How to sew up a roof. How to make a roof filing - what material to use, how to properly finish the eaves. Roof overhangs at home - device features and functions

If you want your roof to look beautiful and tidy from all sides, and the rafters to be protected, you need to finish it. For this, roof overhangs are hemmed. The house will be protected and will look like a completed structure. Let us consider in more detail what materials are popular and how to hem the roof eaves.

In this article

Why hem cornices?

The rafter structure is fully assembled, strengthened, and only then the roof eaves are filed. But this is done before the crate frame is installed to finally cover the structure with the selected roofing material. Before you start filing your cornices, completely waterproof the roof and insulate the attic. Before you start sheathing your cornices, do not insulate the walls. Then you will not disturb the fine finish of their surface.

Before installation, inspect the truss structure. If any parts protrude when they should not, they need to be sawn off. For a pitched roof, it is necessary to sew up the overhangs in such a way that there is room for installing drainpipes with ventilation for the roof pie. What material to choose for sheathing? Buy it at your discretion and any suitable configuration.

Hemming of cornices

Body kits are sheathed, following the following schemes:

  1. When the roof has a slight slope or the house needs to be increased in height, it is sheathed directly along the rafters. Before that, you should already carry out work when the rafter legs are aligned and are in the same plane. Now, on the edges on 2 sides, install planks to hem the cornice. Pull the thread from one to the other for marking. Focusing on them, fasten the remaining parts to decorate the body kit.
  2. For case 2, you need vertical and horizontal alignment of the rafter legs. Nail a board to the rafters below, and attach a beam to the wall (1 cm higher than the previously attached board). Thanks to this, moisture will drain normally. Is your overhang over 450mm? Install a board in the middle.

If you carry out the work yourself, then you need to create an overhang box. Your box for different types of plating is made the same. The board is sewn onto the crate, moving along our pediment. Now measure from it such a distance, how wide are your overhangs. The board arrives at a permanent place in parallel, focusing on the wall of the pediment.

We hem overhangs with soffits

Soffits with the necessary details can be made from different materials and different companies. Therefore, the methods of attachment are different. When you purchase the material, read the instructions for how the manufacturer recommends attaching it. Consider filing a roof eaves with vinyl spotlights.

I usually install soffits horizontally. There are cases when they are attached at the feet of the rafters. To lay horizontally, you need a crate. The necessary materials are laid on it. Consider technology:

  1. A J-profile of the correct size is required. It must be applied across our overhang and make marks there.
  2. The profile of the required size can be cut using a grinder. You will do it quickly, and the cut will come out even.
  3. Using self tapping screws. Attach the profile to the wood frame.
  4. Fasten the profiles over the entire area. Do you want to know how thick the soffit bar should be? Measure the distance between 2 of the profiles. Here are the soffit strips and cut.
  5. To set the bar. It must first be brought to the overhang near the wall, and then to the eaves. Fasten it to the wooden crate with self-tapping screws.
  6. When filing the eaves of the roof, do not use the J-bevel. Soffits need to be sheathed in the frontal area.

So, the eaves are sheathed with spotlights .

How to sheathe a cornice with clapboard or board?

Before sheathing, do not forget to soak the board or lining with an antiseptic, a mixture that prevents the material from igniting and water-repellent. The material will last much longer how without such impregnations.

What length boards will be needed? Suitable for overhang length. Attach one board from the other at a distance of 1 cm. These gaps are needed for ventilation. If you have chosen a lining for installation, then make spike-az connections. A step of 1.5 m is required and attach ventilation grilles there.

Sheeting with corrugated board

Consider the technology of how to optimally make the firmware. Using corrugated board:

  • Arrive horizontally bar and be guided by the level of the edge of the overhang. Now, in parallel, focusing on the edge of the rafter legs, nail 2 bars;
  • It is necessary to cut the corrugated board into pieces of the required length. Remember to allow for thermal expansion and ventilation clearances. Fasten the material to the previously mounted bars with self-tapping screws.
  • There will be gaps between the wall and the profiled sheet. Cover them with slats for the inside corners. When joining at the outer edges, there will be similar gaps. They are covered with strips for external corners.

With roof eaves filing option corrugated board you did it.

Attention! When corrugated metal is used for filing, do not forget that this material rusts and serves less than wood with impregnations.

Nuances when working with spotlights

Consider the features that arise when using this material:

  • The soffit must be fixed through certain holes and positioned at a right angle;
  • The gaps between the material are needed for expansion in hot weather. When cold, the material shrinks slightly;
  • For these fasteners, this size is considered optimal: 8 mm wide hat, 3 mm long leg. You don't need to screw them on too tight. Leave a gap of 1 mm;
  • Let there be a distance of 40 cm between the fasteners. You can fasten the material more often;
  • Cut soffits. Using a circular saw with a blade. It has teeth on the other side. You can use a knife, cutting metal, scissors. Draw with a knife where you will bend as much as you need and break off a piece of the required size from a piece;
  • If you are going to store or transport spotlights, then stack them in piles of 10 to a maximum of 15 pieces. Lay the material on a flat surface ;
  • Manufacturers claim that it is possible to work with the material in winter, but the masters do not recommend doing construction work, laying this material when the frost is below 15 degrees outside.

You can hem the roof eaves with clapboard or board, other material, but experts recommend using spotlights. The material is convenient to lay, the cornices with them look aesthetically pleasing and serve for a long time. Do not forget about the nuances and adhering to the above technologies. Now you know how to hem the roof eaves with your own hands.

When the installation of the roof covering has come to an end, work begins on sheathing the roof overhang. This is done not only to ensure ventilation of the roof and protect the facade, but also to give the final appearance to the building. The edge of the roof plays a special role in the efficient functioning of the entire roof. What is a roof eaves? How to make a roof cornice? How to hem a cornice? The answers to these questions are extremely important for those who are waiting for filing the roof cornice with their own hands, so special attention should be paid to their consideration.

There are now many options for filing roof cornices, but before that it is worth recalling what it is - a cornice. The cornice overhang is the protrusion of the rafters beyond the facade of the building. It is simple and with a takeaway. The first option is simpler in execution, but in strong winds it can hum quite noisily, there are no such problems with overhangs with the removal of such problems. There are 2 types of cornice overhang - front and side.

Frontal roof eaves

This type of overhang perfectly protects the facade of the house. It is presented in the form of lateral edges of sloping roof slopes, respectively, there are no hip roofs. The device of the front overhang of a standard gable roof is created by releasing the load-bearing beams fixed on the rafters. Quite often you can see the frontal cornice, formed by the boards of the lathing, which are placed on the vapor barrier under the roofing material. A cornice board is strengthened on them, later sheathed with soffit or corrugated board.

Side roof eaves

All sloped roofs have a side overhang. It is carried out with the help of rafters protruding beyond the walls of the building. The distance of their protrusion is calculated from the width of the blind area and the height of the house, usually it is about 0.5-0.7 meters, sometimes narrower bevels are also found. In this case, the wall of the building must be well protected from the wind, because otherwise, under slanting rain, it will not be able to avoid getting very wet. Another option to correct the situation is to install fillies, so you can increase the length of the rafters. Such a process is extremely laborious, and with an already finished roof, few people want to open it again and redo everything. So it is especially important at the initial stage of construction to provide for the desired size of the roof overhang. The rafters are connected to each other with boards for the entire length of the eaves. Subsequently, they are covered with facing material.

The choice of materials for filing roof eaves

What does roof siding look like? How is the roof eaves trimmed with siding? What should be considered before starting work on the roof? This is only a small part of the questions that people ask themselves before choosing a material for cladding. Today on the market there is a huge range of various materials with which the eaves are finished. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they can fully protect against moisture, provide insulation and ventilation of the roof.

Important! When choosing one or another material, it is worth paying attention not only to its beautiful appearance, it is also necessary to take into account the duration of the operational period.

Decking

This material is galvanized steel with a polymer coating in various colors. Well resistant to temperature extremes and mechanical damage, corrugated board has the necessary rigidity and is able to withstand significant wind loads. To ensure effective ventilation, a gap in the height of the wave is made between the corrugated board and the wall of the building.

Soffits

This material is designed specifically for filing the eaves on the roof. These are, in fact, plastic panels that look like siding, but they already have ventilation holes. And sheathing the eaves with siding is now very common. In addition, they differ from ordinary siding in that they include ultraviolet stabilizers that protect the coating from the negative effects of sunlight.

