If the soffit and fascia of your home are made of wood, chances are that sooner or later you will have to repair or replace them. Repairing soffit panels or fascia boards that are rotting, splitting or displaying other signs of water damage might seem relatively straightforward, especially if you like to DIY. But as with any home maintenance project, it can quickly become more involved than you expected. Here are some things to consider when deciding to DIY soffit or fascia repairs.
Proper Tools and Equipment
Expect to use or rent scaffolding; a ladder won’t give you the freedom of movement needed to get the job done. Since you will most likely be replacing old wood with new aluminum panels, tools needed for standard soffit and fascia repairs include a circular saw, jigsaw, framing square, combination square, tin snips, saw horses and protective eyewear.
Damage Assessment
Determine the extent of the damage to the soffit and/or fascia. The more extensive, the longer the project is going to take. When damaged sections exceed 10 or more affected areas, consider hiring a gutter contractor.
The Gutters
When replacing fascia boards, and in some cases soffit panels, the gutter sections will have to be removed first. Once repairs to the soffit and fascia have been made, the gutters have to be correctly reattached to ensure the proper slope for drainage.
Fascia Board
Depending on the extent of the damage, all or part of the fascia boards will have to be removed. Examine the rafters for soft spots or rotted areas. If damage to the fascia has occurred over a long period of time, rafters, the attic and roofing tiles could also be affected. Replacement fascia should be measured and cut to the correct size, then installed using the right size and type of nail and/or screw. If replacement material doesn’t match, you might have to paint or stain the new fascia boards.
Soffit Panels
You will have to cut out the bad soffit or remove the damaged soffit panels. Install replacement sections according to manufacturer instructions. Some types of vented and unvented soffits might require an application of sealant. To blend in, color-match replacement soffit sheets by painting or staining them.
