What Is Lookout Roofing?

Lookout Types

• There are two basic types of lookouts. One extends from a wall to the outer edge of the roof in an eave or overhang, and is used to support or frame a space called a soffit. The other type extends from the last conventional rafter or truss on the gable end of a roof, to support what's called a fly rafter, that provides an extension of the roof beyond the gable end wall.

Soffit Lookouts

• Soffit lookouts extend from the house wall to a fascia or facing board at the end of the rafter or truss. The house side is fastened to a horizontal support board called a ledger. Soffit boards are fastened to the bottoms of the lookouts to enclose the space between the sloped rafter and the horizontal soffit. These lookouts typically have square ends and are nailed to the sides of the rafters.

Special Lookouts

• Some soffit lookouts are more complex, notched to fit over a wall cap board or slanted at the outside bottom to mate with an outer board called a nailing header; this is typical on flat or very low-slope roofs which don't have a rafter overhang or eave.

Fly Rafter Lookouts

• The other type of lookout is also a short board but is nailed to the end of the last roof truss, which typically is shorter to accommodate the lookout. These lookouts are installed horizontally to connect the last truss or rafter on the roof with a "fly" rafter, with the same pitch or slope, a foot or so beyond the house wall. These lookouts and the fly rafter provide an overhang similar to that on an eave, but at the same pitch as the roof.