There’s a good chance your building has soffit installed. Just walk outside your door and look up at the roof. The material connecting the roof overhang and the side of your building? That’s soffit.

The word “soffit” is derived from the French language, and literally means “something fixed underneath.”  It’s most commonly used around a building’s main roof, but soffit can also be used under porches, under arches or columns, under a flight of stairs… pretty much anything that has a visible ceiling. It is commonly made in aluminum and vinyl, as well as fiber cement, wood, and steel.

For this article, we’ll focus on soffit for its primary use — the roof overhang.

Soffit serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose for a building’s roofing system.  It’s the skin that covers your eaves — without it, you would see your rafter beams fully exposed. Cover it up with soffit, in the style and color that you like, and you add some instant and easy character to your building.

Functionally speaking, soffit protects your rafters from the weather elements. If your rafters are exposed in any areas, you’ll likely have mold buildup and rotting beams to replace — which definitely won’t make for a fun (or cheap) Spring. Plus, mold in a home is never healthy.

Also, soffit helps your building breathe.  With vented soffit, air can flow through the vents to provide regular air circulation to your attic. Air flow is tremendously important for your entire home.  If you have lanced style vents (like the vented soffit we offer our customers) you can achieve proper air flow while limiting the moisture that can enter through the vents.

If solid soffit is more of your style, no problem — just make sure you have vents installed to enable proper air circulation through the attic. Or, for every few soffits you install, you could install a vented panel to assure air flow.

Imagine if your eaves were sealed tight instead. In the hot summer months, your attic would draw in (and hold) heat. That sweat running off your head? It would definitely be from your attic overheating, but also likely from looking at your high utility bill as well.

In the winter months, snow and rain would ultimately lead to moisture buildup, and you would eventually have rotting and/or mold in your rafters and sheathing.

Bottom line  — you need to let your attic cycle the heat and moisture away from your house. Soffit is the most common and easy way to protect your roof frame and achieve air circulation to keep your building healthy.

If you’re not a candidate for soffit for a given reason — say your building does not have eaves — I suggest you ask a builder to look at your attic and offer custom suggestions to improve your air circulation.

Which Type of Soffit Should I Buy?

Based on sales volume of homes and buildings across the US, aluminum and vinyl soffit are the runaway winners. They are the most cost effective to manufacture, the easiest to install, and they weigh less than the alternatives. Let’s run through the pros and cons for aluminum and vinyl:

Pros of Aluminum Soffit

• A malleable material, good for fitting into varied spaces.
• Highly durable. Will not rot, chip or crack.
• Non-combustible, in case of fire.
• Easy to keep clean, does not attract dirt.
• Water-resistant. Ideal for wet regions.

Cons of Aluminum

• Tends to be more expensive than vinyl. If you’re covering a large area, the aluminum cost will add up.
• Can dent if enough force is applied.
• Does not insulate as well as vinyl.

So, how about vinyl?

Pros of Vinyl Soffit

• Tends to be the most affordable option.
• Best material for insulating your home.
• Often available in different textures and grains. More customization over the look you want.
• Will not rot. Pretty resilient against cracking and chipping.
• Water resistant. Excellent for high moisture areas.
• Easy to clean.

Cons of Vinyl

• More easily affected by heat. Can discolor more quickly over time.
• Can become brittle if exposed to regular sunlight.
• Can develop mold in damp climates.
• Not as malleable as aluminum; more difficult to cut, bend and install into varied spaces.
• Some feel vinyl is a cheaper looking product.

And what about the other materials?

People who opt for soffit in materials other than aluminum or vinyl typically make their decision based on aesthetics. Why?

Wood is more expensive and will ultimately rot over time. However, I am personally a fan of wood — it looks natural and timeless. It adds tremendous warmth. If you choose to install wood soffit, just be prepared for the time and money to replace the panels over time. Plus, don’t forget to install vents for air circulation!

Steel will be much more durable than any of the alternatives, including aluminum. Some suppliers also carry steel soffit in a variety of colors. Steel will just run about 25-40% higher in cost than aluminum – but overall, steel could be a great option for your soffit.

Fiber cement is less common and among the pricier options in soffit, but there are suppliers that carry panels in varied wood grain textures, vents and colors.

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

We actually manufacture soffit and help hundreds of end customers a year walk through building products related questions. If you have more questions for us, just give a call and we’d be happy to help. Our phone number is 1-610-779-1357. Also you can shoot us a quick message if that is easier. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours to offer all the personalized, no-salesey help we can.

Best of luck with your soffit installation. Either way you go, we’re sure you’ll make the best choice for YOU.

Copper Gutter — it’s the most elegant and prestigious choice for a rain gutter system available. Hands down.

You’re likely here because you’re considering copper gutter for your own home. You may have heard it’s the most expensive option on the market (you’re right). You may also sense that copper gutter would add a truly dramatic look to your home — and possibly even be a good long-term investment.

Copper may be for you, or it may not. I want to help you find out.

