Eave
The lower edge of a roof that projects beyond the wall.
Quick Answer
An eave is the lower edge of a roof, usually projecting past the exterior wall. The projection is the overhang. It affects rafter or truss tail length, soffit area, fascia and gutter length, and fall protection at the roof edge. Estimators take it off along the length of each eave in linear feet and square feet.
The Full Picture
The eave is where the roof's lower edge meets or extends past the exterior wall. The distance it projects is the overhang, and it is shown on the building sections and the roof plan. On a gable roof the eaves run along the long sides, and the sloped ends are called rakes. Rake edges are not eaves, so trim at the gable ends is counted separately.
The eave is a framing, finish and drainage item at once. In framing, rafter tails or truss tails extend past the wall, and the overhang adds to the length of each rafter. The American Wood Council points out that rafter spans are measured by horizontal projection, so a rafter's cut length is longer than its horizontal run once the slope is included. Below the overhang the soffit closes the underside, whether ventilated or solid, and the fascia board caps the tails. Gutters and downspouts attach to the fascia, so the same LF often carries several finishes.
The takeoff keeps those apart. Fascia, gutter and drip edge are linear feet along the eave length, and soffit is square feet using the horizontal depth times the length, with slope or vented products noted. Rafter tails are counted as part of the rafter or truss package, since their length is already in the framing. Corner returns and bump-outs add to the LF, and a long overhang may need outlookers or lookouts, which should be shown in the framing details.
Pricing mistakes tend to come from mixing eaves and rakes, counting only the main roof, and ignoring heights. The roof edge is also where fall-protection requirements appear, because under OSHA's Subpart M definitions an unprotected side or edge is one with no wall or guardrail at least 39 inches high, which shows up as safety scope in the general conditions or the roofing subcontract.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: The eave is the soffit.
Actually: The eave is the roof edge and overhang. The soffit is the finish on the underside of that overhang, and the fascia is the board along its edge. All three are priced separately.
People assume: Eave length equals roof perimeter.
Actually: Only the lower edges are eaves. The sloped gable ends are rakes and are measured along the slope, so using perimeter for fascia and gutter overstates the quantity.
Does MeltPlan Solve This?
Partially — adjacentEave lengths, overhang depths and roof edges are read from the roof plan and building sections, and MeltPlan's takeoff service covers that measuring: AI pulls quantities from plans and US-based experienced estimators review and adjust them. Product selection, vent type and the roofing crew's approach stay with the estimator.
Get roof edge lengths and trim quantities measured from your plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an eave and an overhang?
The eave is the lower edge of the roof. The overhang is the distance it projects beyond the wall. In practice people use the two words together, but the takeoff needs the length of the eave and the depth of the overhang.
How are soffit and fascia measured?
Fascia is measured in linear feet along the eave. Soffit is measured in square feet, usually using the overhang depth times the length, with allowances for slope, returns and vented products.
Is an eave the same as a rake?
No. Eaves are the low edges, and rakes are the sloped edges at the gable ends. They are trimmed and measured separately.
Do eaves matter for roof safety?
Yes. The roof edge is a fall exposure. OSHA's Subpart M definitions treat an edge with no guardrail at least 39 inches high as an unprotected side or edge, so protection should be in the safety plan and the roofing scope.