How to Install Soffits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Homeowners

Soffits are panels which sit under the edge of the roof, between the wall of the building and fascia board. Soffits are primarily designed to seal the eaves and protect your roof structure from any water damage, debris and even any small insects and animals from entering your roof space.

There are a range of different soffit types, the ones you select for your roof structure will primarily depend on the needs of your building but whether you opt for vente flat or even hollow boards, correct installation is key to ensuring your soffit boards are performing their desired functions. Whether you are working on a DIY renovation project or full roofline upgrade, we have put together a step-by-step guide with practical advice, on best fitting practices to ensure a long-lasting finish.

Fitting Soffit Boards

Equipment:

To successfully install a soffit board, it is important to ensure you have the right tools on hand:

Tape Measure and Levelling Tool
Saw (or any other professional cutting tool)
Cordless Drill
Ladder
PPE Equipment

Before installing new soffit boards, take time to inspect your existing soffits and fascias. Look for signs of damage, damp, or rot so you can understand exactly what needs replacing. It might seem like an obvious step, but it’s surprisingly easy to overlook. Replacing only the soffits when the roof structure has underlying issues—such as leaks or widespread rot—won’t fix the problem. A thorough check at the start will save time, money, and trouble later.

Measure your Soffits

In order to ensure that you get the right replacement, it is important to measure both the length and width of each section where your soffit boards will sit, if you are replacing old soffits then you can measure these existing boards.

Our soffit boards are available in a variety of sizes and in standard three and five metre lengths. Made from uPVC, our soffit boards can be easily cut with a fine toothed saw or a jigsaw. uPVC is easy to work with and you should be able to easily cut to the exact size you require. If you are working with vented soffits, consider the position of the vent holes before you cut.

Removing Old Soffit Boards

It is important to ensure that you carefully remove the old soffit boards. Removing soffit boards should be relatively straightforward but take care and do this slowly so as not to damage any other part of your roof.

Before fitting, get your trims ready. Trims are fixed to the wall where your soffit will sit and they will hold the edge of each board in place.

Supporting trims are a good way to ensure your soffit boards

Installing the Soffit Boards

Once you have secured your trims in place, you can then inset your soffit boards into the trim, pushing the opposite edge up to meet the fascia board. Once in place, use a drill and stainless steel screws to secure your boards in place. Continue this process until you have completed the process across the entire roofline.

Consider what soffit board you are fitting, hollow soffit boards are a lot lighter then standard soffit boards, so ensure you don’t over drill as this could cause the boards to crack.

Fit Fascia Board

Once your soffit boards are securely fitted, you can then proceed to fitting your fascia boards. Fascia boards support the front edge of the soffit board and must therefore only be fitted once soffit boards are in place.

Once fitted, double check to ensure you have sealed everything correctly, boards are all aligned and straight and if you are fitting any corner trims, ensure that all of these have been correctly sealed too.

After you have completed your installation, your soffit should require only minimal maintenance. Boards can be wiped clean with standard detergents and you should check for loose fittings every few years. It is also important to ensure that you check for any blockages, this should be done annually.

Installing soffits is generally straightforward task but it is important that you are precise with your fitting in order to give your roofline a clean and professional look whilst also maintaining ventilation and protection.

If you are unsure about the installation process, it is always wise to consult a professional to ensure that your soffit boards, and your entire roof structure, are finished to the highest standard.