SMALL DETAILS, BIG IMPACT: ROOFLINE ELEMENTS
Steep Hill Sleeping Cabin front roofline.
Roofline elements: fascia, soffit and eavestrough are often overlooked details, each of which can have a significant architectural impact on your home.
In this resource we look at two approaches to each one, the key takeaways and the solution we chose for the Steep Hill Cottage project.
Fascia
Fascia is the board that runs along the edges of your roof.
Functionally, fascia acts to protect the exposed ends of your roof rafters from the elements and provides a sturdy anchor point for roof sheathing and gutters. Visually, it creates a clean, finished edge that helps define the overall look of the roofline.
When it comes to fascia, the material and assembly you choose can have a big impact on how your home looks. We consider two types of fascia:
Wood Fascia
Wood fascia is classic and versatile. It can be painted to match or contrast with your siding and trim. It can be built up with several components to create more complex, decorative composite profiles. This results in a substantial, architectural look and feel that works especially well on vintage homes.
Durability is a trade off with wood as it requires regular upkeep. It needs to be repainted or re-stained periodically, and if it’s not maintained, it can deteriorate.
The initial cost of wood fascia is generally lower than aluminum capped options however, long term maintenance costs will add up.
Key Takeaways:
Look: Authentic, vintage, substantial, customizable with paint or stain.
Maintenance: Needs regular maintenance and inspection for rot.
Cost: Initially lower, maintenance increases costs over time.
Best For: Homes where architectural detail is a key feature such that maintenance is a reasonable trade-off.
Aluminum-Capped Fascia
Aluminum-capped fascia is essentially wood fascia that’s been wrapped in a protective layer of aluminum. The aluminum capping comes in a range of colors and profiles, and once installed, it doesn’t need repainting. It’s a low-maintenance option, however it can be prone to warping and denting.
The trade-off with aluminum is that it is generally flatter and more basic looking. It doesn’t offer the same depth or richness as wood assemblies. It’s best when kept simple.
Key Takeaways:
Look: Clean and low-profile; less texture and variation than painted wood.
Maintenance: No repainting, just occasional cleaning.
Cost: Higher initial cost, no additional maintenance cost for 30+ year lifespan.
Best For: Homes where longevity and ease of care are top priorities.
Steep Hill Design
At Steep Hill, we’ve used both aluminum and wood. On the garage (shown above) we went with aluminum. It is a utility building and durability was a priority.
On the primary buildings we’re using a built-up wood fascia comprised of three parts: a 2x8 inner fascia board, continuous ventilation strip, and a 1x6 outer fascia board (shown in more detail below).
We decided to go this route for a few reasons:
The layered assembly adds shadow lines and depth that evoke the vintage cottage style we are looking for.
The integrated vent allows for roof ventilation while eliminating the need for vented soffit.
We stained the fascia materials using C2 Guard (Carbon) before installation. Our expectation is that stain will need to be re-applied every 10 years or so.
For our project, the increased maintenance required for wood fascia compared to aluminum capped fascia was determined to be a worthwhile trade-off. By elevating the fascia design, this basic exterior element it has become an impactful feature rather than a neutral component part.
Soffit
Soffits are the surfaces you see when you look up beneath a roof overhang. Like fascia, they can be overlooked; considered utility elements rather than contributors to the overall design.
Functionally, soffits protect the underside of the eaves from weather and pests. They often also play a critical role in roof ventilation, allowing fresh air to flow in at the lower edge of the roof. Visually, soffits help complete the look of the roofline. Their size, material, and finish all influence how your eaves appear. They are one of those background elements that quietly reinforce the overall style of the house.
Soffits can be clad in a variety of materials but we only every consider two approaches:
Wood Soffits
Wood offers warmth and authenticity. Soffit materials can be painted or stained to complement other exterior elements. Wood soffit materials come in a wide range of profiles, wood species and surface treatments. Structural wood decking can be used as a form of soffit for exposed rafter conditions.
Wood soffits complement most architectural styles that employ natural materials in other façade components.
Wood soffits don’t need much maintenance, but they do need to be protected from moisture and checked regularly for signs of wear or damage from insects or rodents.
Key Takeaways:
Look: Warm, substantial, customizable with paint or stain.
Maintenance: Needs periodic inspection and may need refinishing.
Cost: Higher initial cost owing to the work involved in installation and potential for maintenance costs over time.
