This project is continued from How to Repair Rotted Soffit and Fascia – Part 2.
The scaffold is positioned at the corner of the roof so I can easily reach the corner of the roof to pull off the fascia board. I arranged the aluminum scaffold planks as shown so I could reach the corner of the roof from the upper plank or walk onto the roof from the lower plank.
Also, if I slipped off the roof the scaffold would catch me – at least that’s theory!
How to Repair Rotted Soffit and Fascia
Remove the Rotted Fascia Board
Having removed the gutter, the rotted end of the fascia board where it rests on the roof is now in plain sight:
Looking down the fascia board toward the corner of the roof. Notice the open end of the gutter at the corner:
I’m sitting the ladder that I laid on the roof against the 2×6 board and roof brackets. I wouldn’t want to be doing this job without the scaffolding!
And the view from the porch deck of the scaffold and ladder.
Remove the Rotted Fascia Board
I began by cutting caulk lines between the fascia and soffit with a utility knife.
The fascia board was surprisingly easy to pull off the house while standing on the scaffold. I tapped the corner-end of the fascia with the hammer and used the pry bar to wedge it free. Then I worked the end of the fascia board to pull the entire length free.
Remove the Soffit Plywood
I climbed the ladder on the roof to inspect the soffit. The soffit was full of hickory nuts from the squirrels:
Plywood soffit, 2×4 lookouts (“lookouts” are horizontal framing the soffit is nailed to) and roof rafters:
Here’s another example of the incompetence of the carpenters: Notice the extra 2×4 blocks nailed beside too-short lookouts so the ends would be flush for the fascia board. There’s a reason why the company that built my home went out of business shortly after it was finished. Good thing this is not structural work.
The soffit was fastened with two inch staples to the 2×4 lookouts. The lookouts provide a nailing base for the soffit. I removed the soffit by working the pry bar between the 2×4 lookouts and soffit. Hickory nuts, saw dust and fossilized squirrel droppings rained down!
This is the water damaged 2ft x 7ft section of plywood soffit:
Notice the rain water stains at the bottom right where the soffit contacted the roof.
Install New Soffit and Fascia
I bought a 4′ x 8′ sheet of 3/8″ thick Georgia-Pacific Plytanium® sanded plywood for the soffit and an 18 foot long 1″ x 8″ TUF board® Trimboard for the fascia and cut each to the size of the original members.
TUF board® is PVC plastic product with a light wood grain one side and is smooth on the other. TUF Board is waterproof and rot proof with a lifetime guarantee, can be cut and nailed just like wood and is paintable. This is just what I needed for direct contact with the roof shingles! TUF Board appears to be sold exclusively by Home Depot, which is convenient for me.
I measured and cut the plywood with a circular power saw. I used my Dewalt Compound Mitre Saw to cut the TUF board. The TUF board required two cuts:
- Miter cut to mate with the 45 degree angle of the other fascia board at the corner of the house.
The miter cut at the bottom of the next photo. Make this cut first!
- Measure the board length to make the 2nd cut to match the 12/12 roof pitch.
For simplicity I used the old board to mark the angle, which for a 12/12 pitch roof is 45 degrees.
I’ll rehang the original gutter section as well.
The new section of plywood is fastened to the 2×4 lookouts with 1-1/2″ exterior wafer head screws. The most difficult part was holding the plywood in place until I could set the first screw. Notice the sanded side of the plywood is facing down for the best presentation:
The TUF board PVC fascia is attached to the 2×4 lookouts with 2-1/2″ stainless steel exterior wood screws:
Remember to apply a small bead of caulk to the end of the fascia board at the 45 corner joint before attaching it to the lookouts. This is to protect the original wood fascia along the front of the house.
This project is continued in How to Repair Rotted Soffit and Fascia – Part 4.
Take care,
Bob Jackson