Customers walk into our building supply warehouse often and ask themselves this same question. Let’s imagine you walked into our warehouse too. It’s time to talk pros and cons. Here’s the exact checklist we’d walk through together:

Would copper gutter suit your dream home?

Your home is one of your most valuable assets. It’s your masterpiece, a reflection of your personal taste, it’s your own piece of heaven.

Cost simply has to be one of the last considerations in the equation (ahem.. see the next question below). The conversation has to begin with the sincere, deep-rooted feelings you have for your home. Do you truly want the very best for your home?

To you and your family, your home may be your own, personal Fallingwater. In such cases I almost always recommend using the best materials you can that suit your theme. Your gutter selection is an important material among these, as it’s highly visible from all sides of the house.  So, if copper truly enhances the natural, distinct, thoughtful details of your dream home, then copper might be a winner.

Are you willing to pay for copper vs aluminum?

Okay, let’s get into the meat and potatoes. What does copper gutter cost relative to aluminum?

Let’s use 2 different homes to use as examples. First, we have House A — a popular 2-story, 2,000 sq ft home.  A home this size will require about 200 linear feet of rain gutter — that’s about the national average. Second, we have House B — a 3-story, 6,000 sq ft estate. For kicks, let’s pretend it’s an Italian-style villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. House B will require about 400 linear feet of gutter.

Quick disclaimer here — keep in mind that a majority of gutter installation cost depends on your general contractor’s rate, ability and zip code. You’re always wise to check with several different contractors for quotes on gutter to find the best value possible.

A standard, aluminum gutter system will run a homeowner approximately $3.50 to $7.00 per linear foot (again, range dependent on contractor rate). For House A, the total cost after material and labor would range between $700 and $1,400 in total. For House B, the total cost would fall between $1,400 and $2,275.

Now, let’s switch to a custom, copper system and run the same numbers. Copper will run $18.50 and $26.00 per linear foot. Installation for House A will cost about $3,700 – $5,200. For House B, about $7,400 – $10,400.

There you have it: the cost to fully install the most desirable gutter system the world can offer. Here’s how it compares visually; this chart is the average of the costs outlined above.  Yes, copper will cost 3x, 4x, and in some cases even 5x more than aluminum gutter. That’s why I defer to that first question — are you able and willing to make your dream home the best it can be?

Average cost comparison for a 200 linear ft system

 

Do you understand why copper is more expensive?

Important to know all the facts. Let’s deconstruct what you’re paying for here:

• Copper is a much more expensive alloy than aluminum — you probably knew that.
• You also need copper everything, including accessories and fasteners. Aluminum hangers will react adversely and actually break down the copper. A definite no-no. Always hang copper with either copper itself, brass or stainless steel.
• Copper requires extra time and care for your contractor to install and prevent pre-mature tarnishing. Copper even requires special gloves for installation.
• Copper often requires additional soldering around the joints. Extra work = more labor = higher cost.

Are copper gutters a good long-term investment for you?

Like other investments in life, your decision to purchase a copper gutter system will depend on a variety of factors, your end goal, and ultimately, what makes you happy. Some more questions to consider:

• Is the home or building in an exclusive, high-end neighborhood? Will copper help your home stay consistent with your neighbors’ homes?
• Do you want your home to truly pop out among other homes in your neighborhood? How will the extra curb appeal help increase the value of your home?
• What is your time horizon? If you plan to live in your home for 30+ years, your copper gutter should hold strong and hopefully satisfy your aesthetic tastes for decades. Likewise, if you plan to sell in the short-term, a copper gutter system could be one of the extra fine details that has your prospects swooning.
• Are you replacing pre-existing copper spouting? If it was good enough to impress you to purchase, it will likely achieve the same effect when you go to sell. Is it worth the risk to “cut corners”? That’s for you to decide.
• How important a factor is durability to you? If you want the most durable and lost-lasting material for gutters, copper is it. It’s a more solid alloy than aluminum, it never rusts and it never needs painting.

Do you love the look of copper?

Ultimately, this perhaps the most important question. We’re passionate about gutters here, but it’s not too often we hear customers say that gutter warms their soul like, say, the look of a terra-cotta roof.

Not to be dramatic, but seeing copper gutter should warm your soul. That’s the clincher. You need to love it.

Brick, stone, stucco, wood, slate — all these materials tend to look GREAT with copper gutter. Also, do you truly like the look of tarnished copper? If you live in the Pacific Northwest USA, you will likely see your copper gutter turn green within a year or two. If you live in sunny San Diego, then your copper gutter will likely keep its original color for years.

It depends on the climate where you live. It’s important to know if you would truly love your home with copper-colored OR time-weathered green gutter. Both looks can work, but again, it’s your personal preference.

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

We actually manufacture rain gutter products and help hundreds of end customers a year walk through these questions. If you have more questions for us, just give a call and we’d be happy to help. Our phone number is 1-610-779-1357. Also you can shoot us a quick message if that is easier. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours to offer all the personalized, no-salesey help we can.

Best of luck with your gutter installation. Either way you go, we’re sure you’ll make the best choice for YOU.