Are eaves and gutters the same thing?

Eaves and gutters are different architectural features of a home. The gutter is attached to the end of the eave to catch water runoff from the roof and direct it away from the home.

Do all houses have eaves?

Not all houses have eaves. In fact, contemporary homes are often defined by their minimalistic of non-existent eaves. This is also true for houses with flat roofs.

What is the area under the eaves called?

The area beneath the eaves is called the soffit, but this is only true when soffit is present. In unfinished eave, or an eave that isn't covered, is called an open eave or an exposed eave.

Home Improvement Exterior Remodel Roof

What to Know About House Eaves and Roof Eaves

By

Jackie Craven

and

Kamron Sanders

Updated on 12/15/23

Fact checked by Marcus Reeves

What Are Eaves?

An eave is the portion of the roof that overhangs the exterior siding, offering protection to the home as well as visual impact. Visually, eaves shape the home's silhouette and create space for things like soffit, fascia, corbels, brackets, and more, which alter the look of the structure even further.

History and Purpose of Eaves

Eaves defines the style of a home while protecting its siding and foundation. The wider a roof's overhang, the further snow, rain, and sheets of ice are thrown away from the house, protecting your home.

Eaves are often associated with ancient Greek architecture, as the Greeks were constructing homes with dried clay bricks, which were very vulnerable to water. This led them to utilize eaves with wide overhangs.

Wide eaves can also shade interior spaces, which is of great value in hotter climates. Eaves also provides an unobtrusive location for security cameras and lights when they are attached to the soffits.

Types of Eaves

Roof eaves vary in two major ways: Size and finish. The amount of overhang has a significant effect on the home's overall look, as does how the eave is finished. Many houses have eaves finished with decorative brackets or corbels to make them appear more stately or add visual interest.

The basic types of eaves are as follows:

Closed eave: An overhang finished with a soffit.
Open eave: An overhang with an unfinished, exposed underside.
Exposed rafter eaves: An overhang that leaves the ends of the rafters visible.
Box eave: An overhang enclosed with a soffit and a build-up of ornamental molding so the rafters are no longer visible.
Abbreviated eave: An eave that doesn't extend past the walls or extends only slightly.

Notable architectural styles often have distinct eave styles that are synonymous with their look, such as the following:

Architectural Style	Eave Design
Craftsman Bungalow	Low-pitched roof with a wide eave overhang that's left open to expose the roof rafters
Midcentury Modern	Low-pitched, sometimes flat roofs with long eaves often housing outdoor living space
Victorian	Dramatic, wide eaves
Contemporary	Minimal or even non-existent eave overhangs
Dutch Colonial	Gambrel roofs with distinctly flared eaves

Eaves vs. Fascia and Soffit

Eaves are often confused with soffit and fascia, which is understandable, as they're all located in the same general location. However, they aren't the same.

Soffit is the finish material that is installed horizontally to cover the underside of the eave overhang, beneath the rafters. Soffits play a major role in a home's architecture both visually and practically. Visually, soffits offer a finished look to the underside of the eave, which has a major impact on the overall look of the structure. Practically speaking, the soffit protects the attic and the underside of the roof. Many soffits are also vented.

Fascia is the finish material that's installed vertically on the outside edge of the eaves, covering the ends of the rafters. The fascia protects the ends of the rafters and prevents pests from entering. Additionally, the fascia is used to mount gutters.

Pros and Cons of Eaves

There are several benefits to roof eaves, but are there any downsides? Yes. Here are the pros and cons of eaves:

Pros

Creates an overhang which can shade the house and keep it cool
Diverts water, snow, and ice further from the home
Acts as an ideal spot to mount lights and cameras
Allows room for soffits, which benefit a home both visually and practically

Cons

Pests like birds and insects are prone to building nests beneath eaves
Adds expense for finishing materials when building or renovating
Can make the roof more vulnerable to wind damage

What Are the Disadvantages of Roof Eaves?

Pests are drawn to making their homes in open-style eaves. The longer the roof overhang, the more protected space it offers to wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, birds, and sometimes larger creatures like raccoons and squirrels. Without a soffit, birds especially can build their nests tucked in beside your warm house. Even ventilation holes in the eave's soffits are entry points for the furry or feathered friends, including bats.

So what do you do? For your home, keep the eaves clean and plug holes during your annual maintenance routine. There are some products, such as Bird B Gone, that offer homeowners solutions such as gels, spikes, and repellents to protect your eaves.

Here are a few more tips to keep your eaves free and clear from pests:

Deter mud wasps from making nests under your eaves by spraying mint essential oil around the area.
Hang decoy nests under your eaves to repel wasps.
Hose off any spider webs under the eaves.
Replace soffit vents immediately if they are broken or compromised.
Repair rotting fascia boards or the holes will attract pests.

FAQ

Are eaves and gutters the same thing?

Eaves and gutters are different architectural features of a home. The gutter is attached to the end of the eave to catch water runoff from the roof and direct it away from the home.
Do all houses have eaves?

Not all houses have eaves. In fact, contemporary homes are often defined by their minimalistic of non-existent eaves. This is also true for houses with flat roofs.
What is the area under the eaves called?

The area beneath the eaves is called the soffit, but this is only true when soffit is present. In unfinished eave, or an eave that isn't covered, is called an open eave or an exposed eave.

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