Best For: Homes where natural elements make up parts of the exterior style and some maintenance is manageable.
Aluminum Soffits
These materials are often chosen for their low maintenance requirements. Perforated versions allow for built-in venting, and they hold up well in harsh climates.
Aluminum soffit materials complement minimal and modern designs. They can fall into the background as a neutral design element in contemporary designs. They can sometimes look flat or out of place on homes with more traditional or detailed styling.
Look: Clean and low-profile; less texture and variation than painted wood.
Maintenance: Minimal—no repainting, just occasional cleaning.
Cost: lower initial cost, no additional maintenance cost for 30+ year lifespan.
Best For: Minimal, modern and contemporary homes where longevity and ease of care are top priorities.
Steep Hill Design
At Steep Hill, we use stained wood soffits comprised of 1x6 tongue and groove pine in a shadow-line profile.
There are a few reasons for this decision:
The exposed wood adds a tremendous amount of warmth and texture to the overall effect of the exterior, which is otherwise quite stark.
The tongue and groove wood evokes the vintage cottage style.
By integrating vents into the fascia, the soffit no longer required provisions for ventilation, which keeps our wood soffit detail clean and uninterrupted.
We stained the soffit materials using Sansin SDF (Teak) before installation. Because the soffits are generally protected from weather and direct sunlight, our expectation is that stain may need to be re-applied every 10-15 years (at the same time as we might refinish siding).
The inclusion of wood for this element fundamentally changes the character of the exterior. The wood clearly reinforces vintage cottage style. More importantly, it softens the exterior, which preserves the approachable impression of the cottage that was a key part of the original style.
Eavestroughs
Well detailed and routinely maintained gutter systems do a tremendous job managing roof runoff, protecting foundations, and reducing splash back on siding. For this reason, some form of gutter system is typical in residential construction.
Older homes often featured systems made of copper or zinc, sometimes hidden in the cornice or integrated into other trims. These were designed as architectural features not just functional add-ons. In most modern builds, gutters are more about utility than design. They are fastened directly to the fascia and made of pre-finished aluminum. At best they are a neutral design element.
In snowy regions like Muskoka, eavestroughs can often become a liability instead of an asset. Sliding snow and freeze/thaw cycles can twist, damage or pull troughs away from the fascia. For this reason, a considerable proportion of cottages in Muskoka omit toughs.
Including Eavestroughs
The advantages of including a gutter system will generally outweigh architectural penalties. As a standard practice, particularly in moderate climates, including a gutter system is likely the best approach.
We typically include the addition of protective “leaf guards” to reduce maintenance needs. Older, more traditional building styles will benefit from the selection of traditional material choices (copper, galvanized) albeit at a considerable cost premium.
Omitting Eavestroughs
Outside of any other considerations, omitting eavestroughs will generally have a positive aesthetic impact. That said, if, for functional or aesthetic reasons, you are considering omitting eavestroughs, there are some complementary design considerations that need to be taken into account:
Wider Overhangs: increasing the width of overhangs will bring runoff further from the edge of the building, mitigating issues related to splash-back and wetting of wall elements. We typically specify 16” eaves as a minimum however, without eavestroughs, 24” is a good idea.
Clean, Clear Drainage Course: a durable, clean drainage course is required at the drip line of the building to allow for drainage of runoff and to prevent muddy splash back. We typically install a washed gravel course (5/8” clear or round stone) around the perimeter of the building to keep things clean and free draining at the drip line.
Enhanced Perimeter Drainage: troughs allow for runoff to be directed to specified discharge locations. Without troughs, care needs to be taken to ensure positive drainage for runoff from the drip line around the perimeter of the building. We also typically upgrade foundation drainage pipe and surrounding stone drainage course to permit greater drainage capacity.
Steep Hill Design
At Steep Hill, we chose not to install eavestroughs. In our experience, this approach is more durable and better suited to the realities of our climate.
Skipping the eavestroughs also has a visual benefit: it allows the built-up fascia and soffit detail to stand on its own, uninterrupted by a line of trough. It’s a cleaner look that aligns with the overall character of the house.
Keep in mind, these details are not singular decisions, they combine into an overall effect. To optimize the impact of any exterior details it’s important to have a clear understanding of the style profile of your home.
All of these choices are easier to make if you have a clear design direction. That’s what our Exterior Style Definition Guide helps you achieve.