The Importance of Having Quality Gutters, Soffits & Facia
Gutters, soffits, and fascia work together as your home’s first line of defense against water damage and structural deterioration. But effective protection isn’t about using the same system on every home, it’s about understanding how your roof sheds water, where ice builds up, and how.
South Central Wisconsin Roofing designs custom solutions based on your home’s architecture and exposure. Our team’s experience shows us that proper installation matters as much as quality materials. We build gutter systems and install soffits and fascia to withstand water damage, ice dams, heat stress, and storm damage specific to how your home sits and how weather hits it.
How Gutters, Soffits, & Facia Work Together
An Integrated System
Gutters, soffits, and fascia work as an integrated system, not independent parts. When one component fails, the others follow, which is why we assess and address all three together to protect your home effectively.
- Gutters remove water from the roof surface before it can cause damage.
- Fascia provides the structural anchor that keeps gutters in place while sealing the vulnerable roof edge from moisture intrusion.
- Soffits maintain the airflow that keeps your roof deck dry and prevents the heat and moisture buildup that shortens roof lifespan.
Water Management UsingGutters
Gutters collect water from your roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation. Without them, hundreds of gallons of water pour directly off your roof during storms and snowmelt, saturating the ground around your foundation. Properly sized and installed gutters channel this water through downspouts to discharge points that protect your foundation and preserve your property.
Damage that can occur from a poor gutter system:
- Basement flooding
- Foundation cracks
- Soil erosion
- Water damage to siding and landscaping
Ventilhation & Barrier Using Soffits
Soffits cover the underside of your roof’s overhang, creating a finished appearance while serving critical functions. They provide ventilation year round, preventing heat build-up in the summer and moisture accumulation year round. Soffits also close off access points where pests would otherwise enter your attic.
Without quality soffits your home is at risk of –
- Excessive moisture that causes rot
- Invite invasive pests into your home including insects, mice, rats, bats, and birds
- Water and heat damage damage from improper or aging materials, seals, and elemental exposure
Support & Seal With Facia
The fascia board runs horizontally along the edge of your roofline, covering the ends of your roof rafters. It serves as the mounting surface for your gutter system, without solid fascia, gutters can’t be securely attached.
Fascia does more than hold gutters: it seals the edge of your roof, preventing wind-driven rain and moisture from reaching the roof deck and rafter ends. When fascia deteriorates from water exposure or ice damage, it compromises both your gutter system’s stability and your roof’s weather barrier.
Get a Custom Built Soffit, Facia, and Gutter System for Your Home
Custom Gutter, Soffits, & Facia Design
- Custom gutter, facia, and soffit designs
- Experienced designs and installations
- High-performance materials
- Reduce energy consumption with proper ventilation
Quality Builds & Superior Protection
- High performance designs built around your home's shapes and structures
- Effective designs that aide in preventing water, ice, heat, and humidity damage
- Proper installation using quality materials
Extend the Life of Your Home
- Attic temperature regulation helps to decrease damage to shingles
- Ice damn prevention in eaves and underneath shingles.
- Lower moisture levels that cause rot and damages insulation
- Paint and trim last longer with proper ventilation and waterproofing
What to Expect on Install Day
Crew arrival and protection setup.
Remove existing soffits, facia, and gutters.
Inspect existing framing for proper installation of new soffits, facia and gutters.
Install soffits, facia, and gutters, while performing continuous metal sweeps for nails and other metal debris.
Final walkthrough by field manager.
Spotless property cleanup.
Gutters, Soffits, & Facia FAQ
How often should gutters be cleaned?
In South Central Wisconsin, gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, once in late spring after trees finish dropping seeds and debris, and again in late fall after leaves have fallen. If you have trees overhanging your roof, you may need more frequent cleaning. Clogged gutters overflow during rain and snowmelt, causing water damage to fascia, siding, and foundations. Regular cleaning prevents buildup that leads to ice dams in winter and keeps your drainage system functioning properly.
What are the signs that fascia needs to be replaced?
Look for visible rot, soft spots when you press on the board, peeling paint that won’t stay on, or fascia pulling away from the roofline. You might also notice gutters sagging or detaching, which often means the fascia they’re mounted to has deteriorated. Water stains, discoloration, or signs of pest damage like holes or nesting activity indicate fascia problems. Catching fascia damage early prevents more expensive repairs to roof decking and rafters.
Can I install gutters without replacing the fascia?
It depends on the condition of your existing fascia. If the fascia is solid, dry, and structurally sound, new gutters can be mounted to it. However, if there’s any rot, water damage, or deterioration, installing gutters on compromised fascia is a waste of money, the gutters won’t stay secure, and the damaged fascia will continue to worsen. We inspect fascia condition before any gutter installation to ensure you’re not mounting new components to failing structure.
What are vented and non-vented soffits?
Vented soffits have perforations or slots that allow air to flow into your attic space, creating ventilation that prevents heat and moisture buildup. Non-vented soffits are solid and don’t provide airflow. Most homes need vented soffits to maintain proper attic ventilation, which extends roof life and prevents ice dams. Non-vented soffits are only appropriate in specific situations, such as enclosed porch overhangs or areas where attic ventilation comes from elsewhere. Proper ventilation requirements depend on your home’s design and roof structure.
How do I know if my soffits are properly ventilated?
Signs of poor soffit ventilation include ice dams forming at your roof edges in winter, excessive heat in your attic during summer, moisture or frost buildup in the attic, premature shingle deterioration, or higher-than-expected cooling costs. You can also check physically, vented soffits should have visible perforations, and you should feel airflow when standing beneath them on a breezy day. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, an inspection can determine whether inadequate soffit ventilation is contributing to the problem.
Do You Provide Material Samples?
Most residential homes use 5-inch gutters, but homes with steep roofs, large roof areas, or heavy water runoff may need 6-inch gutters to handle the volume. The right size depends on your roof’s square footage, pitch, and how water concentrates as it drains. Undersized gutters overflow during heavy rain, defeating their purpose. Our team calculates the proper gutter size based on your specific roof configuration and Wisconsin’s rainfall patterns to ensure your system can handle peak flow without overflowing.
Should I repair or replace damaged gutters?
If damage is isolated to one section, such as a dented area from a falling branch or a single leaking seam, repair is often cost-effective. However, if your gutters are sagging in multiple areas, have widespread rust or corrosion, show leaks at several points, or are more than 20 years old, replacement makes more sense. Piecemeal repairs on failing gutters become expensive over time, and old gutters often have hidden deterioration that causes new problems shortly after repairs. We assess the overall condition to give you an honest recommendation about repair versus replacement.
Can damaged soffits cause problems inside my home?
Yes. Damaged soffits allow moisture into your attic, which can lead to mold growth, ruined insulation, and water stains on ceilings. They also create entry points for pests, birds, squirrels, bats, and insects, that damage insulation, chew wiring, and create health hazards from droppings. Poor ventilation from damaged soffits causes ice dams that force water into your home’s interior. What starts as exterior soffit damage quickly becomes an interior problem affecting air quality, energy efficiency, and structural integrity. Addressing soffit issues early prevents these more serious and expensive problems.