Chapter 14: INSTALLING SOFFIT AND FASCIA

14.0
14.1
14.3

INSTALLING F-CHANNEL
INSTALLING SOFFIT PANELS
INSTALLING FASCIA

Tools needed by volunteer:

Hammer
Nail apron
Tape measure

Safety glasses (goggles)

Pencil
Utility knife

Materials needed:

Aluminum F Channel
Aluminum H Channel
Aluminum J Channel
Aluminum Fascia 6 and 10 wide
1 White Aluminum Nails

Aluminum Soffit 16 wide center

vented
Aluminum Soffit 16 wide nonvented

Tools and equipment needed:

2 level
Framing square
Extension cords
Tin snips
Chalk line
Compressor
Speed square
Pneumatic staple gun and
staples
Planks and metal sawhorses

Ladders 8 and extension

Circular saw with plywood blade
installed backwards
6 metal hand brake
Heavy duty soffit nail holder
punch
Siding/soffit cutting table
Scaffolding
Sheet metal brake
Flat screwdriver

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14.0

Installing F-Channel

1. Using a framing square or level, locate the point on the wall level with the bottom
of the 2x6 sub-fascia board. Place pencil mark below level or square and
drive an 8d nail until firm. See Figure 14-1, bottom portion. Repeat this step on
the opposite end of wall.

Figure 14-1

Figure 14-2

2. Attach and snap a chalk line between nails.

3. Attach the F-channel (the channel is installed upside down so the bottom edge
matches the chalk line). Nail F-Channel in place with 2 siding nails 8-12 o.c.
positioning nail in the center of the slot. Do not nail tightly. See figure 14-2.
4. Repeat the F-channel installation on both sides of the house as well. At both
gable ends of the house the F-channel is installed after the boxed return has the
fascia installed first.
14.1 Installing Soffit Panels
1. Tips when starting to install soffit, set up so the male edge is inserted into female
edge. It is easier. Note: Soffit material is designed with male and female
structures. Cut panels with finish side up. This reduces chance of scratching
finish and reduces burrs from cutting. A screw driver is handy to slide in
receiving end of panels to open up at each end from any burrs when cutting.
Makes sliding panels together much easier. When nailing into V-groove of panels
use Heavy duty nail holder punch to avoid damaging pans with hammer. All
gable end and porch panels are non-vented and all eave panels are center
vented.
2. Start with first panel at gable end opposite the porch. Cut off end of tongue so
bevel end will sit on blocking at gable end box. Piece will be cut as an L-shape.
Cut piece about short at inside of L to allow for expansion. Slide panel into Fchannel.
Use framing square to make sure receiving end of panel is
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perpendicular to wall. Using pneumatic staple gun, staple pan at center Vgroove and at flange of receiving end.
3. Cut soffit panels 3/8-1/2 shorter than measurement from wall to face edge of
2x6 sub-fascia board. (See Figure 14-2) Do Not cut all panels at once without
checking measurement along house every 4-0. Sometimes the truss tail
extensions are not the same along the wall.
4. Slip soffit panel into F-channel and nail to 2x6 sub-fascia board with 1- inch
colored nails or pneumatic staple gun if available with two nails per panel. One at
center groove and one at flange of receiving end. Be certain to insert succeeding
panel securely into preceding panel so that panels run true across the eave. Use
a framing square to ensure a quality installation as you install along the eave
every 4-0.
5. Start installing the gable end soffit pieces at the peak. Put a bend at
approximately the middle of the piece. Install it into the F-strip, check with a
square to make sure you have a straight start and nail it in place using the 1
colored nails or staples.
6. When you get to the gable end
boxed return, (See Figure 14-3), the
J-strip is installed at the last panel if
the F-channel is not returned. One
end of the J-channel sits in the Fchannel and the other end will be
nailed to the 2x6 sub-fascia. The
fascia must be installed first at the
boxed return.

