Soffit

The purpose of soffit is to reduce moisture in the attic and to also help to stabilize the temperature in the attic year round. Soffit is a plastic material with small holes that covers the outside extension of a roof, the eave. This allows moisture to dry through air flowing up the into the attic and out through the ridge vent. This photo is taken from class lectures.

It is important to regulate your attic temperatures throughout the year to extend the life of your roof. If you notice the gap between the wall section and the eave there is a gap. This is for the air to flow from the outside up into the attic. This is used to heat and cool the attic with the outside air. An attic acts as an oven in the summer times when attic temperatures reach more than 100+ in the summer months. Not only are your shingles being baked from the hot summer sun on the exterior, but the heat from the attic bakes the shingles from the inside as well. This causes the shingles on your home to wear faster than expected.