Has Time & Moisture Affected Your Soffits & Fascia?
Soffits and fascia are the part of a roof’s structure closest to the gutters. This means that they are the first things to be damaged by water if the home’s gutters become clogged. In addition, they can also fall victim to an infestation of insects or by the nesting of birds and other animals. If you have noticed discoloration and peeling paint, it can be a tell-tale sign that the soffits and fascia of your home have been damaged.
Collectively known as “trim", soffit and fascia have a few similarities and differences.
Similarities
– Both sit below the roof line (and below your gutters, if you have them).
– Both protect your home from water, weather, and critters.
– Both can either be “capped" or completely replaced, depending on your needs and the existing material’s condition.
– If the original material is wood, soffit and fascia board are both prone to wood rot.
Differences
– Fascia board lays vertically and is most visible when you’re looking at the home.
– Soffit board lays horizontally, directly under the fascia board.
– Soffit can be vented, while fascia board cannot.
Fascia Capping & Replacement Options
Metal Fascia Capping
With all fascia capping projects, it is optional to replace your existing fascia with new wooden boards. If the fascia board is original to the home or appears to be rotting, we recommend new wood before capping your fascia. Doing so will prevent unnecessary headaches down the road.
If your current fascia board does not need replacing, we’ll cap it with custom-bent metal. The metal will be customized to the shape of your current fascia, so the original look and feel are maintained.
The benefits of metal fascia capping are that it is maintenance and prevents the underneath wood from rotting. You can choose from a wide variety of colors and once it’s installed, the material does not need to be painted.
Composite Fascia Replacement
Composite fascia replacement differs from metal capping because the original wood fascia boards are removed. Instead, the entire fascia board will be a composite material. Much like the metal capping, the composite fascia is completely maintenance-free.Soffit Capping & Replacement Options
Vinyl Soffit Capping (Optional Wood Replacement)
Capping your soffit with vinyl has a similar effect to capping your fascia with metal. The capping process is done with different materials, but it accomplishes the same goal– protecting your home from water and wood rot. It is important to note that you can only cap your soffits if your fascia is also being capped.
When installing vinyl soffit capping, you have the option to replace the wood boards or simply cap them. If the wood is rotting or showing signs of wear and tear, we recommend replacing them so your home has a tight seal.
Once the soffit wood is replaced, it’s time to cap them with vinyl. You have a few styles to choose from: solid, vented, or alternating vented. Which to choose depends on your home’s roof and ventilation needs.
Composite Soffit Replacement
The most maintenance-free option for upgrading your soffit is to completely replace them with composite soffit material. If you choose this route, the wood soffit boards will be removed and replaced with composite, which can either be vented or solid depending on the needs of your roof.
