A quick glossary
Three words come up constantly and most homeowners have never needed them before. Fascia: the board at the edge. Soffit: the panel below. Eave: the whole projecting edge.Knowing the words will not be on a test, though it helps when a quote uses them. When somebody says the channel mounts under the soffit, you now know what part of the house they are pointing at.
Why the track goes there
Permanent lighting gets installed along rooflines and 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. Height gives you reach down the facade, and the roof above it takes the direct weather.
Under the overhang or on the face
The channel can mount up under the soffit or out on the fascia, and the choice changes what the light does. Tucked underneath, the light falls down the elevation. Mounted on the fascia, the run itself is what you see from
https://charliehxly897.scriblorax.com/posts/permanent-light-installation-how-the-job-gets-done-what-goes-into-a-permanent-lighting-installation-a-homeowner-s-walkthrough the street. Neither is the default, and a designer should tell you which suits your elevation.The eave line sets the throw down the elevation, so two identical houses can read differently based on that one decision.
Not every house is straightforward
Overhang depth is not standard, and it affects what is possible. Deeper is good for protection, and can work against the wash you wanted. With little overhang, the fascia often becomes the answer. This is why designs get drawn at the house rather than from a satellite image.
What the eave line does the rest of the year
Set to warm white, the run is exterior lighting rather than decoration. It puts light on the walk, the drive and the front door, so people can see where they are going. It also keeps the house from disappearing after sunset.
Gutters, roofs and the order of operations
A lot of things compete for that line: the gutter, the drip edge, and the track. If a roof or a gutter replacement is coming in the next year or two, say so during the consultation. The sensible order puts the lighting last, because the alternative is removing a run that was just installed. 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 more than one option. The upper roofline is the line that reads from furthest away, because it is highest and has the most sky behind it. The lower run lights the approach. Running both is often the answer, and it can be phased.
Having your eave line looked at
The mounting decision comes out of standing under your own overhang and looking up. EverCrest Lighting installs permanent lighting along rooflines and eaves for homes and businesses across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, from Greenville. Consultations are free, and the plan is built around your building. Reach them at (864) 252-1732 or
[email protected].