How to Fix Soffit

Erect a sturdy ladder and place it on strong sturdy ground just under the soffit area needing repair.

Pry off any molding attached to the soffit edge. In some cases this is along the exterior wall edge or butted up against the fascia. Use a pry bar for wood molding or a flat-head screwdriver for vinyl.

Find the seam of the piece of soffit needing repair. For wood soffit, cut the caulk seam with a utility knife to separate it from the connecting pieces. Vinyl soffits are usually not caulked, but some builders do caulk large seams.

Insert the tip of a pry bar into the seam of the wood soffit and gently apply pressure to pull the piece away from the frame. Drop the removed piece to the ground and pull any nails that don't come out with the piece, using a claw hammer. For vinyl, carefully release the clips holding the piece to the frame.

Examine the area under the removed soffit piece for any structural damage. Verify that the frame is not rotted and can accept a new piece of wood soffit. For vinyl, check that the clips are still good, and replace any that are damaged.

Cut a new wood or vinyl piece with a radial arm saw equipped with a blade designed for the proper material used. Use the removed piece as a template to make sizing easier, and check your measurements twice before cutting.

Position the new piece of wood or vinyl in place and attach it securely to the house frame. For wood soffit, use 2-inch framing nails positioned approximately every 2 inches. For vinyl, hold the soffit piece in place and carefully reattach the clips.

Caulk the seams with paintable silicone caulk, and replace the molding. Paint a wood soffit to match the rest of the home after the caulk has cured for a minimum of 4 hours.