DIY: Fascia & Soffit

Installing Fascia

• 1

  Measure the length of your roof's edge, from the outside of the front rafter tail, to the outside of the last rafter tail, using a tape measure. Measure the height of your rafter tails and select either 1-by-4-inch, or 1-by-6-inch lumber to fit the height of the tails.

• 2

  Hold the first piece in place, with its top edge against the bottom of the roof decking, and its front end flush with the outside of the front rafter. Mark the piece aligned with the center of the rafter tail, nearest the end of the piece, opposite the front rafter. Cut the piece to length on the mark with a circular saw.

• 3

  Nail the fascia board in place, using two 16d nails in the end of each rafter tail. Butt the next piece end to end against the first. Check the length and cut the piece so that it ends in the center of a rafter tail, if needed. Nail it in place. Add full length pieces as far as possible. Measure and cut the last piece to fit with its far end flush with the outside of the last rafter.

Installing Soffit

• 4

  Measure out from the wall to the back of the fascia, along the bottom edge of the first rafter. Use a table saw to cut enough 4-by-8-foot sheets of 1/4-inch thick plywood to cover the bottom of the eaves.

• 5

  Fit the first panel in place, with one short end butted up to the inside of the front gable. Staple the plywood in place to the underside of the rafters, using at least 4 1-inch wide crown staples in each rafter.

• 6

  Continue adding full pieces as far as possible, butting each piece end-to-end with the piece before it. Measure and cut a piece to fit from the last full piece to the inside face of the back gable.