What Is an Eave?

The eave is where a roof stops. Its overhang shades the wall and throws runoff away from the foundation, the underside of the overhang is covered by soffit, and the ends of the rafters are capped by fascia. Roofing starts here: drip edge goes on first, then underlayment and starter, then the first course of shingles. In cold climates the eave is also where ice and water membrane begins, because it is where ice dams form.

From the street, the eave line is the first part of a roof a canvasser can read. Dents in gutters, granules collecting at downspout outlets, missing shingles along the edge, and stains on the soffit all show without a ladder. The eave also drives labor: a long, high eave line on a two-story house takes more setup than a single-story one, and estimates often add charges for height. Eave length is a measured quantity that feeds drip edge, starter, and ice barrier.

People use eave and overhang as synonyms, but the overhang is the part that sticks out past the wall, while the eave is the whole lower edge. In some regions gutters are called eavestroughs, a name that adds confusion. And eave height is measured from the ground to the eave, not to the ridge, a distinction that matters for ladders, safety plans, and any height surcharge.