Tips for Building Vinyl Soffits

Vinyl soffits are good replacements for wooden soffits. Unlike a wooden soffit, a vinyl soffit cannot rot and it is durable as well as resistant to rain. You can hire a roofing contractor to remove your old wooden soffits and replace them with vinyl.

The soffit is one of the most neglected fixtures on the roof and as a result it can cause many problems later on. The soffit is a board or covering that covers the underside of roof overhangs. One end is fixed to the wall by means of metal brackets or L-angles, and the other end is fixed to ends of roof rafters. The soffit protects the roof from moisture damage and it also provides a nice look by covering the ugly roof rafters. There are important considerations to follow when you are installing vinyl soffits. The method of installation will differ from that of wooden soffits. There are tricky situations that you have to be aware of. Here are tips for installing vinyl soffits:

Vinyl Soffits are Inexpensive

Most people are used to wooden soffits, because they are cheap. However, vinyl soffits are also affordable. They have more value than wooden soffits, because they are durable, rot-proof as well as resistant to water and insect damage. This is one reason to use them.

Install Vented Vinyl soffits

In building vinyl soffits, you should choose vented vinyl soffits because they save energy. These soffits allow the circulation of air into the attic and will keep moisture away. The increase in air flow helps to dissipate the heat from the attic and will cool the house.

Hire a Skilled Technician

Installing a vinyl soffit is challenging, if you do not have the skills. It is a good idea to hire a technician who is certified by professional bodies such as the GAF Master Elite. You will save money in the process, because the installation is guaranteed to last. If you do the installation yourself, you may do a bad job that will force you to spend more money for future repairs.

Vinyl Soffit Leaks

When installing vinyl soffits, be warned that they are susceptible to leaks. Rain water can pass through the panel overlaps as well as through the end gaps. Therefore, make sure that your vinyl soffits have weep holes to prevent water from accumulating. Make sure that you do not tamper with the house wrap or tar paper when installing vinyl panels.

Start with the trim

When you are building vinyl soffits, you should start with the trim. The trim is done to allow for heat expansion. The vinyl panels should be trimmed ¼ inches shorter than the depth of the soffit. Cover the soffit trimmed ends with aluminum fascia board and vinyl casing. The top part of the soffit panels are held by the casing, and the set-up looks like a “frieze board.” This is an optional method of fixing to J-channels.

Hide the Soffit Edges

You must do a few more trims, and use the trim pieces to hide the soffit edges and ends. As an example, under-sill trim is fixed under horizontal projections, where it grasps the upper part of the vinyl panel. Where the soffits form abutments, J-channels may be used to hide the edges.

Begin with high trims

High trims are done for soffits, fascias and rakes. Soffit building is usually done at the same time as fascias and rakes. To cover the rakes, use sheet-metal and aluminum coil stock. Wrap the bottom edge and face of 1 rake board. Instead of using aluminum trim stock, you can use 100% vinyl trims or vinyl-coated aluminium. These are easy to bend, and will give good results. A board slimmer than the rake should be used to create some space for the soffit ends. As the construction progresses, you should begin the soffit installation. Install 2sub-fascias, then hang the vinyl soffit boards and fascia. Use a J-channel to support the vinyl soffits where they meet the house wall. For window soffits, use window casing or undersill trim to provide support.