What to Consider for Your New Roof Line

Whether you’re putting the roof on a new home, having your current roof replaced, or just getting some repairs done, one thing that you’re going to need to put some thought into is the roof line. What’s a roof line? It’s the supporting structure around the house at the edges of the roof that consists of the fascia, soffits, bargeboards, cladding, dry verge and, in many cases, gutters.

If those words sound like another language to you, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Talk to your roofing professional for an in-depth description of what each one does and how they work together. All you really need to know to get started in thinking about adding a roof line is that it holds up gutters, covers rafters, keeps animals and the elements from getting into your roof while allowing for ventilation, and acts as a finish between roof tiles or shingles and the edge of the eaves.

Roof lines are an important part of the roof structure, and there are several things that you should think about before adding one to your home.

What colors will mesh best with your roof and home? Most people tend to like the dry verge to match their roof fairly closely, and many decide to go with the exact same color they use for their gutters. Soffits, bargeboards, cladding, and fascia, however, are often comprised of colors that contrast with the roof and exterior walls of the home. For example, a house of red-brown brick with a red roof might have a white roof line (excluding the dry verge, of course).

How much area do you need to cover? Roofers can give you numbers, which helps when you’re trying to calculate the expense. But most people also like to be able to visualize how much space their roof line is going to take up and see how much of it is going to be truly visible. One of the best ways to do this is to have a site plan created for your house so that you can pencil in ideas and get an idea of what your house will look like after the roof line is added.

Do you prefer wood or synthetic material? Roof lines were traditionally made out of wood, but in recent years synthetic materials such as plastic and aluminum have actually become more popular. Why? Because wooden roof lines require far more maintenance (including yearly repainting) and will need to be replaced if they rot. Synthetic materials don’t have these issues. However, some people still prefer wood because they like the look of it better. Ask your roofer to show you samples of different kinds of materials so that you can make an educated decision. 

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