If you’re in the process of having your roof replaced or repaired, you might be running into a lot of confusing roofing terminology. Eaves, rakes, dormers, gables and soffits are all different parts of a roof, but understanding what they are and how they differ can be seriously tricky if you’re not a professional roofer . But understanding the anatomy of your roof is important, especially if you’re designing your own home. Here, we’ll give a clear definition of roof eaves and why they matter. We’ll also talk about rakes and soffits to help you understand how they differ from eaves.
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What are roof eaves?
Roof eaves are the outer edges of a roof that overhang the adjoining walls and extend beyond the side of a building. Designed to help keep rainwater and debris away from a building’s foundation, eaves are highly functional and can also serve as a design feature.
The word “eaves” actually derives from the Old English word “efes,” meaning “edge,” according to Merriam-Webster . If the edge of a roof does not overhang the house walls below, the roof is considered eaveless. Eaveless roofs are popular in mid-century modern, modern and some barn-style architecture.
Roof eaves vs. rakes
Understanding the difference between roof eaves and rakes is notoriously tricky, as they’re pretty similar. But there’s one key difference that helps set them apart — roof eaves run parallel to the ground, carrying water and debris out and away from the sides of the home, while rakes are always angled, directing water into gutters and downspouts and onto lower roof sections.
While roof eaves run along the main sections of a roof, rakes are the angled roof edges of a gable or dormer, or the triangular sections of a roof. Gables are typically found at either end of a roof, as with pitched roofs, while dormers are the triangular pop-outs often found on the roofs of multistory homes, as you can see in the photo above.
For more on this, check out our guide to understanding roof dormers, gables and valleys .
Eaves vs. soffits
Eaves and soffits are different but closely related — a soffit is the underside of an eave.
Before the soffit material is installed, the underside of a roof eave shows the exposed roofing materials. If you prefer a closed-in look, soffits can add to the visual appeal of your roof edges and home exterior. Some home styles, however, feature open eaves where the roof decking and rafters are intentionally left exposed.
But soffits aren’t just design features; they also help protect your home. "One of the primary functions of soffit is to assist in protecting the rafters from weather elements," according to Mead Lumber in Omaha, Neb. "Without a soffit, the rafters would be exposed to the weather, which could lead to deterioration and rot over time."
Open eaves — eaves without soffits — can also increase your roof's susceptibility to infestation by birds, bats, squirrels and other critters. When installed properly with perforation for airflow, soffits can also help with attic ventilation, energy efficiency and more.
A roof eave has three main parts
These are the three main components that make up an eave:
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Eave -The structural part that extends the roof out beyond the edge of the house
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Soffit -The material installed on the underside of the roof eave
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Fascia boards -The front-facing trim connecting the top of the eave to the soffit
Fascia boards are particularly important, as this is where rain gutters are installed. Without this important trim, you may deal with some complications when it comes time to install gutters.
Types of roof eaves
As with most exterior home features, eaves come in several different styles. Here, we'll go over the six basic types of roof eaves.
Open or exposed eaves
Exposed eaves do not have soffits, so the rafters and roof decking are visible from below. While this can sometimes lead to problems — namely with pest infestation and water damage — open eaves with exposed rafters are popular in craftsman and cabin-style architecture.
Closed eaves
Also known as soffited eaves, closed eaves are fully enclosed with soffit material and fascia boards, reducing the risk of pest and water intrusion. Closed eaves usually have horizontal soffits that join the exterior walls at a 90-degree angle, but soffits can also follow the angle of the roof.
Boxed eaves
Sometimes called box eaves or boxed-in eaves, boxed eaves are a type of decorative closed eave. The soffits of boxed eaves have a more closed-in look, fully covering the underside of the eave and forming a clear right angle between the soffit and the side of the house.
Abbreviated eaves
Abbreviated eaves are short eaves that may only extend a few inches from the edge of the house. In some cases, abbreviated eaves may not extend visibly at all, making the house appear eaveless.
Wide eaves
As the name suggests, wide eaves are especially wide, offering additional shade, helping to keep the interior of the house cool and providing extra protection from rain and snow.
Decorative eaves
Characterized by carved wooden ornaments and intricate designs, decorative eaves add visual appeal to the edges of a roof. That said, they don’t serve a practical function and are less common in modern and contemporary architecture. Decorative eaves are especially popular in Victorian-style architecture, French colonial architecture and Scandinavian traditional architecture.
Why roof eaves are important
Roof eaves aren’t just important for roofers and contractors. Here’s how roof eaves can benefit you as a homeowner.
Roof eaves help keep rain and snow away from your house and foundation
The most important function of a roof eave is to help keep rain, snow and other debris away from the siding, windows and foundation of your home. Houses without eaves or with abbreviated eaves are more susceptible to moisture damage and may require more frequent siding repairs and replacement.
With extra shade, roof eaves help keep your house cool
Another major benefit of roof eaves — especially wide eaves — is temperature regulation. "Eaves overhang your exterior walls and block sunlight that would otherwise enter through your windows, so they can improve the energy efficiency of your home," according to EcoWatch . For this reason, "wide eaves are used in hot, sunny areas to help keep homes cooler." The shade eaves can also help reduce UV damage to your home’s exterior.
Wide eaves provide a covered area to sit or stand outside
Everyone’s grateful for a wide roof eave once it starts raining. Eaves provide additional shelter from rain and snow, which is especially nice for those who find themselves stepping in and out of the house frequently with kids or pets.
Eaves make it easier to install gutters, exterior lights or cameras
Houses without eaves present more complications when it's time to install gutters or other outdoor fixtures along your roof edge. Eaves and fascia boards are the easiest place to install rain gutters, and closed soffits can provide easy installation points for flood lights or security cameras.
If you opt out of having roof eaves, you'll still have options for installing gutters, as shown in the image above, but you may face extra costs, and it may be more challenging to find the right contractor.
Well-designed eaves can add curb appeal to your home
If you’re trying to decide between installing a roof with or without eaves, consider the curb appeal and resale value that roof eaves could add. In addition to all the other benefits, the aesthetic appeal of roof eaves shouldn’t be underestimated.
Roof eaves FAQs
What are the downsides of roof eaves?
Different types of roof eaves present different sets of problems. For example, wide eaves can create problems with wind lift, which increases the risk of losing your roof in extreme windstorms, tornadoes or hurricanes. Open eaves are known to offer habitats to birds, bats, wasps and more, which is one of the reasons many homeowners opt for closed or boxed eaves.
Why don’t some houses have eaves?
Houses with abbreviated eaves or eaveless roof designs are popular in some architectural styles, like modern, industrial and Pueblo Revival. But architects and homeowners who choose to forego eaves mostly do so for design reasons. A no-eave design creates a more sleek, angular look, but the lack of eaves can lead to issues down the line.
How do you repair roof eaves?
The process of repairing your roof eaves will depend on the type and extent of the damage, as well as what caused it. We recommend reaching out to a trusted local roofing contractor, like the ones featured below, to schedule a consultation to assess the damage.
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