Quick Answer: What Is a Soffit in Construction

A soffit is the horizontal sheet cladding under the eave of a roof overhang. A soffit most often refers to the material forming a ceiling from the top of an exterior house wall to the outer edge of the roof, i.e., bridging the gap between a home’s siding and the roofline, otherwise known as the eaves.

What is the purpose of a soffit?

Like many parts of a home’s exterior, soffit serves both an aesthetic and a functional purpose. Functionally, the basic mission of soffit is to protect rafters from the elements. Keeping moisture away from the rafters reduces the chance of mold, and helps preserve the life of the materials.

What does soffit in construction mean?

In its broadest sense, the term ‘soffit’ can be used to refer to the underside of any construction element, such as an arch, architrave, or projecting cornice. Inside buildings, the term soffit may refer to any portion of a ceiling that is lower than the rest of the ceiling.