It is worth considering the various materials used for the manufacture of spotlights:

  • Copper spotlights. This outwardly aesthetic and presentable material is quite durable, but its price is higher than that of most similar materials. Spotlights made of copper are well resistant to fire and durable, which further favors their choice.
  • Aluminum spotlights. As it should be for products made from this material, aluminum spotlights are lightweight, they are also fire-resistant, flexible, and easy to replace during repairs. Due to the high durability of the paint, the color saturation of such spotlights does not change under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Their disadvantage is only the scarcity of colors - it includes only white and brown colors.
  • Galvanized spotlights. They do not need additional care and are extremely durable, strong, besides, these spotlights are not afraid of fire and moisture. Their weight is quite large, so the installation of such spotlights will take more time.
  • Vinyl spotlights. This is the cheapest and most popular variant of soffits for filing roofing cornices. They are light in weight, perfectly protect from the influence of the external environment, are visually attractive, easy to install, and also create a seamless canvas, thereby ensuring optimal ventilation of the space under the roof. To date, they are made of fire-resistant plastic that can withstand severe loads.

Installation of spotlights from any material is quite simple and it is quite possible to perform it by one person.

Edged board and wooden lining

Still, wood is often used for filing roof eaves. Since it is installed outside the house, the influence of the environment in this case is great, therefore, the choice of this material must be approached with particular responsibility. The thickness of the lining must be at least 2 cm, and it must have an average humidity.

Important! To ensure good ventilation, boards should be nailed with a distance of 2 cm from the wall.

Roof eaves filing options

The edge of the roof can be hemmed in different ways, it is worth dwelling a little on each of the options.

Hemming cornices on rafters

This method is only suitable for roofs with a slight slope. With this design of the sheathing, all edges of the rafters should form a flat plane. For the durability of the structure on the rafters, you will need to fix small boards, the length of which is the distance from the edge of the overhang to the wall of the house. For their even installation, one board is first screwed onto each edge of the eaves and twine is pulled between them. According to the made reference point, all other boards are already attached. Sheathing to the frame of this type is fixed to the corners or metal screws.

Roof eaves lining on a wooden box

This option is best suited for roofs with a large angle of inclination. To equip the box, take a 4 cm thick edged board and fasten it between the edge of the rafters and the wall of the house. If one of its edges is installed directly to the rafter leg, then fixing the second edge will require the installation of a board adjacent to the wall, which is screwed to the rafters from above. Sometimes, instead of an additional board, a timber is attached vertically to the wall of the house on dowels. On this, the arrangement of the frame of the box can be considered complete - then proceed to attach the skin. The best fasteners for this design will also be screws and corners.

Hemming the cornice overhang with soffits (siding)

How to sheathe the eaves of the house with siding? Hemming the eaves with siding has been very popular for a long time. Properly placed roof siding transforms and reliably protects. Soffits are completed with two special strips, made in the form of the letters J or F. One of them is attached to a pre-prepared wooden lath on the wall of the house, and the second is mounted from the side of the overhang. Self-tapping screws are used for fastening. All these planks must be fixed absolutely evenly relative to each other, so it is recommended to make markings first.

Then measure the width of the eaves of the roof and subtract 6 mm from the result. This is done to create the desired gap, which will compensate for the thermal expansion of the material. Next, the spotlights are cut into strips of the required length. The prepared plates are slightly bent and inserted into the grooves of the installed profiles, where they are fixed with self-tapping screws. In order to hem the edge of the roof, the length of the soffit strips is gradually reduced by cutting off one of the sides at an angle of 45 degrees.

Hemming the roof with siding is a relatively simple process. With material such as siding, the eaves will be protected for a long time, and visually it looks very attractive.

Hemming of cornices with corrugated board

When the edge of the roof is sheathed with corrugated board, a bar is first nailed to the wall in a horizontal position at the level of the edge of the overhang. The second bar is attached with it at the same level along the edge of the rafters. They cut the corrugated board to the required length, taking into account the thermal reserve and the ventilation gap, and fix it on the installed bars with the help of self-tapping screws. The junction of the wall and the profiled sheet is closed with an inner corner bar, and the place where the outer edge and the rafters are connected is decorated with the same outer corner bar. Now the installation of corrugated board can be considered finished.

Hemming cornices with a wooden board or clapboard

In this case, it is most convenient to hem the edge of the roof from below, being on a ladder or scaffolding. This should be done only after the walls of the building are completely insulated from the outside, the vapor barrier is completed and the installation of the facing material is completed. Before starting to sheath the overhangs with a clapboard, it is important to check that the rafters on the side eaves are not only the same length, but also parallel to the wall of the house. Strapping wind boards are fixed on them. After all this, you can already begin the installation of the fastening of the skin. First, one board is screwed to the wall vertically, while its lower edge should be at the level of the edge of the rafters. The second board is fixed between the rafters and the first board along their lower edges. It should be parallel to the ground. This creates a base on which the crate will be installed later. After preparing the frame, the installation of the skin itself begins.

When facing the roofing cornice with boards, it is necessary to leave a small gap between the wall and them. The boards themselves are chosen even, of decent quality, their thickness should be about 1-2 cm. To ensure the necessary ventilation of the space under the roof, when cladding with clapboard around the perimeter, it is worth installing ventilation grilles, the distance between them is about one and a half meters. However, often builders, relying on the properties of wood, do not take into account the above rule.

How to properly hem the roof eaves, without having experience in this matter, it is better to check with specialists. Finishing materials are very important and the service life of the entire structure will depend on their quality. Now you can find a lot of photos and instructions on the Internet with step-by-step steps for arranging the filing of cornices, so even a beginner can cope with this matter, the main thing is to follow all the necessary rules of work.

Do-it-yourself filing of the roof cornice allows you to protect the roofing pie from external influences and give the roof an attractive appearance. Currently, there are many options for plating. We will focus on the most popular in this article.

Binder Features

Work on sheathing the roof overhang is recommended to be carried out after the installation of the truss structure, but before the arrangement of the crate for laying the roofing. Before filing the eaves, it is necessary to lay the waterproofing of the roof and it is desirable to perform roof insulation from the side of the attic. In addition, it should be noted that it is preferable to sew up the roof overhang before the start of external insulation of the walls of the house, so as not to damage the wall covering during work with the eaves.

At the first stage of work, the protruding parts of the rafters should be sawn off in one line, which should be parallel to the adjoining wall of the building.

The overhangs of the pitched roof are sewn up in such a way that gutters can be installed and ventilation of the roofing pie can be ensured. For these purposes, various materials and mounting technologies can be used.

Material selection

Traditionally, roof eaves sheathing is done using edged and planed boards. To make the roof look aesthetically pleasing, you should use boards that are the same in thickness and width. In addition to the board, various materials are widely used today, which should:

  • provide reliable protection of the eaves of the roof from moisture, frost, precipitation;
  • provide the necessary ventilation of the roof;
  • have resistance to external influences and durability;
  • have aesthetic appeal.

Popular materials for arranging a cornice overhang include:

  • lining (wooden and PVC);
  • soffit (vinyl and aluminum);
  • corrugated board.

Edged and planed board with a thickness of 1.5-2 cm is a practical material for mounting the filing, which makes it possible to ensure high-quality and uniform ventilation of the roof. To do this, the elements should be stuffed with a gap of 1-1.5 cm.

Wooden lining. This material should be chosen with special care: the roof eaves filing is operated outdoors, respectively, the lining must be made of high-quality medium-moisture wood and have a sufficiently large thickness - this will avoid warping.

It is recommended to use wooden lining that has been stored outdoors for at least a month, as its humidity corresponds to that of the environment.

PVC lining. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-install material. Moisture resistant lining is designed for a long service life. For the installation of this material, you should immediately purchase U-shaped plastic strips for sheathing the edges and special corners for attaching joints.

Soffit. This is a special aluminum or plastic panel with which the roof eaves are hemmed. Outwardly, the soffit resembles siding, but it is made of thicker plastic and is equipped with perforations, which allows you to create the necessary air ventilation under the roof. The advantages of aluminum and plastic soffit include high weather resistance and durability. UV stabilizers are added to plastic for the manufacture of spotlights.

Soffit panels are cut along the length of the cornice overhang and installed perpendicular to the wall.

Decking. Profiled sheet of galvanized steel with a color polymer coating is usually used for filing roofs made of the same material. The profiled sheet has a sufficiently high rigidity, is resistant to external influences and extreme temperatures. Corrugated board panels are cut according to the size of the cornice overhang. The ventilation gap of such a filing is equal to the height of the corrugated sheet wave.

