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How to Repair Rotted Soffit and Fascia – Install the New Soffit

Bob Jackson
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by Bob Jackson

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.

Soffit and Fascia Repair: Scaffolding
Soffit and Fascia Repair: Scaffolding

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:

Rotted Fascia Board Resting on the Roof Shingles
Rotted Fascia Board Resting on the Roof Shingles

Looking down the fascia board toward the corner of the roof. Notice the open end of the gutter at the corner:

Replace Rotted Fascia Board
Replace Rotted Fascia Board

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!

Rotted Soffit and Fascia Board Repair: Scaffold, Ladder and Roof Brackets
Rotted Soffit and Fascia Board Repair: Scaffold, Ladder and Roof Brackets

And the view from the porch deck of the scaffold and ladder.

View of Scaffold and Ladder Arrangement from the Deck
View of Scaffold and Ladder Arrangement from the Deck

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 Rotted Fascia Board
Remove the Rotted Fascia Board

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:

Rotted Plywood Soffit Repair
Rotted Plywood Soffit Repair

Plywood soffit, 2×4 lookouts (“lookouts” are horizontal framing the soffit is nailed to) and roof rafters:

Plywood Soffit and Debris from Squirrels

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:

Plywood Soffit Repair: Old Plywood Soffit and Water Damage
Plywood Soffit Repair: Old Plywood Soffit and Water Damage

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.
Soffit Repair: New Soffit and PVC Fascia Board
Soffit Repair: New Soffit and PVC Fascia Board

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:

Replace Rotted Soffit: New Section of Plywood Soffit Installed
Replace Rotted Soffit: New Section of Plywood Soffit Installed

The TUF board PVC fascia is attached to the 2×4 lookouts with 2-1/2″ stainless steel exterior wood screws:

Replace Rotted Fascia: TUFF board PVC Fascia Installed
Replace Rotted Fascia: TUFF board PVC Fascia Installed

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

2x4 lookoutsGeorgia-Pacific Plytanium sanded plywoodHow to Repair Rotted Soffit and Fasciahow to replace plywood soffitplywood soffit
Bob Jackson
Bob Jackson
Technology product manager by day and a prolific handyman in the evenings and over the weekends. Bob was the founder of the original Handyman How To website and that tradition continues on this site with excellent new handyman content into the future.
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