If you’re looking to improve your home’s exterior aesthetics, consider adding an overhang to your roof.
An overhang is just an extension of the roof that hangs down past the edge of the wall.
Adding this will not only make your house look better, but it can also help with how well insulated it is.
Hot weather effects and rainwater moving down your window can be a bother to your comfort at home.
With a roof overhang, you can stop worrying about these and other problems.
Let’s discuss how to extend a roof overhang and the benefits of doing so.
Key Benefits of Adding Roof Overhang
Once you’ve set your mind to add an overhang to the roof, it’s time to talk about the benefits.
They Protect Your Ceiling
One of the key benefits of adding roof overhang is how it can protect your ceiling.
If you have been worrying about how to protect your delicate and expensive ceilings from the effects of harsh sun rays and rainwater, worry no more.
The overhang will direct sunlight and rain away from your house, so you can rest assured your ceilings will be left in perfect shape for a long time.
They Add to Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Another key benefit of adding roof overhang is how it can add to your home’s curb appeal.
This type of roof can improve your home’s aesthetics from the outside and even help improve its value.
They Protect Your House Foundation
Another great benefit of adding roof overhang is how it can protect your house foundation.
Water typically ends upright against an exterior wall, and this moisture can cause problems if not dealt with quickly.
It doesn’t take that long for the water to find its way into cracks in a foundation or basement walls, leading to mold.
A roof overhang can protect it from this moisture, which will allow you to enjoy your house for years and years.
Even if your foundation is already dealing with issues due to water damage, adding a roof overhang can also help prevent further problems down the road.
They Keep Your Home Cool During Summer Days
One of the major benefits of adding roof overhang is how it helps keep your home cool during the summer months.
The shade that this cover provides will allow you to set up your house in such a way as to guarantee maximum comfort and minimum cooling costs.
When there’s no sun shining down on your exterior walls or windows, there’s no sun heating the inside of your house either.
Adding roof overhang can also help make sure that your air conditioners don’t have to work as hard during those hot summer months.
Helps To Control Pests
Adding a roof overhang will also help keep your home pest-free.
The shade that this cover provides can prevent insects from getting into your house through cracks in the walls and windowsills where they might have been entering before.
This helps you to avoid costly repairs caused by pests and infestations.
How Do You Add Roof Overhang?
Adding roof overhang is a reasonably straightforward process for anyone with the right tools.
This is how to extend a roof overhang:
Get the Roof Ready
First, you’ll need to prepare the roof to make it easier to access the rafters by removing the fascia board located directly on top of the roof.
Cut the Existing Rafters
Next, you can move on, cutting out a section of the existing rafter so that there is enough room for another 2 feet to be added on each side of the house.
You’ll then need to cut some plywood sheets into smaller pieces to create “risers” along with some bracing to support the rafters further. These ‘risers’ or rafter extensions should be three times the length of the existing rafters.
Fix the Rafter Extension
Place these rafter extensions over the existing rafters so that they overlap the existing ones with two-thirds of their length. The remaining one-third should extend outward to act as the roof overhang.
You should optimize the length of the overhang to 2 feet so that it can be stable and perfectly supported once you’re done with the installation process.
Nail or Screw the Extensions
Once you’re done with the initial installation of the overhang, you can then nail or screw these extensions into place. Overlap them and also brace them by nailing a 2×4 board across to prevent further cracking.
Add a Soffit and Fascia
You can choose to include a soffit and fascia and the overhang to accentuate your home. Add a rafter tail cap for even more stability while also making sure that you don’t add any nails along with it because this might further damage the structure of your roof.
One should always remember all these important aspects when opting for such an addition to prevent future accidents or damage.
Roof the Overhang
You can now consider roofing the overhang with a standard three-tab shingle or shake. With this overhang, you can now enjoy better protection from the sun and rain and have an improved overall look for your home.
Final Thought
Adding a roof overhang to your residential or commercial building is an easy and cost-effective way to add both aesthetic appeal and much-needed shade.
With the above tips on how to extend a roof overhang, you can add this great feature to your home.
While these are easy steps you can follow and successfully achieve by yourself, you can also use the help of a professional roofing contractor to facilitate the project.
If you’re in need of professional help, please contact us and we’ll be glad to serve you.
