material. If the roof overhang exceeds 900 mm, 12 mm should be deducted. The frontal plate is closed with a special frontal strip. The use of soffit and special elements allows you to create a durable, functional and attractive roof overhang.


Before sheathing the roof eaves with edged boards or wooden clapboards, the material cut to size should be impregnated with antiseptic, fire-resistant and water-repellent compounds. This allows you to extend the life of the binder.

The width of the edged board is adjusted depending on the size of the overhang. The elements should be mounted in 10 mm increments, creating ventilation gaps. If the eaves overhang is covered with clapboard, the planks are laid with a tongue-and-groove connection, and special ventilation grilles should be installed every 1.5 meters.

To cover roof overhangs with corrugated sheets, you need to screw pre-cut sheets to the frame parallel to the wall and along the eaves. Self-tapping screws are used as fasteners. The junction of the wall and the sheet material is closed with an internal corner and a front strip. The inner corner should be attached to the profiled sheet, the front strip to the front board. The outer corner is fastened along the external joints of the profiled sheet.

Along the pediment, corrugated sheeting is mounted along the wall, along the outer edge of the roof overhang. Then the corners and end strip are installed. To ensure air access for roof ventilation, the width of the corrugated sheet should be 2 cm less than the width of the overhang. It is important to consider that the lining, made of metal sheets, is prone to corrosion in places where moisture accumulates and its service life is inferior to other options for finishing the eaves overhang.

Protecting your home's roof and making it look attractive are issues that require careful consideration. One of the possible solutions is a neat finishing of the overhangs, which will reliably protect the rafter elements from atmospheric influences and ensure the aesthetics of the roof.

The eaves overhang of the roof of a house is usually called its lower part, protruding beyond the boundaries of the walls. It is designed to protect the walls and foundation area from getting wet during rain.

According to the requirements of SNiP, filing roof overhangs is not considered a mandatory operation. Nevertheless, many experts recommend not to neglect the filing of roof eaves. It will allow us to solve a number of important issues, for example,

  • when there is a strong wind, rising air currents arise, which, having penetrated under the overhang, tend to tear off the roof, and the roof overhang lining will become an obstacle in their path and will not allow slanting jets of rain to get into the under-roof space;
  • lining the roof overhang will hide the rafter elements, the releases of the layers of the roofing cake and the roof covering from the attic side, and more.

Finishing the roof eaves is the final stage in its construction, so hemming the roof overhangs is done after

  • her devices;
  • insulation and finishing of external walls;
  • installation of drains.

Types of overhangs

  • Cornice or side. These are horizontal overhangs that are formed by the lower part of the slope. Ventilation of the space under the roof also passes through them. Having passed through the overhang, the air moves towards the ridge, drying the layers of the roofing cake along the way. Hence the conclusion that it is impossible to close them completely. But it is also extremely undesirable not to sheathe the structure. This means that you need to find a reasonable option on how to hem the roof overhangs so as not to block the access of air under the roof, but yes to birds, insects or rodents.
  • Pedimental. They are formed by the inclined edges of roof slopes and do not take part in under-roof ventilation. Therefore, the need to finish the roof eaves for gable overhangs is due to other reasons, namely the inclined plane of the structure. It is highly susceptible to the destructive effects of moisture, which is blown by the wind. This is especially dangerous for an attic roof, since the edges of the insulation are unprotected from getting wet. Gable cornices must be completely sheathed. Thus, the lining of the gable roof overhangs will become impenetrable.

How to trim the edges of an overhang

Both gable and eave overhangs have uncovered elements: the ends of the rafter elements and the end part of the sheathing release, respectively, which must be finished before hemming the roof eaves.

The choice of material for finishing the edge of the cornice or its end part depends on the main material of the roof covering. Quite often, manufacturers supply ready-made kits for finishing edges along with the roofing material. The sheathing process itself is performed according to one of the following algorithms.

  • All protruding rafter elements or fillies are cut in one straight line strictly parallel to the wall, that is, vertically. Then the ends of the rafter legs are connected with a strapping board. The frontal roof board is attached to it, the dimensions of which should allow the ends to be covered: completely or partially with minimal shortfall. It is on this that the drainage gutters will be installed in the future.

The frontal board is made of metal or wood. For roofs made of known types of tiles, such a board is included in the roofing material kit. The front board is attached to the ends of the rafter elements using galvanized nails or self-tapping screws.

  • Elements of the sheathing that protrude beyond its limits are cut parallel to the wall at the same level. An end board is nailed to them and tied to the end of the roofing beam. If you attach the board in a standard way only to each element of the sheathing, then you will not be able to achieve a sufficient degree of rigidity, so it is recommended to use a T-shaped connection.

To do this, additional elements are hemmed from boards or bars, placing them between the front board and two adjacent battens, starting from the second, in increments of one interval, that is, every second and third are selected.

Binding options

In principle, roof overhangs can be hemmed using any convenient method. But upon closer examination, all of them can be combined into two techniques.

One of the options for filing is directly along the rafter elements. The main requirement in this case is the location of the open ends of the rafter legs in a single plane.

