how do you fix soffits

Fix a Rotting Soffit in 7 Steps

Full Answer

How to repair damaged soffit on Your House?

Soffit and Fascia Repair 1. Remove Shingle Mold. Pry the narrow shingle mold from the fascia using a flat bar. If it comes off without splitting, reuse it later. 2. Remove Rotted Fascia. Remove the rotted section of fascia. Be careful not to damage any nearby roof shingles or flashing. 3. Remove Old Soffit. Pull down to remove the old soffit.

How to install Soffit for beginners?

How to Install Soffit

• Determine How Much Soffit You Will Need. Measure and calculate the total square footage needed for the areas requiring...
• Prep the Area. Check surfaces to make sure they are uniform and straight. Reattach any loose boards or shingles that...
• Install Soffit. Insert the soffit panel into the channel. Make sure the panel forms a 90-degree angle with...

What is the cost to replace soffit and fascia?

• Wood: $5-$10 per linear foot
• Vinyl: $6-$12 per linear foot
• Aluminum: $8-$15 per linear foot

What is the installation cost for soffit?

For a simple one-story home with roughly 200'-300' linear feet of soffits and fascias, the installed cost could be $600-$2,000 for wood or vinyl, and $800-$6,000 or more for aluminum.

How are soffits held in place?

In situations where the soffit panel will be attached at the wood fascia board and then covered with an aluminum fascia cover (Fig. 66), each soffit panel should be fastened through the nail hem and either into the wood fascia or into a wood shim using nails, screws, or staples.

Why are my soffits rotting?

Unfortunately, rotted soffit is usually caused by leaks that drip down and collect in the gutters and on the soffit boards. It can also be caused by bad weather and pesky animals. Soffits play an important role in your home because they cover the eaves and protect the rafters from weather damage.

How often should soffits be replaced?

There is no definite timetable for replacing a soffit or fascia, but there are some signs that roof repair contractors look for when evaluating your roof's overall health.

How do you secure soffit?

7:4729:57How To Install Soffit And Fascia - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's very easy to do you have a nailing flange on this side. And then an interlocking. Channel onMoreIt's very easy to do you have a nailing flange on this side. And then an interlocking. Channel on this side. So you just take this side lock it into the existing soffit slot it into the f.

Can you replace soffit without removing fascia?

Yes. You can install a soffit without installing a fascia. By using J channels instead of a fascia board, a soffit can be installed under the roof without a fascia.

Can you put new soffit over old?

Yes clading over your original fascias or soffits is possible, however the original timber would have to be in a good state i.e not rotted, if it is rotted then the timber should be cut out and replaced, once the timber is covered with upvc cladding this will add a degree of protection to the original fascias.

What's the difference between a soffit and a fascia?

An exterior soffit is located on the span beneath the rafter tails, while the fascia is the exposed horizontal band you see at the end of the rafters. These architectural elements found along the eave area do more than just add visual interest and give a finished look to your home.

What does the soffit look like on a house?

According to Qualityedge.com, the easiest way to tell if your home has soffits is to walk around it look up at the roof. If you can see the underside of the eaves, but you can't see the rafters, your home has soffits. The soffits will most likely be constructed of short planks.

What is the purpose of a soffit on a house?

Soffits protect your roof's underlying structure from the elements. Without them, rain and snow would cause your roof to mold and rot. Soffits also protect your roof from other natural elements, namely insects, birds, and other pests that might be looking for a warm, dry place during cooler months.

Why is my soffit sagging?

o them because the wood which was to hold them on has rotted. This can be caused by several things. Improper gutter flashing: Gutter flashing is critical to prevent water from getting behind the gutter and running along the fascia.

How do I fix my soffit and fascia?

Soffit and Fascia RepairRemove Shingle Mold. Pry the narrow shingle mold from the fascia using a flat bar. ... Remove Rotted Fascia. Remove the rotted section of fascia. ... Remove Old Soffit. Pull down to remove the old soffit. ... Remove Rotted Rafter. ... Attach Cleat. ... Attach New Rafter. ... Seal Replacement Soffit. ... Attach Replacement Soffit.More items...

What screws to use for soffit?

Each soffit vent should have between 8 and 10 holes drilled along the outer edges for screws to go. We recommend ½ inch stainless steel sheet metal screws for each vent.