J-Channel

Figure 14-3

7. The bath exhaust fan grille will have to be installed as you are installing the soffit
panels. Where the duct is routed thru the heel of the truss, 24 on each side of
the duct, the vents in the soffit panels must be taped off with clear Weathermate
tape or use solid panels. This is to prevent moisture from getting back siphoned
into the attic. Cut out soffit to fit grille base allowing space for expansion. Nail
one end of grille base to sub-fascia with 2 - 2 roofing nails. Slide in pan around
grille base and install grille cover.
8. Porch soffit panels are installed after the porch beams have fascia installed.
Refer to paragraph in section 14.3. Install F-channel at all four sides of inside of
porch. Check to make sure there is blocking above beams and between the
trusses to nail flange in place. If the truss along the house was not held back 7
as called for on the roof framing plan and is tight to house, you will have to
eliminate the F-channel because you will not be able to nail it in place. In this
case the siding J-channel will have to be installed so soffit panels sit on top of the
J-channel between the roof truss. Slide panels into F-channel. Hint at opposite
end at one side if the top flange of F-channel is cut and bent up, you can drop the
panels in place and slide over. Remember to bend flange back down before
installing last panel. Nail the center of the panels to the bottom of the roof trusses
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with the 1 white soffit nails. One nail at center of panel and second nail at flange
of receiving edge of panel. There will be a recessed light fixture to cut out
around. Allow space around light housing for expansion.
9. For soffits that wrap around outside or inside corners, install H-channel on an
angle. Cut soffit panels at 45 degree angle and slide into channels.
14.3

Installing Fascia

1. Install 10 aluminum fascia first around the gable end boxed returns. This will
require cutting 1 off the bottom flange. Using metal brake bend at this point
so flange will be against gable end wall of house. Then measure over for the
depth of the boxed corner and make a cut at the bottom flange. Using metal
brake bend this piece at the cut to wrap around outside corner of boxed end.
This piece will then have to extend to the eave fascia board and cut flush. The
top will have to be cut to follow the slope of the roof edging. It is acceptable to
nail this piece at the top where gable end fascia will cover over the nails. See
Figure 14-3.
2. Next install 6 aluminum eave fascia first starting at the back of the house so
overlaps are not seen from the front of the house. Cut off 1-2 of the bottom
flange away from the end of the fascia and bend a 1-2 corner to fit over the
corner of the gable sub fascia with metal brake. Slide this flange under the
boxed corner 10 fascia piece.
3. Push the fascia up under the gutter apron until the flange is snug to the soffit and
drive a soffit nail through the fascia flange and soffit V-groove into the underside
edge of the sub fascia with 1 white soffit nails. Install nails 20 o.c. or every fifth
groove. This prevents nails from showing on the fascia surface. Do not nail
tightly; leave a gap between the fascia and the soffit. Make sure fascia does
not show wrinkles when installing. Be careful not to dimple the fascia with your
hammer.
NOTE: Another option is to pre-drill holes into the fascia flange through
the soffit valleys.
4. Overlap the next piece 1 and nail as noted above. All fascia pieces need to be at
least 60 long. Finish the front of the house the same way by cutting off 1-2 of
the bottom flange away from the end of the fascia and bend a 1-2 corner to fit
over the corner of the gable sub fascia with metal brake and sliding under the
boxed corner fascia.
On gable ends, start at the bottom of the gable so overlaps will enable rain to
wash off.
Cut the bottom flange off one end of the piece of fascia so it will extend to where
the soffit panels start at the gable end. Cut the face of the fascia (the side where
the gable and eave meet at the boxed corner) flush with the eave fascia. Install
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by nailing through the flange as noted above. This piece will overlap over the 10
boxed in fascia.
5. Extend fascia until you reach the peak. At the peak the fascia will overlap. The
first piece of fascia will extend past the joint of the sub fascia to opposite roof
edging. See Figure 14-4. This will require cutting away some of the bottom
flange to fit. The piece of fascia running up from the other fascia board will be
cut to cover beyond the peak of the sub fascia and make a finished cut
perpendicular to the peak. Nail through the flange to finish.

Figure 14-4
6. Installing fascia at porch beams.
Before installing aluminum fascia over beam, make sure beam width will be
about larger than the flange that gets installed at the top of the vinyl porch
posts. Add wood furring as required. Measure the width of the bottom of the
beam. Use aluminum coil stock and cut the strips in one continuous length for
each beam section. Nail with the 1 white aluminum nails or staple in place
keeping the fastener within from edge so it will be covered by the bottom
flange of the fascia. Then using 10 fascia panels cover the 2x10 beam. Nail
panels with 1 white nails. Make sure the nails are near the top so they will be
covered by the soffit f-channel trim. Then use sparingly the 1 white nails to
hold bottom flange in place.

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