If you plan on painting or replacing wood soffits with aluminum you’ll want to read on and discover how to do so efficiently. Wood soffits are flat panels with slots that are located at the edge of your roof under the eavestrough. Due to placement near the roof, soffits can certainly have extreme exposure to the elements.
Soffits are usually made of wood, aluminum or vinyl. Wood soffits can rot over time so it’s a good idea to replace them with a material like aluminum. If you’re thinking about things like curb appeal, it’s important to match your soffits with your siding. It creates a more cohesive look for your home. If you’re interested, keep reading to learn all about painting or replacing wood soffits with aluminum!
Painting or Replacing Wood Soffits With Aluminum
Materials That You Will Need For Replacing Wood Soffits:
- Safety Goggles/Utility Belt
- Pry Bar
- Aluminum Soffit
- Jigsaw
- Ladder
- Tape Measure
- Sheet Metal Clippers
- Hammer
- Marker/Pencil
- J-Channel (Plastic or Metal channel shaped like a J)
- 1-1/2 Inch Nails
- 1 Inch Galvanized Nails
Replacing Wood Soffits Costs:
Something to consider for D.I.Y projects such as these is that although you will save money on the labour you will be paying for your own tools and supplies.
So for this particular project, pressure-treated or vinyl soffits and fascias range from about $2 to $10 or more per linear foot.
Aluminum can range from around $2.50 to $15 or more per linear foot. Depending on how much you need to replace, aim to spend around $50 on just these supplies alone.
1. Prep and Remove
- If you need to, use a stepladder or a full-length ladder and align it with the roofline. Make sure it is stable and secure.
- Put on your safety goggles and wear a utility belt if possible to keep your tools close by.
- Locate the thin wooden strip moulding and, using a pry bar, pry it free from the roof. Remove all of the strip/shingle mouldings.
- Glance at the end of the fascia board that will be facing toward you and pry it from the seam where it attaches to the nails. Carefully pry it off.
- You’ll need to find the plywood soffit now, some may be the length of the entire roof and some may be spaced out. Find the nails on the edges of the wood soffit and pry them off with the claw part of your hammer. Carefully remove the wooden soffit.
2. Put up Your Aluminum Soffit
- Compare the aluminum soffit to the wooden one and gauge whether or not you need to widen the hole. You can use a marker or a pencil and sketch where it needs to be widened. Using a jigsaw cut along the sketched lines.
- With your J-Channel insert the aluminum soffit into the groove. Insert more nails to hold it in place. If you need an extra hand, have someone assist you by holding it up.
- With the 1-inch galvanized nails, install and attach the fascia board.
HINT
When replacing wood soffits with aluminum, make sure you also check the felt on the roof underneath so you know if it has worn down significantly or not. You may need to replace this as well, so incorporate it into your budget.
How to Paint Soffit and Fascia
Can you paint the aluminum fascia and soffit? The short answer is yes, you can paint aluminum soffit and fascia. However, before you begin any painting project, it’s important to know what type of paint will work best for this application.
Soffits and fascia are the eaves of your home, and they protect the exterior of your home from weather damage. They also provide a decorative element to your home’s exterior. Painting aluminum soffits and fascia is an easy way to give your home a fresh new look, but it can be difficult to get the job done properly. Here’s how to paint the soffit and fascia:
Step 1: Clean the aluminum thoroughly with a degreaser or other cleaning agent. Cover the area with drop cloths, and tape off any areas that you don’t want to get dirty.
Step 2: Make sure that the paint you use is specifically made for use on aluminum surfaces such as aluminum siding or roofing material. Because regular exterior paint may not stick well enough due to its shine or slickness. So, what paint to use on the aluminum soffit and fascia?
Paint the aluminum fascia with an alkyd or latex primer. This will prepare the metal surface for the paint that will go on top of it. Apply two coats of primer, letting each dry completely before applying another coat.
Step 3: Use acrylic latex paint to cover your aluminum fascia and soffit in your chosen colour. You’ll get better results if you use high-quality paint with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Step 4: Follow the directions on the label for how long to wait between coats, then let everything dry completely before adding more coats or finishing touches.
Excellent Aluminium Siding Transformation
Painting Or Replacing Wood Soffits with Aluminum
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Learning how to paint or replace wood soffits with aluminum will have you prepared for future maintenance with your roof. Hopefully, there won’t be a lot to be done, but in case there is you are prepared! If all this D.I.Y stuff just doesn’t work well with your schedule and you would rather sit back and relax in the warm weather instead of working on your roof – then Home Painters Toronto just might be the best call to make!
Call us NOW at 416-494-9095 or email Brian@homepainterstoronto.com. And don’t forget to follow us on all our social channels below as well!