  • This method is suitable for roofs with a slope of no more than 30˚, the overhang of which does not exceed 0.4–0.5 m.
  • Hemming strips are stuffed onto the base of wooden parts nailed to the rafters.
  • You can sheathe the base both lengthwise and crosswise.
  • Installation begins with the installation and fastening of the initial and last trim strips.
  • Then a construction thread is pulled between them and, keeping the correct level, the rest are set.
  • When hemming the corner of two slopes, the planks must be secured to the corner rafter on both sides.

Horizontal roof overhangs are used on steep slopes. Installation of the roof eaves is fairly quick.

  • A box is knocked down from wooden beams, which is attached to the adjacent wall and the base of the roof, and the wall beam must be positioned 1 cm higher than the beam attached to the lower section of the rafter legs. In this way, the slope necessary for the drainage of water that gets inside the eaves due to the wind is maintained.
  • To ensure the rigidity of the box structure, fastening the bars with screws is duplicated with additional fasteners on metal plates and corners. Then they begin to file it with some convenient material.

Materials

Various materials made of metal, plastic or lumber are suitable for lining the roof eaves.

  • The most common is considered to be lining the roof overhangs with boards 15–20 mm thick. The width of the material depends on the overhang of the cornice and ranges from 5–25 cm. The aesthetic appearance of the cladding depends on the exact observance of the constant width of the boards.

The undoubted advantage of boards for lining roof overhangs is its ability to provide high-quality ventilation of the under-roof space, since air in this case flows there evenly along the entire perimeter of the roof. The gap between the boards is 1–1.5 cm.

  • If the boards used for hemming are of sufficient length, they are screwed at several points to prevent deformation.
  • The boards are joined in a checkerboard order. In this case, it is necessary to leave sufficient distance between the two joints.
  • The only exception is the corners of hip roofs, where the wooden planks are sawn down when joining, dividing the right angle in half.
  • All elements are treated twice with antiseptics and fire retardants: before installation and after.

  • Another popular material is wooden lining. Considering the susceptibility of wood to all sorts of weather vagaries, special requirements are placed on its quality:
  • the planks should not be thin;
  • humidity level. The natural humidity of the lining, which has been stored outdoors for at least a month, is considered optimal.

The lining strips are laid tightly, leaving no gaps between them, as in the case of boards. Holes for ventilation are cut out on the finished cladding in 150 cm increments and covered with gratings.

  • Lining the roof eaves with corrugated sheeting coated with polymers is carried out according to a simple algorithm.
  • When sheathing cornices with corrugated sheets, sheets of the required size are first prepared. They are screwed to the finished frame parallel to the wall. Special screws are used for fastening.
  • The joint formed by the wall plane and the corrugated sheet is closed by installing additional elements: a front strip and an internal corner. The corner is attached to the profiled sheet, and the strip, accordingly, to the board. To close the external joints of the corrugated sheet, external corners are used.
  • The roof gables (photo above) are hemmed along the walls. The planks are attached to the outer edge of the cornice and hidden under the end strip and corners. The sheathing strips should be approximately 2 cm narrower than the width of the overhang. Thus, air intake will occur due to the height of the profile wave.
  • When installing the roof eaves, the finishing with corrugated sheets can be done in color, choosing the appropriate one from a variety of options.

  • PVC siding is a fairly affordable and effective option for lining roof eaves. This material often goes on sale in a special package. The plastic panels are supplemented with U-shaped strips necessary for the design of edges, corners, and ventilation grilles. The sheathing is fastened parallel to the edge.

Plastic strips are attached to a wooden frame at two to four points.

  • Special plastic panels called soffits are produced for lining roof eaves. These panels are thicker than siding and are usually equipped with special perforations through which ventilation of the under-roof space passes. In addition, UV stabilizers have been added to the plastic for spotlights, which provide the material with high resistance to ultraviolet radiation. The soffits for filing are cut along the length of the cornice and installed at right angles to the wall.

Watch the various options for lining roof eaves in the video

If you are interested in lining your roof eaves, the options we intend to offer you may come in handy. This is the final stage of construction of any roof, after the roof has been completely sheathed. Unfortunately, at this stage, many people make mistakes that lead to technical problems with the roof and lead to improper drainage of rain and snow masses. So, how to hem the cornice?

Highlights of this process

Sheathing the eaves of a roof with eaves serves several different functions. First of all, this is to protect the facade from damage due to precipitation and runoff from the roof. The cornice must also properly provide ventilation to the roof so that the rafter system does not begin to rot. But high-quality overhangs must perform another function - to give the building a finished and neat look, which is impossible without a high-quality cornice.

This work, of course, cannot cover all existing types of cornices and the materials used for their manufacture, so we will focus on several basic options so that you know what and how to make a roof lining. In particular, these will be such popular materials in private homes as corrugated board, wooden lining and soffit. They meet all the technical requirements that are necessary for the roof lining to be successful. At the same time, the price makes these materials accessible to a wide range of citizens. That is why we decided to focus on them.

Step-by-step scheme of work

The first thing we will dwell on in detail is the correct arrangement of the roof eaves, which will be disassembled into its main elements. In such a matter as filing roof overhangs, it is the elements that will be discussed further that should be given the main attention if you do not want urgent repairs to be required in a year or even a few months.

