How to Install Maintenance-Free Aluminum Soffits (page 5 of 6)

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How to Install Maintenance-Free Aluminum Soffits: Easy Does It

Whoa! Don’t bother climbing around on ladders to measure your soffits and fascia (you’ll get enough of that later). Measure the walls and “guesstimate” overhang lengths to get an approximate total. On gable ends, hold a tape measure at the approximate roof angle, at the halfway point of the wall (directly under the peak), to get lengths for gable trim.

The job goes smoother when you follow the correct installation sequence

First nail up the J-channel, then soffit panels, then fascia, then drip edge. It’s a hassle to continually move your ladders (or scaffolding) and cutting table around the house, so concentrate on completing one overhang at a time until you get to the corners. Then you’ll have to jump back and forth between gable and eave ends when you’re finishing tying the corners together. The trick is to finish as much as possible on one soffit before moving all the gear.

Tricks Of The Trade For A Quality Job

Fascia Tips
Use extra care nailing up the fascia. Hammer dents and bent or overset nails really show up later. Begin installing fascia at the center of each length by pushing it up snug to the bottom of the soffit panels. Nail it, then work your way in both directions, driving nails every 16 in., placed about 1 in. from the top and bottom. Overlap joints 1 to 2 in. and nail through the lap. On slopes, like eave ends, work your way uphill with the lowest fascias first. That way, lapped joints will shed water.