Eaves sheathing frame

The roof eaves are hemmed after the roof frame is installed and the protruding edges of the rafters are adjusted to size. After sawing off the rafter legs, the first board of the crate is mounted along the line, which later serves as a guide for work in the following stages. Next, you should complete the sheathing of the overhangs, choosing the appropriate type of construction.:


Do-it-yourself filing of the roof eaves includes the creation of a roof overhang box. In both versions of the sheathing device, it is performed in the same way: a board is stuffed onto the crate along the gable, it is required to measure the distance from it, which should correspond to the width of the overhang. Then the board is nailed parallel to the gable wall.

Binder installation

Sheathing the roof eaves with soffit requires the use of a J-shaped strip, which is fixed with self-tapping screws along the eaves and along the wall. Soffit sheets are mounted between the slats. The length of each panel must be equal to the distance between the mounted strips minus 6 mm for thermal expansion of the material. If the roof overhang exceeds 900 mm, subtract 12 mm. The frontal board is closed with a special frontal bar. The use of soffit and special elements make it possible to create a durable, functional and attractive roof overhang.

Before sheathing the roof eaves with an edged board or wooden clapboard, the material cut to size should be impregnated with antiseptic, fire-resistant and water-repellent compounds. This allows you to extend the life of the binder.

The width of the edged board is adjusted depending on the size of the overhang. Elements should be mounted in 10 mm increments, creating ventilation gaps. If the cornice overhang is sewn up with clapboard, the planks are laid with a tenon-groove connection, and special ventilation grilles should be installed every 1.5 meters.

To sew up the roof overhangs with corrugated board, it is necessary to screw the pre-cut sheets to the frame parallel to the wall and along the eaves. Self-tapping screws are used as fasteners. The junction of the wall and sheet material is closed with an inner corner and a frontal bar. The inner corner should be attached to the profiled sheet, the frontal bar - to the frontal board. The fastening of the outer corner is carried out along the outer joints of the profiled sheet.

Along the pediment, the corrugated board is mounted along the wall, along the outer edge of the roof overhang. Then the corners and the end plate are installed. To provide air access for roof ventilation, the width of the corrugated sheet should be 2 cm less than the width of the overhang. It is important to bear in mind that the filing, made of metal sheet, is prone to corrosion in places where moisture accumulates and its service life is inferior to other options for finishing the cornice overhang.

Do-it-yourself filing of the roof cornice, how and with what material to sheathe


Do-it-yourself filing of the roof cornice using popular materials. How to sheathe a roof cornice with spotlights and pvc clapboard. The use of corrugated board and wood for filing the cornice.

Roof filing with siding, taking into account all the nuances

When the walls of the house are erected, the ceiling is mounted and the roofing system is almost completely arranged, the moment comes for filing the cornice. This process requires certain building skills and the correct selection of facing material, since it is in the design of the cornice box that the roof ventilation system and fasteners for the drain are often provided.

Roof filing is needed in order to maintain the necessary microclimate in the house, to protect the heat-insulating layer, to increase the heat-saving properties of the roof structure and to complete the look of the building as a whole.

Edged boards, vinyl siding, corrugated board, lining, plywood or spotlights can be used for filing the cornice. Roof overhang filing with siding is one of the best options. The materials from which siding panels are made are not afraid of moisture and frost, they are quite resistant to sudden temperature changes and, moreover, they are easy to install.

Cornice. What does it serve?

A roof eaves is the part of the roof structure that extends beyond the outer walls of the house. The main purpose of the overhang is to protect the walls adjacent to the foundation, the thermal insulation of the entire building as a whole.

Cornices are front or side. Their size depends on the location. For effective functionality, the side cornices are extended beyond the walls by 500 - 600 mm, and the front ones - by 1000 mm. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material on the chimney on the roof.

The exact value is determined by special calculations, which take into account the height of the building and the width of the foundation blind area.

After the complete completion of the construction of the roof, the ends of the rafters are connected by a box of boards that hide all the draft layers of the roofing cake and the edge of the coating itself. At the bottom of the boards that make up the box, special grooves are provided to cover the visible overhang area with special material. When constructing a front overhang, the ridge bar and the bearing bars attached to the rafters are extended forward a certain distance. Then a cornice board is attached to the ends of the supporting beams, and the roof can be considered complete.

This method has been used before. Today, to give a more aesthetic appearance to the structure, the equipped overhang is a whole system. It serves to ventilate the under-roof space and is decorated with various modern cladding materials. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material on the insulation of the attic roof of your own house.

Siding panels

Hemming the roof eaves with any decorative material, including siding, affects the perception of the facade of the building and the completeness of the appearance of the entire building.

To do this, you can use the following panels:

  • Vinyl siding. This material is made of polyvinyl chloride, has properties such as durability and fire resistance. The panels are light weight, low cost, due to a well-thought-out fastening system, they are easy to mount. There are also perforated panels that can also be used for roofing. Vinyl panels are able to provide the necessary air flow for under-roof ventilation. PVC is not afraid of biological influences, minor mechanical damage, moisture and ultraviolet radiation.
  • Roof siding made of galvanized steel. The panels have excellent technical characteristics, and thanks to the polymer protective coating they have a wide range of colors. The material is relatively inexpensive and durable. The disadvantage of steel siding is that it requires compliance with all installation rules. Moisture can accumulate under the cornice, and failure to comply with the important nuances of the installation will ultimately lead to partial destruction of the filing, since the metal is afraid of corrosion.
  • aluminum siding. It is a solid sheet of aluminum with a protective and decorative coating of polymer compositions. Has a wide choice of flowers and excellent characteristics. Aluminum siding is not subject to deformation, thanks to the coating it does not fade in the sun, it is fire resistant and durable.
  • Wooden lining. More recently, this material was widely distributed, but modern technologies are improving every year and the materials produced today are in many ways superior to natural wood. When exposed to moisture, wood is short-lived, requires annual treatment, and is highly flammable.

The design of the frame for filing the eaves

The design of the frame for filing the eaves directly depends on the type of roofing system.

There are two options for the frame system:

  • Sheathing of the eaves along the line of the rafters of a shed roofing system. The angle of inclination of the frame box in this case must fully correspond to the slope of the slope. This option is acceptable mainly for a shed roof with a small angle of inclination.
  • horizontal box. The box is mounted from two boards, where one is attached to the wall, and the second to the bottom of the rafters. This option can be used for other types of roofs.

Before mounting the frame, it is necessary to prepare the rafters for attaching the box. Experts advise taking this moment into account even when installing the truss system, since their ends protruding beyond the facade of the house should be cut along one line. In addition, the bars should be parallel to each other and the ends of the rafters should be at the same distance from the outer wall of the building.

If not all the rules were observed during the installation of the rafter system and the rafters were not installed according to the requirements, they can be leveled by sawing in a vertical plane. The cut points are hidden under the casing of the box. The starting board of the future frame is sewn to the edge of the rafters. The device of the frame itself should be carried out after the completion of all external work on the facade cladding.

After the frame is installed, ventilation gratings must be inserted into it. Then the siding is installed.

How to hem a roof with siding (video)

Siding installation

Siding can be mounted horizontally and vertically, but for overhang sheathing it is better to choose the second option. Panels are mounted with galvanized nails.

During the installation of siding, the following rules must be observed:

  • Nails should be driven in exactly in the center of the oval hole for fastening to the panel.
  • The nail heads must not press the panels against the battens. There should be a gap of one to one and a half millimeters.
  • The siding is cut to the width of the box. The panels should not fit tightly into the corner profiles - it is recommended to make them shorter by a centimeter.

If you refrain from observing these rules, then the siding may deform over time.

The installation process itself is as follows: installation profiles are stuffed along the edges of the box.

A panel of the desired size is inserted into them and fixed. Thus, siding is typed step by step along the length of the entire eaves. Each subsequent panel clings to the previous one and is nailed. All panels should be tight but not tight.

It is better to start installation work only after studying the technology. When choosing the right material and fasteners, subject to all installation rules, as a result, you can get an aesthetically beautifully designed facade of the house with a neat cornice, the lining of which will last for many years.

Roof filing with siding, taking into account all the nuances - Construction and repair


When choosing the right material and fasteners, subject to all installation rules, as a result, you can get an aesthetically beautifully designed facade of the house with a neat cornice, the lining of which will last for many years. This article will help you achieve the maximum attractiveness of the building, which can be achieved by filing the roof with siding in accordance with all the rules.

