Soffit

**Etymology of Soffit:**
– The term ‘soffit’ is derived from the Italian word ‘soffitto’, which originally meant a ceiling.
– Its root can be traced back to the Latin word ‘suffictus’ or ‘suffixus’, indicating to fix underneath.

**Soffits in Construction:**
– In architecture, a soffit refers to the underside of any construction element.
– Soffits and fascias are commonly attached to rafters using screws or nails.
– The depth of the soffit exposure profile on a building’s exterior can vary.
– Soffits can be either non-ventilated or ventilated to prevent condensation.
– A soffit vent is a grill covering the venting opening on the bottom of the soffit.

**Related Topics:**
– The use of copper in architecture is associated with soffits.

**References:**
– Information on range hood installation under sloped/high ceilings by Futuro Futuro.
– Incorporation of text from a 1911 publication in the public domain in this article.

Soffit (Wikipedia)
Not to be confused with Sofit.

A soffit is an exterior or interior architectural feature, generally the horizontal, aloft underside of any construction element. Its archetypal form, sometimes incorporating or implying the projection of beams, rafters or trusses over the exterior of supporting walls, is the underside of eaves (to connect a supporting wall to projecting edge(s) of the roof). The vertical band at the edge of the roof is called a fascia. A soffit of an arch is frequently called an intrados.

Eaves of a house in Northern Australia. The white underside would be referred to as a soffit. In this example the soffit is fixed to the slope of the rafters. The dark grey fascia boards form the outer edge and have a groove to receive the soffit lining sheets which cover the rafter tails.
Boxed in soffit on a house in Northern Florida, United States. In this example the soffit material is 12 inches wide and made from center lanced U groove perforated sections of vinyl in a return fashion and fixed to the bottom chord of a truss roofing system extending beyond the exterior wall.
Interior soffit box providing attachment points for kitchen ventilation hoods.
Four images of a soffit being built to hide a retrofitted ventilation duct.

Definition from ChatGPT:

Soffit:

A soffit is the underside of a building component, such as a roof overhang or a ceiling, that is usually visible from the exterior. Soffits are often used to cover and protect structural elements like beams or rafters, and they can also provide ventilation and aesthetic appeal to a building.

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