First, which part is which
Three words get used in every quote and almost nobody uses them in normal life. Fascia: the vertical face. Soffit: the panel below. Eave: the whole projecting edge.Knowing the words is not a requirement, though it helps when a quote uses them. When somebody
https://evercrestlighting.com/permanent-lighting/ says the channel mounts under the soffit, you know exactly what they mean.
What the eave gives you
Permanent lighting runs along the roof edge and the eaves because that line solves several problems at once. The eave is continuous across the elevation, so a run there has length to work with. It is high enough to throw light down the wall, and the overhang shelters the hardware.
Under the overhang versus on the fascia
Where exactly the channel sits is not arbitrary. Tucked underneath, the light falls down the elevation. On the face, the effect is a bright edge. Neither is the default, and a designer should tell you which suits your elevation.Where the channel sits changes how far the light travels down the face of the house, which is a bigger difference than most people expect.
Deep overhangs, and houses that barely have any
Not every roof gives you the same thing to work with. A deep overhang hides the run and protects it, though it can shadow the surface you wanted lit. A shallow one exposes the run more and changes where the channel has to sit. This is why designs get drawn at the house rather than from a satellite image.
Everyday use
Set to warm white, it stops being a holiday product. It puts a soft wash on the approach to the house, which makes the property easier to use and easier to find. A house with a lit edge looks like somebody lives there.
Gutters, roofs and the order of operations
A lot of things live at the roof edge: gutters, guards, flashing, and now a lighting channel. If a roof or a gutter replacement is coming in the next year or two, say so during the consultation. Doing it backwards costs a second visit. It is a five second question that saves a real headache.
Two story houses have two eave lines
A single story house presents one eave. A two story has a choice to make. The upper roofline is the line that reads from furthest away, since it sits against open air. The lower run is the functional one. Running both is common, though it does not have to happen in the same year.
The next move
Somebody needs to look at the actual roof edge to draw a plan worth anything. EverCrest Lighting runs permanent LED lighting along rooflines and eaves for homes and businesses across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, from Greenville. The consultation is free, and the plan is built around your building. Call (864) 252-1732 or email
[email protected].