Roof lining design and materials

Roof overhangs are structural elements of the roof that protrude beyond the outer perimeter of the building. Their main function is to protect the walls and foundation of the house from precipitation. An additional purpose of roof overhangs is to give the roof an aesthetically finished look. Roof filing is an important process that should be given attention so that in the future the roof will serve for a long time and efficiently. In order to correctly hem the roof overhangs, you need to consider many aspects of its functioning. How to make overhangs? What should be the dimensions of the overhang, the distance from the wall? What is the allowed minimum and maximum overhang? This is only a small fraction of the questions that interest people in this area.

Design features

Like the roofing cake itself, the overhangs rest on the rafters, so the latter should be longer than the roof slope. Usually such a difference in length is approximately half a meter, but sometimes the overhangs extend beyond the edge of the walls and for the whole meter. The length of the roof overhang must be accurately measured and correspond to the structural features of the building. It is worth noting that with the help of these structures they protect not only the foundation and walls of the house from moisture, but also directly the frontal part of the roof, if any. If the system of rafters is organized in such a way that its extreme parts are located end-to-end with the gables, then the rafters are forcibly built up with the help of filly bars. The length of such parts is at least half a meter.

Important! The roof overhang is always a continuation of the roof slope, but it can look different. The design of overhangs when designing a house is determined depending on the climate of the region and the general architectural design.

Today, 4 types of overhangs can be most often seen:

  • Hemmed (gable and hip roofs);
  • Not hemmed (single-pitched, gable and hip roofs);
  • Box-shaped (single-pitched, gable and hip roofs);
  • Shortened (suitable for various roof designs).

When the rafters do not go beyond the front walls of the house, the walls are protected from moisture and precipitation from the roof by fixing a special drain board horizontally along the edge of the rafter system. This board will also serve as the basis for installing the gutters. The main disadvantage of such overhangs is the weak protection against flowing moisture of the upper sections of the walls, which is especially important for wooden buildings. Therefore, roof overhangs in wooden houses are never made flush. Here, the minimum protrusion of the entire structure beyond the perimeter of the walls is half a meter. This indicator can be reduced when building houses from monolithic panels or bricks.

Sometimes, when hemming the roof cornice, puffs are used that protrude beyond the walls and serve as a place for inserting rafter legs. Here, the overhang not only gives the roof structure a better look, it also protects the attic space from precipitation from strong winds and drafts. Among other things, due to the presence of a finished cornice, this section of the roof structure will be protected from the penetration of various animals. Another obvious plus is the longer retention of heat by the chimney, and this allows you to save on heating the building.

Open (not hemmed) roof overhangs

Structures of this type are created when the rafter legs are carried out beyond the boundary of the walls of the building, and there is no sheathing in the space between the wall itself and the edge of the rafter. This approach can often be seen in private construction. It is mainly chosen in order to save money and time, but in this case the appearance of the building remains unfinished. Elements of the drainage system are attached to the side surfaces or on top of the rafters.

Sheathed roof eaves

They are also often referred to as protected. These are considered to be overhangs decorated with special decorative sheathing and cornice board. In a sheathing of this kind, when the attic is an isolated room, ventilation holes must be present.

Gable overhangs

Such structures can be located both in the same plane with the pediment of the house, and go beyond it. It is difficult to determine the best option here - everything will depend on the creator's idea. But still, the protruding gable overhangs are necessarily hemmed, and this requires additional time and money.

Materials for sheathing overhangs

There are several eaves hemming materials on the market today, and each one is worth considering.

Wood is the most common finishing material, but it has many nuances when it comes to finishing. For filing overhangs, the best option would be moisture-resistant coniferous wood: spruce, larch, pine. Particular attention should be paid to the level of humidity: a tree that is too dry is likely to crack, and too wet - to deform the structure of the entire roof overhang. If the length and width of the sheathing boards are selected individually, then their thickness is usually 17-22 mm. Boards can be nailed both closely and with some clearance (10-15 mm).

Right before starting the installation, the boards must be treated with a moisture-proofing agent and an antiseptic. Every few years, such a filing of the cornice should be tinted with enamel or wood varnish. This will help preserve the appearance of the facade of the building and create additional protection for the material.

If the overhangs are hemmed with clapboard, you need to make sure that it is not extremely thin. Before using it, it is kept outdoors for a month to balance the moisture level of the wood: in this way, it acquires the same characteristics as the rest of the wooden roofing elements. Overhangs lined with clapboard must be equipped with ventilation grilles. The air inlets are protected with a mesh or grille to prevent entry of birds, bats and other animals.

Galvanized steel

Another common option for hemming the roof eaves is galvanized sheet steel. The thickness of the material should not be more than 0.8 mm. Often, perforated steel and sheets with a wavy relief are used for sheathing overhangs. In this case, the wave height should not exceed 20 mm. Steel is cut with a special tool, after which the cut points are treated with a special composition that protects it from corrosion, or simply painted.

As a material for hemming the roof, aluminum is used only if there is a protective layer. Aluminum sheets for these purposes are produced with a thickness of about 0.6 mm, a width of 10-30 cm, a length of up to 6 m. The aluminum sheathing is attached to the eaves with special latches. Also in the construction markets you can now find many additional accessories that make the appearance of an overhang sheathed in aluminum more aesthetic.

Vinyl panels or soffits

The most practical modern way of hemming the roof eaves can be called PVC sheathing. Vinyl soffits have all the best characteristics of the above materials. They are durable and at the same time do not interfere with the free circulation of air without additional load on the truss system. Visually, this material looks quite good, especially considering its moderate cost. Vinyl siding is resistant to moisture and will last for many years without loss of quality. It does not need to be touched up regularly and is not flammable. Ventilation grills and decorative lighting are easily mounted in these spotlights. Vinyl sheathing can be solid, fully perforated or perforated only in the central part.

Improvement of protective properties and arrangement of ventilation of roof overhangs

If the technology for installing overhangs is violated, unpleasant consequences occur, including deformation of the structure and sagging of the elements of the hemming of the roof overhangs under the influence of moisture and wind - because of this, the entire roof can fail, which will require spending on its repair.

In order for roof overhangs to perform their protection optimally and retain an attractive appearance for a long time, you need to choose only high-quality materials for sheathing and securely install the truss system. To date, the heating system for the edges of the roof with a cable is very popular. Thanks to her, the snow melts without having time to reach the overhangs, thereby protecting them from waterlogging and excessive loads.

The functionality and service life of the entire roofing pie largely depends on the performance of the ventilation system. In the absence of attic ventilation, the rafter system suffers first. Further, moisture can easily penetrate into the insulation and cause damage to the filing of the cornice overhang.

Any roof needs proper organization of air circulation. Typically, air inlets are ventilation grilles in the roof eaves sheathing, and outlets are air vents in the ridge area. Also, one of the main conditions for the correct operation of ventilation is the observance of the gap between the layers of the roof and the sheathing material of the overhangs. Such gaps should be at least 20 mm over the entire length of the overhangs.

Important! According to the currently valid SNiP, optimal ventilation should allow one air flow to pass through the entire attic space twice in one hour.

The gap between the edge of the cladding boards and the building wall is the easiest way to create an air inlet. Plastic gratings of various sizes and shapes, installed directly into the skin, are designed to provide an attractive appearance of the building, but they also cost a lot. Piece parts of tiles can have lattice holes, they are usually mounted in the fifth row, if you count from the edge of the roof slope from below.

When arranging an insulated overhang, it is necessary to make holes in the form of gratings and in the thermal insulation layer, otherwise it will not be possible to organize ventilation. If the attic space is quite large, then ventilation may be a problem. Here you will have to use special equipment that can maintain the required level of ventilation in the under-roof space.

There are a few things to keep in mind about roof overhangs:

  • They give the roof an aesthetically finished look;
  • Overhangs protect the base of the rafters and the space under the roof from waterlogging and the penetration of animals;
  • With their help, the organization of attic ventilation is carried out.

Each stage of hemming the roof eaves must be approached competently. Hemming roof overhangs today is not difficult for a beginner in this business, because on the Internet you can find a lot of information and photos on this process. Properly made roof overhang and its high-quality, according to the norms, filing will provide any roof with reliability and durability.

Hemming of the roof and eaves of the roof eaves according to the norms


Types of roof overhangs and the design of the filing for the roof. Front and side overhangs. Overview of roof sheathing materials and their features.