How do you fix rotted soffit?

The good news is that you won't even need to climb on top of your roof to fix your soffit!Pry off your shingle mold. ... Remove the fascia. ... Remove the soffit's rotting wood. ... Take out the rotted rafter (when applicable). ... Install the new rafter (when applicable). ... Prepare the new soffit. ... Attach the soffit. ... Attach the fascia.More items...•

What causes fascia boards to rot?

The most common reason why fascia boards rot is due to an ineffective gutter. A gutter system that's old and leaky or has an improperly aligned downspout will cause the excess moisture to back up into the fascia, which will result in rot over time.

Why are my soffits turning black?

What does the mold growth typically look like? Soffit mold almost always appears with a dark grey or black coloration. The growth pattern tends towards radiating, circular spotting. Dimensionally, the mold growth is typically flat.

How do you fix rotting fascia?

Determine That You Actually Have Rot. Badly rotted window brickmould. ... Identify The Water Source. An example of fascia/gutters. ... Remove The Rotted Fascia Board. Cut the caulk line with a utility knife. ... Examine The Sub-fascia. ... Measure For Your New Piece. ... Cut The New Fascia Board. ... Attach The New Board. ... Caulk Everything.

Remove the Fascia and Shingle Molding

The first step to getting to the damaged or rotting soffits on the side of your home is removing the shingle molding, which is a long, thin piece of wood that is located under the edge of your shingles.

Remove the Damaged Soffits

The next step is to remove the soffits themselves. You can pull rotting wood down with your hands or with the crowbar, but if you have vinyl or metal soffits that have been damaged, you may have to use a drill or hammer to remove the attached sheet.

Inspect and Replace the Rafter

If the exposed rafter behind the fascia and soffit is rotten, you’ll want to use a reciprocating saw to cut it free. Measure the missing piece of the rafter, cut a piece of a 2x4 that is the same size, and then screw it into place using a drill and galvanized steel screws to restore the rafter’s shape.

Replace the Soffit

Attach the soffit to the underside of the rafter, screwing it into the eave with the drill and several galvanized screws. Prefabricated soffits that have vents already installed in them have specific holes that you should drill through to ensure that you do not damage the rest of the soffit.

Replace the Fascia and Shingle Molding

If the old fascia has not rotted, you can nail it back into place using your hammer and move on. If the fascia has rotted or otherwise been damaged, which is likely considering your soffit was damaged, you will need to replace your fascia.

Soffit and Roofing Maintenance

If you have any questions about soffit repair or repairing any other parts of your home, feel free to contact us at any time. Our team of experts will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have, and point you in the right direction when it comes to repairing your home’s exterior.

1. Determine the type and extent of the deterioration

The first and most obvious step is to look for rotten wood. Structural movement of the building may shift the cornice woodwork, opening up joints. This breaks the paint film, letting water soak into the end-grain causing checks, splits, and decay.

2. Plan the repairs

There are four basic types of repair techniques: wood Dutchman (a patch), lap-joint splice, wood-epoxy repair, and complete replacement.

3. Design and lay out the joint

Now that I know the conditions of the board in detail, I can design an effective joint. Here, I’ll use a 3″-long half-lap joint. I lay out the joint with a pencil, combination square and marking gauge (as in Step 2). I mark the shoulder of the lap 3″ back from the end of the board, using the square to make it 90 degrees to the edge of the board.

4. Cut and shape the joint

Next, I cut the shoulder. The depth of this cut extends only halfway through the board. I like to use a Fein multi-tool fitted with a saw blade, which goes a bit slow, but gives me more control for these tricky cuts. Working with a mallet and sharp chisel, I split away the waste [D] and pare down the surface of the cheek until it is nice and flat.

5. Create the replacement part

In the shop, I make the replacement part using the old board end as a pattern. The original soffits are made of heartwood Eastern white pine, so I select a board of the same.

6. Assemble the repair

Back up on the scaffold, I check the part in place, trim it to fit, and drill shank holes in the new part for screws to hold the joint together. Then I glue it into place with an epoxy adhesive.

7. Sand and finish

A light sanding completes the wood lap-joint splice repair, and it’s ready to be painted.