Any ideas on why the roof ends inside soffit?

[chris vis]

Anyone with any ideas on why the roof sheathing ends inside the soffit and about two inches away from the fascia board? I am placing my hand behind the fascia board and drip edge and into the soffit. The drip edge is actually nailed onto the edge of the the 3/4" fascia board top edge, then a gap exists for about 2", then the roof sheathing edge begins.

I did notice paint on the trusses and sheathing underside with new insulation in hip roof, leading me to believe a fire happened at one time. But that would mean the sheathing is pre-fire not replaced, so this would be original? I have never seen this in my life. Any leaks under shingles/paper would leak into soffit, as well as any ice damming/water overflow would go into soffit.

This is a 1959 ranch with a hipped roof - see photos.
Someone tell me there is a valid explanation for this construction method and ease my mind!

[John Kogel]

1959, the roof sheathing would be shiplap, or planks, most likely. My guess is that the lower plank was rotten so the roofer pulled it off.
Why wasn't a new plank installed? Can't answer that one. :confused:

[Darrel Hood]

You are right, it is wrong.

[Steven Turetsky]

I find sheathing installed "short" quite often. It is a common point of water intrusion.

Flashing would mitigate this flaw. Unfortunately, it is rarely added.

[Jerry Peck]

Contractors have probably learned, over time, that the bottom of the sheathing is going to rot out anyway, so ... their solution is to just leave that wood out, save it from rotting out anyway. :)

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Appears to be pre-fab, late mid-century construction, roll-off or crane set, w/decorative veneer.


I did notice paint on the trusses and sheathing underside

I believe your suspicions/conclusions regarding prior fire, simply based upon what you have shared, are unfounded.

Typical pre-fab (possibly fold-up truss) finding. Likely originally open exposed overhang (no soffit enclosure, was later altered, apparently prior to insulation added). Common to find previously exposed underside decking & overhang painted or stained - maintenance problems maintaining finish in 4-season clims, later screened in or soffited. Gutter system alteration, retrofit screening, not flashed.

Plywood sheeting common post-war pre-fab, and despite assertion by another, was in use well before 1959 in res. construction.

[Joseph Ehrhardt]

It really does not matter what they did, its done...roof shingles are to be 1" inch over hang with a starter course at the under course so there's tar strips at the bottom for the wind uplift. i always loved those gutter gaurds here in the northeast fall of leaves that filter the red oak and maples fine particles and then the crap packs tighter at the down spout. The shingles almost half way across the gutter, it would be amazing that takes any water, must fly over.

[Mike Moser]

When being built the fascia is not in place. The builder has the roof installed to dry it in and continue with the interior. Later when siding etc is done the fascia is added. The roofers do not know what the final detail is going to be and just roof what they have , leaving what the guess will be close ( they do not get paid to think )

In 30 years of roofing I have only had a handful of contractors that provided detail so I couuld extend the sheathing to match the end detail. Every body just leaves it and lets the sider hide it.

By the way guys , I love your posts on all subjects. Thanks for sharing.

Mike Moser

[Ken Amelin]

It's not wrong.
It is a typical detail for a drip edge soffit vent.

[Raymond Wand]

Plywood sheeting common post-war pre-fab, and despite assertion by another, was in use well before 1959 in res. construction.

Hey Watson,

What makes you think its plywood decking? Just because plywood may have been in existence does not mean that it was used. Typically a house from the 30's as John pointed out would be plank, spaced or non spaced. But since you are an arm chair inspector with no real world experience other than you flapping gums your opinions don't hold any more weight than your unfounded opinions.

[Marc Morin]

A little photoshop....

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Hey Watson,

What makes you think its plywood decking? Just because plywood may have been in existence does not mean that it was used. Typically a house from the 30's as John pointed out would be plank, spaced or non spaced. But since you are an arm chair inspector with no real world experience other than you flapping gums your opinions don't hold any more weight than your unfounded opinions.

'Wand',

Are you naturally an obnoxious and most obtuse cad or do you "just play" at being one on thie forums?

The home is from 1959 NOT 1930. It has a truss & engineered wood roof assembly. It is typical design, vintage, materials and location of prefab componant and/or sectional "prefab" (modular) construction of the period. It is also obvious that the home has been re-roofed and that the roof end/edge flashing was unprofessionally cut back/cut off in place (rippled uneven un-scored, un-broken (not using site brake nor factory formed) edge.

Your demonstrated monumentally displaced anger, regular tantrums, myriad psychological disfunctions, stubborn ignorance, apparently continue to inhibit your ability to read, comprehend, observe, or discern.

[Raymond Wand]

Your demonstrated monumentally displaced anger, regular tantrums, myriad psychological disfunctions, stubborn ignorance, apparently continue to inhibit your ability to read, comprehend, observe, or discern.

Yeah, like you wrote the book on perfectionism. :D

[Jerry Peck]

When being built the fascia is not in place. The builder has the roof installed to dry it in and continue with the interior. Later when siding etc is done the fascia is added.

Mike,

Down here (in Florida) the roof decking is required to be run to the top of the fascia/sub-fascia and then nailed to the top of the fascia/sub-fascia.

I've never seen the roof sheathing fall short because it is required to be nailed in place along the fascia/sub-fascia (holds the roof sheathing down during our high wind events - if you can keep the edges of the roof sheathing down, then the rest of the roof is more likely to remain in place too).

[Jerry Peck]

It's not wrong.
It is a typical detail for a drip edge soffit vent.

That would never fly down here ... er ... excuse me ... that WOULD FLY down here ... and that is why it would not be allowed down here.

[Ken Amelin]

That would never fly down here ...

Excuse me?
What code would this violate "Down Here"?

[Jerry Peck]

What code would this violate "Down Here"?

"Down here" ... where we have high wind events ... you know ... "down here" in Flahdah ... it would violate the building code. :)

[Mike Moser]

Hi Jerry & all

Here in MN we have no real wind or tie down requirements . No seismic requirement either. (Must be because of the perma frost and or frozen tundra )

Seriously though, we do not have the wind consideration and no sheathing is required to be anchored in any way to the fascia. It is interesting the different regional requirements.

Also an earlier post stated shingles must have a one inch overhang. This varies with manufacturer but ARMA states 1/2 to 3/4 in most references. A one inch overhang can sag. Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association is a composite of the makers of shingles in USA.

Mike Moser