Roof overhangs

  • 1 Preparatory operations
  • 2 Material selection
  • 3 Arrangement features

The final finishing of the roof structures of buildings, carried out upon completion of the main construction work, involves, as you know, their filing, which ensures normal operating conditions for the structure being built.

We can say that the filing of the roof overhangs is the final touch that gives the entire building under construction as a whole a completely finished and attractive look.

Think ahead about the drainage

At the same time, before starting the finishing of gable roofs, you should provide the following details:

  • the possibility of installing elements of ventilation of the under-roof space;
  • creation of conditions for fixing gutters;
  • the admissibility of using materials of various classes in the manufacture of overhangs.

Preparatory operations

Wind board gable overhang

The need for finishing the overhangs is first taken into account upon completion of the installation of the rafters, or more precisely, before the decking of the sheathing in the region of the lower edge of the roofing.

Already at this stage of work, a number of preparatory operations are carried out, which are as follows:

  • before filing the overhangs, the lower ends of the rafters are set exactly along a line parallel to the wall of the building adjacent to the place of work;
  • the ends of the rafters are sawn off strictly vertically, and their end part is finished in the same way as the filing;
  • to give the roof additional rigor, when finishing it, blanks of the same width are used, which are maintained throughout the closed space.

In addition, after sawing off the rafters according to a single measure, it will be necessary to stuff the lowest (extreme) board on them, thereby marking the border of the overhang.

Material selection

Decking

Among the building materials most often used for overhang sheathing, the following types are most widely used:

  • corrugated board (galvanized steel with polymer coating);
  • spotlights or modern plastic panels purposefully used for filing overhangs;
  • ordinary wooden lining or PVC lining;
  • well planed edged board.

When using galvanized steel, the sheathing turns out to be quite rigid, which will protect the under-roof spaces from strong wind loads.

Soffits

The so-called soffits are among the most popular materials used in roofing. In their appearance, they look like somewhat thickened siding panels with special perforations that provide ventilation for free spaces under the roof (attic space).

The lining used for filing overhangs must be made of high-quality wood, which ensures the resistance of the finish to wind and precipitation. It should be said that some users prefer to sheathe overhangs with PVC clapboard, which is highly resistant to moisture.

Overhangs are hemmed with a planed edged board with a small gap (about 1-1.5 cm). The advantage of its use as a sheathing material is the possibility of air penetration under the roof, and, as a result, uniform ventilation of the entire space under it.

Arrangement features

Types of roof overhangs

As a rule, the direct sheathing of the overhangs is started immediately after the installation of the roofing system is completed. Moreover, their finishing can be done in the following ways:

  1. The arrangement of the filing can be carried out directly along the roof rafters, which is quite acceptable for roofs with a slight slope. This hemming method assumes perfect alignment of the bottom cut of the rafters, since the hemming of the overhang will begin from this line. During the installation process, the first and last strips of the finishing material are first installed, after which a thread is pulled between them. After that, all other workpieces are mounted along the line of the stretched thread. Note that when passing the corners formed at the junction of two slopes, the elements of the filing are fixed on the corner rafter leg from both sides.
  2. The second finishing option involves the vertical trimming of all rafter legs, followed by stuffing an edged board on their end, which sets the outer boundary of the overhang. Additionally, a beam of a suitable section is attached to the wall, located just above the level of the end board and used to fasten the overhang elements.

Regardless of the overhang design option you choose, its installation on the gable sections of the roof is carried out according to the first scheme. At the same time, first, the crate ends are aligned along the gable of the wall with a “reach” to the width of the overhang, after which end boards are nailed to them, which, along with the rafters, determine the total thickness of the structure.

Roof eaves filing - instructions for filing eaves


Learn about the technology of filing roof overhangs. Read detailed instructions on how to hem overhangs with various materials.

Finishing the roof cornice is the last stage of the roof installation. The edges are sewn around the perimeter of the facade, this is necessary to protect the edge from seasonal precipitation and strong winds. How to do it yourself?

Roof with roofing and eaves

Installation of cornices (overhangs)

Overhangs are the lower edge of the roof of the house, which protrudes beyond the level of the facade. Such a removal is necessary to protect the pediment and other walls from precipitation. The overhang can be different, narrow or wide, - from 40 cm to 1 m. In principle, it is not necessary to hem this part of the roof, but the absence of a hem can lead to some troubles.
For example, too strong a wind can tear the roof off the roof, so you have to spend money on repairs. And the appearance of the inside of the roof, visible from the side of the house, leaves much to be desired - bare rafters and insulation do not look very nice and are unlikely to be in harmony with the overall finish. This home looks unfinished. Hemming the roof with siding, plywood, metal sheets, etc. will avoid such troubles. According to the rules, the finishing of the overhangs occurs only after the complete installation of the roof and the finishing of the facade.

The difference between the overhang from the side of the gable and the overhang

Overhangs are divided into eaves and gables. The first option is horizontal, this is the very bottom of the slopes, and the pediment is their side part.

Features of the cornice overhang

This part of the roof prevents cold and humid air from entering the attic if the roof is built according to the attic type. If it is attic, then the air circulates from the overhang to the roof ridge - this is natural ventilation.


Roof finish scheme

An overhang clogged with boards will interfere with ventilation, but if the roof is not hemmed at all, then mice, birds or insects will start under the roof. Wooden rafters must be covered with a protective layer of paint so that water cannot damage them.

Important: in order not to disturb the ventilation, it is necessary to hem the cornices loosely, but to make ventilation gaps.

How can ventilation be done?

  1. Leave a gap between the walls and the inner filing of the overhang. If the cornice is trimmed with corrugated board, then the gap is made no more than 1.2 cm, but if the cornice is made of siding, then up to 1.5 cm.
  2. For metal sheets and lining, ventilation grilles are installed.
  3. In plank overhangs, small gaps are left between the boards - 0.5-1 cm.
  4. Finishing the overhangs of the house with soffit strips, you can use perforated panels for ventilation.

For good ventilation, it is worth considering the correct size of the gaps, they must be at least 1/500 of the ventilated area. Bituminous and seam roofing requires wider gaps than tiled roofing.
To prevent insects, leaves, dirt and small birds from penetrating under the roof, ventilation holes must be closed with gratings or mesh, the choice of material depends on the width and type of holes.


Covered vents keep snow out

Features of gable overhangs

This is the lateral part of the slope, protruding directly above the gable wall. In this case, ventilation is not required, only protection from water and wind. If this part of the slopes is not sheathed, then the wind can bring water under the roof, which will cause the insulation to get wet and deteriorate, ceasing to perform its functions.

Important: when finishing the roof from the side of the facade, first of all, you need to take care of tightness.

Finishing nuances

Overhangs from the side of the facade of the house and side walls have unprotected elements. At the cornices, these are the ends of the rafters, and at the gable - the end side of the crate. They need not only to give an aesthetic appearance, but also to protect from the adverse effects of the environment - wind and precipitation. Among other things, a drain is needed, which is installed along the side overhangs. In fact, the finish of the end of the overhang is the sheathing of the edge of the roof. The material for filing largely depends on what the roof is made of, this also determines the method of installation. Often, complete with roofing, a ready-made set for sheathing overhangs is supplied.


Proper roof finish

Before flashing the edge of the roof, it is important to evenly cut off all the rafters protruding from under the roof. To do this evenly, you need to put marks with a pencil at an equal distance from the wall. After that, the ends of the rafters are combined with each other with a special strapping board, on which, in turn, the frontal board is nailed, most often the material for it is metal. Metal plank often goes along with ceramic or metal roofing.

This part can be wooden, but then it must be coated with paint or protective varnish. Frontal boards are also designed for installation of gutters.
The body kit from the side of the pediment is processed somewhat differently. First of all, it is necessary to cut off the battens sticking out from under the roof strictly parallel to the wall. The end board, regardless of the material, is nailed directly to the crate or to the ridge. The end side of the board is covered with a roof along the entire length.

Types of cornice filing

Despite the fact that overhangs can be finished using a variety of materials, the finishing technologies themselves do not differ in variety - there are only two of them. When choosing a binder, consider the colors and texture of the roof and the design of the facade finish.

  • rafter method


Roof truss scheme

Such finishing of overhangs is very simple, the most important condition is the trimmed ends of the rafters. This method is suitable for small roofs set at a slope of up to 30 degrees, in such cases the take-out does not exceed 0.5 m. The slats for filing are nailed strictly along the plank sheathing, they can be fixed parallel to the wall along the cornices or perpendicularly.

