What are soffits & facia?
Fascia and soffits are architectural elements found at the roofline, where the roof meets external walls. Soffits are located beneath rafter tails, whilst fascia are horizontal bands at the end of the rafters. Both provide a visually attractive finish to a building. They also have a practical function as the first line of defence that protects edges of roof rafters from external elements and prevents fauna from finding their way into the roof.
Lightweight timber building panels are often specified for their high mechanical strength and, as non-plastics, reduce carbon impact. They are also easy to machine and fast to install on all surfaces, including masonry.
Some timber manufactured boards used for soffits and fascia such as birch, marine plywood, or hard plywood like Okoume or Gaboon, have a level of natural moisture resistance. Moisture ingress can affect the performance of decorative exterior boards and cause rot that can potentially damage roof rafters. Arctek® Technology, the high performance overlay solutions, can improve the moisture resistance and extend the design life of plywood soffits and fascia.
Smoothing timber manufactured soffits and fascia before priming and painting will help achieve a superior finish. Laminated timber boards will also need a smooth, primed surface to ensure material compatibility and long lasting finish.
