Soffit and Fascia Comparison for Dummies

Soffit vs fascia

Our research staffers here at the Antisocial Network regularly come across content written – or more correctly, "reworded" – by freelancers whose sole knowledge of the topic comes from about five minutes of slapdash research at Google and Wikipedia. They're usually pretty easy to recognize because of the clumsiness with which the writers use the heretofore unfamiliar terms and tasks. To get an idea of what we're talking about, let's look at the job Hunker.com's Renee Miller did for someone wondering, "What is the Difference Between Soffit & Fascia?"

It's not that hard for someone who already knows the difference to tell you: the fascia is the vertical board at the lower end of a roof (often nailed to the ends of the rafters). The soffit is the downward-facing finished underside of an overhanging eave. Now let's see what Miller has to say in her (required 75- to 100-word introduction):

"Soffit and fascia are used when installing roofs. Installing these two roofing components together helps prevent mold and mildew resulting from moisture to enter your home's rafters. Soffits and fascias also increase air ventilation and protect the areas of your home that are difficult to cover with paint. Often the terms soffit and fascia are confused because they are usually referred to together, but they are very different components with separate uses."

The two are "used when installing roofs"? No, you dolt, they're architectural elements of a roof. We aren't certain why Renee thinks they're "difficult to cover with paint," and we know of no one who understands simple architecture who confuses the two terms, only freelancers with social services diplomas.

Miller continues wandering along her trail of ignorance, further explaining that,

"...the horizontal piece of aluminum or vinyl that covers the underside of your roof's overhang is a soffit."

A few corrections, Renee: 1) the material may be wood or plywood as well as vinyl; we're not familiar with aluminum soffits but they're possible. 2) Soffits are not by definition horizontal; they may also slope with the underside of the rafters (see image above). 3) A soffit's not a "piece," it's a system of many sections of wood or vinyl, or perhaps aluminum. Now, let's get a look at Miller's definition of fascia:

"The horizontal pieces that cover the space between the soffit and the roof are the fascia boards... Fascia is installed around the entire structure and is attached to the uncovered ends of rafters or to the top of exterior walls. "

No, Renee, the fascia is vertical, not horizontal – you already said that the soffit is horizontal. Fascia only covers the ends of the rafters, so the only way it can be "installed around the entire structure" is if you have a mansard roof. Otherwise, the top of a gable wall is the rake board. And we have no idea what "the top of exterior walls" means.

Although Miller made brief mention of attic ventilation in her intro, she neglected to mention it further: ventilation is usually accomplished through perforations in vinyl soffit; through larger, screened openings in plywood soffit, or with vented fascia. It's obvious that Miller came into this assignment completely ignorant of roof construction in general, and of soffits and fascia specifically; yet she still wanted that eHow stipend enough to spread her half-baked version of definitions around the internet. People like Renee who regularly contribute to the stupidification of the internet are some of our favorite candidates for Dumbass of the Day.

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