  • Horizontal way

This is the best option for finishing if the roof is not flat, but rather very steep. At the same time, the horizontal method is very fast and most economical - less material is needed. Before work, it is important to construct a box of bars, attached to both the walls and the rafters. Sheathing boards are nailed in the direction from the corners of the roof itself to the corners of the walls. If the length of the wooden overhang exceeds 45 cm, the cutting is carried out perpendicular to the walls. Also, such large overhangs will require additional longitudinal bars for reinforcement.
The overhang from the side of the facade of the house is finished only along the crate. You can hem the overhang in any way. Before sheathing, boards or beams are nailed to the crate, and planks are attached to them along the pediment longitudinally or perpendicularly.

How to hem a roof

The choice of material depends on the overall style of the house. The color and material of the cladding should be in harmony with the walls and roof. The wooden facade and plastic roof lining will look, to put it mildly, very strange.


Roof sheathing materials

Finishing overhangs with wooden boards

It is best to choose pine or other coniferous trees for this purpose, the width of the boards varies from 5 to 25 cm, and the thickness is from 1.7 to 2.2 cm. The boards must be covered with a protective layer of varnish or paint before nailing them to the overhang . The boards cannot be used immediately, they must lie down for about 30 days, sheltered from the rain, in the open air, so as not to crack from dryness or warp from moisture. The tree must "get used" to the environmental conditions.
When sheathing a wooden overhang, it is necessary to leave gaps of 1-1.5 cm between the boards for ventilation. On the wide cornices of the house, the boards are nailed in three places; for narrow ones, it is enough to hammer in nails only from two sides. With longitudinal installation, the boards are fixed every meter.
Natural shades of wood are suitable for any colors of the roof and facade.

clapboard

These wooden planks have one advantage over boards - they do not need to be further processed, because they are already produced with a protective coating. For this reason, lining is incredibly popular. For the final finishing of roofs, it is better to take material with moisture-resistant impregnation.


Sheathing cornices clapboard

As in the case of simple boards, the lining should rest for 30 days in the air before mounting it. The panels are fastened exactly according to the same principles as the boards, except that there is no need for gaps - they are replaced by ventilation grilles installed every 1.5 meters.

metal sheets

Most often, steel, aluminum and copper are used for sheathing the roof of a house. Finished sheets are produced up to 6 m in length and 0.6-0.8 in thickness. Steel sheets require additional anti-corrosion treatment, unlike aluminum or copper. The role of ventilation is performed either by ready-made gratings installed at the required distance, or by perforated metal pieces. The disadvantage of metal sheets is that you need a special tool to cut them.

Plywood and OSB boards

To finish the roofs, only waterproof grades of plywood are needed. The plates are mounted in large pieces, so the deal will take very little time. Plywood is attached to a pre-made wooden box made of bars. The role of ventilation is played by ready-made gratings embedded in plywood or OSB. Since these materials look rather unsightly without processing, they must be painted to match the walls of the facade or roof.


Roof sheathing with sheets of waterproof plywood

Soffit finish

Soffits are strips that are produced specifically for sheathing cornices. The material can be different - PVC or metal. Sheathing with soffit looks quite aesthetically pleasing, the slats are available in different colors and with different textures, so they will suit the exterior decoration of any home.
What is included:

  • spotlights;
  • chamfers;
  • profiles with grooves for installing strips;
  • finishing strips.

Soffits are available for the pediment - double, triple and solid. For cornices, a special perforated version of this finishing material is provided.
Soffits are easy to install, so you can easily handle overhangs with your own hands without resorting to the help of professionals. Planks are cut to the width of the overhang and fastened to profiles pre-installed on a wooden grate.

How to sheathe an overhang with spotlights

Methods for mounting the slats differ depending on the material from which the slats are made, the manufacturer's company and the fasteners. For the reasons listed above, do not ignore the instructions. In the above example, the principle of roof sheathing with vinyl strips is considered.
Soffits are most often installed horizontally, but sometimes they are attached along the rafters perpendicular to the wall. Before mounting the strips, a grate is necessarily made, it is on it that the profiles and the spotlights themselves are attached.


Soffit finishing scheme

Work procedure:

  1. First of all, mark the J-profiles along the length of the overhang.
  2. Cut the profiles according to the marks with the help of a grinder - this will speed things up, and the cuts themselves will be even.
  3. Fasten the profiles to the wooden grating with self-tapping screws.
  4. To properly cut soffit strips, measure the distance between the two nearest profiles and mark.
  5. The plank is first brought into the overhang near the wall and only then into the eaves. Soffits are attached with self-tapping screws directly to the bars of the lattice.
  6. When using a J-bevel, the frontal part of the eaves is also finished with soffit strips.

Roofing work is quite simple. In order for everything to work out correctly, it is necessary to choose a material that is suitable not only for the tone of the pediment and roof, but also corresponding to climatic conditions.

Roof overhangs are filed for several reasons. One of the main ones is an aesthetic appearance, since the absence of spotlights gives the overall picture some incompleteness, and therefore the design is not accurate enough.

Manufacturers of modern building materials have taken care to make the process of arranging this section of the roof as easy as possible. If earlier various improvised materials were used to close the lower space of the overhangs, such as moisture resistant plywood, cutting boards, siding or lining, today on sale you can find special profiled sheets of certain sizes, as well as the necessary fittings for them. Due to the ease of installation of such parts, even a not very experienced craftsman who knows how to work with the simplest construction tools can install them. All you need is a screwdriver, an electric jigsaw or metal shears, depending on the material used to make the spotlights.

Naturally, when performing this type of work, it is necessary to observe appropriate precautions, since the main process will take place at a height.

Find out how to do it for working at height from a new article on our portal.

Types of spotlights and their design

The word "soffit" is translated from Italian (" sofitto”) as “ceiling”. These parts are panels made of metal, wood or plastic, and are intended for filing eaves and gable roof overhangs, as well as other horizontal surfaces. In terms of their functions, they can be compared with such popular materials today as siding or lining. However, these panels have a number of differences that take into account the scope of their application. And one of them is their width, which can even reach up to 800 mm.

Soffits are divided into types according to various criteria:

- according to the design features;

- according to the material of manufacture;

- by area of ​​application.

Design features of soffit panels

According to their constructive structure, spotlights are of three types - they are perforated, partially perforated and completely closed.


  • Perforated the variant is a panel that is evenly covered with small through holes over its entire surface. This type of material is intended for filing horizontal surfaces of overhangs that do not fall under the direct action of atmospheric precipitation. Perforation is able to provide effective ventilation not only for the overhangs themselves, but also for the entire under-roof space of the roof structure. A constant air exchange must be provided here. This is necessary to prevent the accumulation of condensate, dampness, and as a result, the onset of putrefactive processes on the wood and the appearance of mold or fungus.

Perforated panels perfectly protect the space under the overhangs from the penetration of birds and insects (for example, wasps) into these cavities under the roof, since the holes have a very small diameter.


  • Partially perforated panels have ventilation holes not over the entire surface, but only on one or two sections of the profiled sheet. Thanks to such hemmed materials, it becomes possible to adjust the air exchange in a peculiar way. Partially perforated soffit panels are used for filing the external horizontal surfaces of the house, as well as the ceilings of terraces, gazebos, verandas or porches. Therefore, this type of material can be called universal.

  • Non-perforated the panel variant does not have holes on its surface, and is intended for sheathing areas that, with a high degree of probability, can be directly exposed to precipitation. Such areas may include overhangs on the gable part of the roof, as well as vertical walls along the eaves. In addition, soffits without perforation can be used for facing the vertical part of the gable.

Everything except wooden homemade soffit panels , asplastic, and metal, have special locks with which they are fixed on the overhang and connect with each other. After the spotlights are docked and fixed oncrate overhang, locks it is seen will not.

Prices for soffit panels

soffit panels


Standard sizes of vinyl and metal soffit profiled panels can vary in width from 300 to 800 mm, and their length usually is 3050 mm.

If the work on filing will be done independently, then it must be taken into account that the wider the panel is selected, the faster the installation can be carried out soffits in place.

Varieties of spotlights according to the material of manufacture

According to the material of manufacture, as mentioned above, finished spotlights can be divided into plastic and metal (steel, aluminum and copper) options. Sometimes natural wood is also used. To determine the choice of soffit panels according to the material of manufacture, it is worth considering their characteristics in more detail.