So what is this eaves overhang and why do you even need roof overhangs for a private home? The cornice is the part of the rafters that protrudes beyond the front of the house. This is the part of the roof that hangs outwards, hence the name.

There are two main types of eaves overhang: simple and with extension. We recommend using the first one, as it is not so complicated to set up and will not create problems in the future. In strong winds, there is no hum or other sounds, which is often the problem with the remote option.

The first main element we will focus on is the roof overhang assembly. We will not provide a detailed drawing here; you can easily find it on the Internet. But we will indicate its main parts, which you cannot do without. First of all, this is, of course, a drain. What it serves, in general, is clear - in the rain and when the snow melts, water will flow down its gutter. This way it will not blur the walls of the house. It is advisable that the gutter be directed away from the house so that the constant flow of water does not gradually erode your foundation. Therefore, we do not recommend building in the same way as private homeowners sometimes do, whose drainage goes down close to the wall of the house. You should think about this even at the stage of building the roof and installing the facade of the house.

Another important part of the assembly is a special protective sheet of metal, which should cover the frontal board behind and under the drain. No matter how ideal the latter is, some of the water will still fall on the wall in separate drops and splashes. This metal apron will help protect the wood from rotting.

The eaves overhang of the roof can have different types, namely frontal and side. Let's look at them in more detail, because without studying this issue you cannot make the roof overhang correctly. Below you can find out what advantages and disadvantages each option has.

As the name suggests, a front overhang is necessary to provide adequate protection to your home. This roof overhang also determines how attractive your home will look from the outside, so be careful with it. This cornice represents the two edges of the roof slopes. Therefore, if you have a hip type roof, also called a hip roof, it will be absent.

The ordinary overhang of the front cornice is designed quite simply. The supporting beams are brought out and fixed to the rafters. But there are still other options. For example, many, in order to save money and simplify the installation, make a cornice from lathing laid on top of a vapor barrier, directly under the roofing material. The eaves board itself is already attached to this sheathing, to which, in turn, the selected roofing material will be sewn. This version of the device is also quite acceptable if for some reason it seems more convenient and simpler to you. But remember that the sheathing boards must be good wood.

But the side overhang can be seen on any type of sloping roof. How is it created? Its basis is the rafters that extend beyond the walls of the house. Each time, the distance to which they will be placed must be calculated individually during construction, based on the height of your house and how wide the blind area is. But usually it is about 50 to 70 centimeters, rarely more and almost never less.

So, now that you know how to properly make eaves for the facade and sides of the house, it’s time to move on to another important issue - creating the necessary ventilation through the eaves for the roof. Without this, your roof will not last long, rotting will begin in the rafters, mold will appear in the insulation and many other unpleasant consequences. Warm air rising from inside the house must escape freely, otherwise condensation will begin to form.

Therefore, when installing a cornice, do not use sealants or polyurethane foam under any circumstances. They tightly block the movement of air, thereby creating an incorrect atmosphere inside that is harmful to materials.

But you should also know that the front overhangs must be completely closed, and only the side overhangs must be ventilated. This is due to the characteristics of air circulation.
Now let's look at the features of all the material options for covering the eaves, so that you know what you can use to line the eaves of your house. Above we have already listed the options that can currently be found on sale. When choosing, we recommend focusing not only and not so much on visual appeal, but on guaranteed service life, because no matter how beautiful the material is, you are unlikely to want to change it too often.

The first material you should pay attention to is corrugated board. What he really is? This is a special galvanized steel that can have a polymer coating of different colors. Corrugated sheeting has excellent technical characteristics, is resistant to mechanical damage, as well as sudden changes in ambient temperature. What’s also important is that corrugated sheeting copes well with even the strongest winds. But in order for there to be normal ventilation, make a gap between the corrugated sheeting and the house, which should be approximately equal to the wave height of its sheet. Sheathing cornices with such metal profiles is quite popular due to its high strength.

Over the years, another material has become increasingly popular; lining the cornice with it has many advantages. These are the spotlights. In terms of their design, they are ordinary plastic panels. But these panels have ventilation holes already made during manufacture, which ensures excellent air circulation. What is also important is that the soffits are perfectly protected from sunlight, including ultraviolet rays, making them ideal for installing the eaves of a house located in a well-lit area. That is why more and more people are deciding to hem the roof eaves with soffit.

Sheathing the cornice with wooden clapboard is a classic option. It is captivating because it is a natural material that goes well with wooden houses and creates a beautiful organic look. But you need to choose the right tree. It should not be too thin; the minimum acceptable width is about two centimeters. After all, the lining will have to provide reliable protection of the roof overhangs from atmospheric influences and therefore must be strong and reliable.

A good tree will be one that has average humidity - then it will last longer.

Now you know how to hem the roof eaves and with what material, and also why it is so important to create proper ventilation. Although hemming cornices is not as simple as it seems at first glance, it is quite feasible for one person. You will be able to do everything yourself if you approach the matter responsibly and seriously, having calculated everything necessary in advance.