name that part

[CheckItOut]

I'm trying to describe some stained and wet wood but not sure what it is called. This house had an 18" horizontal overhang beyond the foundation wall. The underside of the overhang is covered with wood (framing above this). What is that wood covering called?

[randynavarro]

I just call it the plywood covering the floor framing.

Was it actually wet or just stained?

Wet is one thing. Stained wouldn't bug me being so close to the ground. Maybe it got wet from a wild hose or something one time. I can't recall ever finding any damage on these covers.

[AHI in AR]

I'm not sure there is a "true" name for it. But to keep it as simple as possible and yet still describe the area, I would call it the wood sealing the framing at the bottom of the cantilevered areas.

[Jim Katen]

Soffit.

- Jim Katen

[CheckItOut]

Originally posted by randynavarro

I just call it the plywood covering the floor framing.

Was it actually wet or just stained?

Wet is one thing. Stained wouldn't bug me being so close to the ground. Maybe it got wet from a wild hose or something one time. I can't recall ever finding any damage on these covers.

Thanks guys. Soffit. You are likely right but that may confuse the heck out of people.

Yes, it was wet and decayed. It was like this near, but not touching, where a deck stair assembly attached to the house. This soffit area was about 3' or so off the ground. Then the staining was intermitent about 3' away from the stair area. Kind of wierd.

[AHI in AR]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I also think calling it the soffitt would confuse folks who are used to thinking of the soffitt as that area under the roof overhang, not under the cantilevered floor joists.

[Brandon Whitmore]

I've heard it called a dust cover before, but.........

[Richard Moore]

The technical term I've used for such areas in the past has been: "The plywood under the exterior of the dining room bump-out at the east side of the house...". The photo helps!

"Soffit" might be correct, but it would probably confuse me too. Sometimes, a little extra verbosity is required to be concise(???).

[kurt]

Definitely soffit.

A soffit is the underside of any architectural feature; beam, cornice, ceiling, arch, eave, and the funny bulkheads at the intersection of walls and ceilings in kitchens that one used to mount the cabinets too.

They all have soffits.

[SonOfSwamp]

Originally posted by CheckItOut

I'm trying to describe some stained and wet wood but not sure what it is called. This house had an 18" horizontal overhang beyond the foundation wall. The underside of the overhang is covered with wood (framing above this). What is that wood covering called?

I think I'd call it the water-stained wood on the bottom of the overhang.

WJid="blue">

[kurt]

I was just being technical.

In my report, I'd have a picture with an arrow pointing at the bottom of the overhang, and say,

"The bottom of this bumpout is rotten/decayed/stained".

[Les]

I'm all for being clear, but it is a soffit.

[Rocon]

A soffit is the exposed undersurface of any overhead component of a building.

A canteleiver is a Beam,girder,structural member or surface that projects horizontaly beyond it's vertical support, such as a wall or a column.

I would phrase it as :

The exterior wood finish attached to the first floor canteliever located at the northwest corner of the home.