Plastic (vinyl) panels

Plastic spotlights are made from the same composition of material as for finishing facade walls.


The service life of such plastic in outdoor conditions declared by the manufacturer is 30 years or more, which, you see, is very long. It is easy to look after it - it is enough to periodically clean it from dust. The material does not require dyeing, as it has a constant color - the dye is introduced into the vinyl structure at the stage of production of the plastic itself. In specialized stores, a wide range of panel colors is presented, which allows you to choose the one that will be in harmony with the shades of the facade color and the color of the roof. The panels are sold in packs of 16÷22 pcs.

The group of metal spotlights includes panels made of aluminum, steel and copper. However, the most popular of the metal panels are steel as the most affordable. The second place is occupied by aluminum, and after it comes copper, but not because of low quality, but because of the high cost.

Each of the metal options has its own drawbacks.

It has already been said that the most affordable of metal panels are steel spotlights, which have an enamel protective and decorative coating. After cutting the parts for filing, the cut edges require processing, otherwise, with the inevitable exposure to moisture, they will become centers of the appearance and further development of corrosion.

Aluminum can also be damaged by oxygen corrosion, and to prevent this from happening, its cut must also be treated with a special compound.

Copper, although it has the highest cost, is also subject to oxidation. Therefore, the material for these products is often subjected to an oxidation process. True, the oxidation of copper does not lead to a violation of the structure. Therefore, such products are often considered as not having any limited shelf life.

Prices for plastic panel panels

plastic panels


Copper panels are becoming more expensive due to the fact that they are usually purchased with a drainage system made from the same material.

The positive characteristics of metal soffits include the following qualities:

  • A wide range of colors for steel and aluminum soffits.
  • A very presentable appearance of the copper version of the sheathing of the cornice overhangs, especially if it comes in combination with a copper roof.
  • With appropriate processing of cuts, the material becomes resistant to atmospheric aggressive influences.
  • Complete inertness to the occurrence of fungus, mold, moss, to biological decomposition.
  • material strength and quite high resistance to mechanical damage.
  • Inert to ultraviolet radiation and temperature extremes.
  • The operating temperature range lies in very wide limits - from - 60 to +100 degrees.
  • The material is environmentally friendly, does not emit toxic fumes.
  • The relatively low weight of the materials facilitates installation work. In addition, due to this quality of the material, it can be used on old buildings. Such decorative sheathing slightly increases the load on the supporting structure.
  • Easy care for the created design.
  • Long service life, which should be at least 30 years for steel and aluminum. They have already said about copper - there are no special restrictions on the duration of operation.

Wooden spotlights

Quite often on wooden and stone buildings you can see overhangs hemmed with boards or wooden planks. Home craftsmen most often make such spotlights on their own. Another option is to order them in carpentry workshops.


However, when choosing this material for filing overhangs, do not forget about the need for ventilation. To ensure it, gaps are often left between the wooden planks, and so that insects cannot settle in the under-roof space, a metal mosquito net is fixed to the overhangs before fixing the narrow boards.

Planks of wooden spotlights can be fixed along the cornice or perpendicular to it. Their location depends on the choice of the owner of the house, the overall design of the facade and the width of the roof overhang.

Additional structural elements of the filing of cornice overhangs

When installing soffit panels, additional profile elements will be required, which play not only a functional, but also a decorative role. For soffits, fittings from the kit used when facing walls and other surfaces with siding or plastic clapboard are used.

  • To frame and fix the edges of the panels, a J-profile is fixed on the crate of the plumb lines, which can have different widths, depending on the model of the kit.

Siding prices


  • A finishing strip is used to decorate the upper edges of the panels fixed to the windboard. It is the final element of the design. This element is fixed along the upper edge of the wind board and the edge of the panel is hidden in it.

  • The H-profile is necessary for joining individual panels in places where it is impossible to use locks located along the edges of the spotlights. For example, you can’t do without it when decorating the corner zones of cornice overhangs.

The use of the H-profile simplifies the diagonal mounting of the panels and masks their unevenly cut edges. In addition, the H-profile must be installed between the panels in cases where the eaves overhang has a length of more than 8000 mm. The connecting element will give rigidity to the structure and make it more reliable.

  • To install soffit panels on the wall of the building, not only J-profile is used, but also F-profile. It is convenient in that it fixes the panel not only from below, but also from its upper part. In this profile, fixed along the line of the wall, the panels slide in and are firmly held in one position.

  • The profile, called the outer or outer corner, is usually mounted at the junction of the lower edge of the wind board and the overhang crate, into it installed windboard cladding panels and overhang soffits.

In addition, the outer corner can be used in other cladding areas where two panels need to be joined at the corner line.

  • Inner corner - this profile will be necessary if the house has an L-shaped or U-shaped layout in plan, and also if the porch, veranda or terrace of the house protrudes beyond the main building.

The inner corner is also suitable for joining soffit panels and siding boards or lining used for wall cladding along the wall.


J-bevel - great for cladding the front board, at the same time creating conditions for attaching soffit panels
  • J-bevel is a wide profile, the bottom edge of which is S-shaped. It is designed to install the front edge of the soffit panel into it. This profile element can be used when installing spotlights if there is a wind (frontal) board in the overhang structure. When choosing the size of this profile, it is necessary to focus on the width of the windboard.

An example of using a similar J-bevel is well shown in one of the illustrations above.

Additional fittings for mounting spotlights are selected depending on the design that the eaves overhang lining will have. Sometimes different profiles can be interchanged. For example, instead of an internal corner, two J-profiles are installed, turned in different directions. However, it is best to use the profile element that is directly intended for a particular area of ​​joining or framing panels.

In order not to miss any of the elements for mounting the structure when purchasing material, it is recommended to draw up a diagram in advance and measure the length and width of the surfaces of the overhangs and the windboard. In a hardware store, according to the drawn up scheme, the sales assistant will help you decide on the choice of sizes and shapes of profiles, as well as their length and quantity.

Soffit panel mounting options

How the soffit will be installed depends on the width of the overhang, that is, on the distance that has formed from the wall to the end of the rafter (or filly), and also, often, on the height of the latter.

  • If the width of the overhang is less than 400 mm, then the soffit panel can be installed in profiles fixed horizontally on the wall of the house and at the ends. In this case, additional crates are not even required.

  • If the width of the overhang is more than 400 mm, but less than 500 mm, then along the entire perimeter of the overhang, a bypass rail or beam is fixed to the ends of the rafters, to which J is fixed - a profile into which the edges of the soffit panels will be installed. Such a strapping will strengthen the overhang and become a place for additional fastening for spotlights. That is, the step of their fixation will be less, which means that they will hold on more securely.
  • If the overhang has a width exceeding 500 mm, then it is necessary to mount a crate under the soffit panels. To do this, bars are fixed on the wall, as well as on the edges of the rafters, and then between them, along the entire length of the overhang, resulting in a reliable basis for the panels. Guide profiles are fixed on the bars fixed along the edge of the rafters and on the wall - which one to choose is determined in advance. In these profiles, soffit panels will be installed and fixed. It turns out that each of the panels will be fixed at six points.

  • If the wind board has a small width, then one long, but narrow one, which is installed along the roof overhang, can be used for its sheathing. If the frontal board has a width of more than 150 mm, then the panels are recommended to be fixed vertically. Regardless of how the panels will be installed, before installing them, it is necessary to fix the corresponding profiles under the roofing material, as well as along the edge of the rafters.
  • Here it is worth considering the design of the corner zones of the plumb line. They can be sheathed at an oblique or right angle, as shown in the figure.

Soffit connectors at roof corners:

a) an oblique angle;

b) right angle;

1 - external receiving cornice profile - J-profile or J-chamfer

2 - soffit panel;

3 - two J - profiles installed "back to back", or one H-profile;

4 - wall profile: it can be F-profile or J-profile;

5 - J-profile, as an additional supporting element, mounted when forming the filing at a right angle.

Sewing cornice overhangs with soffits - do it yourself

Assembly tools

To carry out installation work on filing cornice overhangs, it is necessary to prepare the following tools:

  • Building level.
  • Roulette, ruler, construction square.
  • Miter box.
  • Hammer and
  • "Bulgarian" and (or) metal scissors for metal panels. It is still recommended to use scissors, since when cutting sheet metal with an abrasive disc, the edges of the panel, due to overheating, lose their protective coating, and corrosion centers cannot be ruled out in these areas.
  • Hacksaw for wood with fine teeth for plastic and wooden spotlights.
  • Sharp construction knife.

Having these tools at hand, and knowing how to use them during the installation process, you can easily cope with the task of filing spotlights.

Installation procedure

By themselves, the installation of soffit panels is not particularly difficult. The problem may, however, be the fact that the main operations will have to be carried out at a height.


Therefore, professional builders, before proceeding with the installation of the drain and sheathing of the roof overhangs, install scaffolding along the entire length of the slope. This is rather complicated construction, but allowing you to move around calmly and do all the work alone.

If it is not possible to use the scaffolding, and you will have to work from the stairs, then you will need two of them, and you will also have to invite an assistant.

So, work on arranging the spotlights begins after the flooring is completed. The first step is to measure the overhang area: you will need to find out its width, length and width of the wind board on both sides of the roof. If it is planned to cover the gable overhangs or even the entire gable, then the dimensions are also taken from it.

IllustrationBrief description of the operations performed
According to the measurements taken, a scheme is drawn up for filing the overhangs, indicating the dimensions and locations of specific profile elements. In addition, it is immediately necessary to determine the elements of the crate.
Above it was told about the standard schemes of the wooden base for the installation of spotlights. However, some craftsmen, for the purpose of higher reliability, prefer to reinforce the crate with additional bars. These elements are also included in the scheme, and then in the estimate.
The overhang filing scheme may look like the one shown in the figure, but it would be additionally useful to mark on it the dimensions of the length and width of the sheathed area.
Having a scheme for the execution of work, it will be easy to plan the purchase of materials and accurately calculate the costs.
Having purchased everything you need, you can proceed directly to the execution of work.
And the first step in this process is fixing the crate.
The most common way to arrange the crate, even if the overhang has a width of 400 mm, is to form a frame from three longitudinal bars. One of them is fixed to the wall with dowels or other fasteners at the level of the lower edges of the rafters, and the second is fixed to the lower ends of the rafter legs with self-tapping screws.
The average guide of the crate in different versions can be attached in different ways.
For example, if the length of the slope is small, then the timber fixed in the middle part of the structure can be fixed only along the edges of the cornice overhang.
If the length of the slope is more than two meters, then the middle beam must be fixed not only along the edges of the slope, but also in addition to the rafter legs, by installing sections of the beam between them.
At the corners of the roof it is necessary to make a reinforced crate.
In this case, of course, it takes into account how the soffit panels will be joined - by direct or oblique connection.
If the second option is chosen, then it will be necessary to fix the beam from the corner of the house to the outer corner of the overhang. An H-profile will be fixed to this frame element.
It is much easier to equip the crate for spotlights, which will be fixed parallel to the rafters.
In this case, two or three beams, depending on the width of the overhang, are fixed directly to the rafter legs (or to their continuation - filly).
A J-profile (starting profile) is fixed to the lathing beam, fixed along the wall, with self-tapping screws. Fastening is carried out with a step of self-tapping screws of 150 mm.
Here it is necessary to take into account that if the walls are sheathed with clapboard or siding, then instead of the J-profile, an inner corner bar is installed.
Instead of a J-profile, an F-profile can also be installed, which will more securely fix the panel in the required position.
A J-profile can also be installed on the front side of the frame. However, to make the task easier, you can immediately install a J-bevel instead, which will close the windboard and become a support for the front side of the soffit panels. If this element is selected for installation, then first a finishing profile is installed along the top line of the windboard, which will hold the J-bevel panel.
The illustration shows the installation of these parts on the elements of the crate and the windboard. On it you can see:
1. Finish profile.
2. J-bevel.
3. Wind board (prichelina).
4. Wooden frame element.
The installation of all these parts is carried out using self-tapping screws, which are screwed approximately into the middle of the longitudinal holes and are not tightened to the stop.
It is recommended to choose stainless fasteners that will last longer and will not leave rust stains on fittings and soffit panels.
The next step is cutting the panels according to the dimensions of the overhang width taken in advance.
Metal soffits are cut with metal shears. The illustration shows cutting using a grinder, but we have already mentioned the undesirability of this approach when using steel spotlights above.
Vinyl panels can be easily cut with a fine-toothed hacksaw.
When cutting panels, it must be taken into account that the panels must be 6÷7 mm less than the full width of the overhang, that is, the so-called technological gap must be observed. Such a value is necessary if the panels are not pushed into the profiles from their end side, but are inserted first into one, fixed along the wall, and then into the J-chamfer. In addition, this gap will allow the material to expand as the ambient temperature changes. It should be noted that each of the materials has its own temperature gap, which is indicated by the manufacturer in the soffit installation instructions.
The edges of the cut metal spotlights must be immediately treated with anti-corrosion compounds, otherwise corrosion will begin to destroy the panels over time, and they themselves will take on an unsightly appearance from rust streaks.
Next, you can proceed to install the spotlights in the profiles prepared for them.
If J-chamfer is selected for installation, then the soffit panels slide into the gaps of the profiles.
Each of the retracted panels is screwed to the wooden crate through special longitudinal holes. The next installed panel is inserted into the locking part of the previous one, that is, it covers the edge with holes through which the first one is fixed to the crate.
So the installation continues to the corner of the overhang.
If it is more convenient to install and fix the spotlights on the crate into the profiles, inserting them first into the guide fixed on the wall, and then into the front one, then this process must be carried out very carefully, since the edges of the profiles can be easily damaged.
This installation method is more suitable for vinyl panels, as they are more flexible and easily return to their original shape after a slight bend.
After installing the first panel, it is immediately screwed to the crate in two or three places, depending on its width.
The next panel is hooked to the first one by the bent edge of the locking part and closes the chamfer with fasteners.
If the overhang does not turn to the other side of the house, then for its side part, parts are cut out from a solid (without perforation) soffit or siding panel, which are fixed on the end part of the crate. These parts can be mounted vertically or horizontally, but in such a way that rainwater cannot penetrate under them at the junctions.
The illustration shows only the crate for installing such a "plug".
If for the design of the corner zone of the overhang the method of direct fastening of the panels is chosen, then the overhang of one of the sides of the roof is hemmed in the usual way, and on the second side the panels are fixed with a profile pattern perpendicular to the panels of the other side of the overhang.
If, as shown in the illustration, the overhang has a complex shape, then the spotlights are fixed on it, according to the installed crate, the design of which will have to be thought further, based on specific conditions.
If you want to form a sheathing on the so-called "oblique corner" or "herringbone", it is necessary to provide a beam in the frame crate, which is installed in the corner part from the wall to the outer edge of the overhang.
In the future, an H-profile will be fixed to this element, into which panels cut at an angle of 45 degrees will be installed, forming a right angle of the overhang.
The gable overhang is much easier to deal with, as it usually has a small width, and two types of profile can be used to frame its edges - this is a J-profile and an F-profile.
An internal corner profile is often used to join panels under the ridge.
If the gable side of the roof is sheathed with clapboard, then one profile can be used for it and soffits - this is an internal corner fixed along the line of intersection of the slopes and the gable wall.
A soffit panel is inserted into one side of this profile, and lining or siding into the other.

Common errors when filing roof overhangs with soffits

To make the overhang look neat, it is necessary to follow the sequence of the installation process. Even a slight deviation or simplification can backfire.

Prices for lining

  • Do not neglect additional elements in the frame crate, as well as save on fasteners. A strong wind that has risen can easily spoil the whole work, tearing off and breaking the soffit panels if they are not fixed securely enough. As a result, money and time will be wasted, and the same work will have to be done again, impoverishing the family budget for additional waste.
  • Soffit filing is carried out after the walls are lined with clapboard or siding, and gutters are installed.
  • It is recommended to fasten all parts of the soffit construction only with stainless fasteners. Otherwise, after a very short time, the initially neat appearance of the finish will be radically spoiled by rust spots.
  • Soffit panels made of any material during installation require compliance with the technological gap, since when the temperature rises and the material expands, it can be deformed. The lining in such cases begins to warp, and it has to be dismantled in order to redo it later.

Adhering to all the rules and recommendations for the installation work, as well as strictly observing the necessary safety measures, it is quite possible to file the cornice overhangs with spotlights on your own, without resorting to the services of craftsmen and saving a very decent amount.

You can familiarize yourself with some additional nuances of filing overhangs with spotlights by watching the video recommended for attention:

Video: the process of installing spotlights on roof overhangs