vinyl soffits - falling - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

artinall · 04-21-2008, 03:49 PM

Lately, a portion of vinyl soffit has been falling beyond the wall 'L' channel at its endl.

It was installed as a long run ~ 5-6 ft., from gutter to wall, over the garage section.

This vented vinyl material doesn't seem to be attached to truss chord and only rests on the retainer at inner fascia and wall. Is this to help account for expansion/contraction of vinyl or only 'ease of installation'?

Wondering best way to correct this; and how to attach at underside.

Seems like any form of attachment is going to show glaringly from below and it will not have that elongated bow from fascia to wall as the whole area now does.

note: bldg is 10+ yrs old and has done so only couple times in past, now is happening weekly. Any winds have been around normal, not much. Guess it has lost its rigidity over the years.

TimNJ · 04-21-2008, 05:15 PM

Am I reading this right? You have vinyl soffit that is 5-6' lengths and they are only held in place by the channels at each end? If so, I'm surprised they aren't all laying on the ground by now. You couldn't have 5-6' length plywood soffits nailed only at each end and not expect them to bow. Take it all down and add nailers 12-16" OC then nail it back up.

rojigga · 04-21-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimNJ

Am I reading this right? You have vinyl soffit that is 5-6' lengths and they are only held in place by the channels at each end? If so, I'm surprised they aren't all laying on the ground by now. You couldn't have 5-6' length plywood soffits nailed only at each end and not expect them to bow. Take it all down and add nailers 12-16" OC then nail it back up.

He speaks the truth. I wouldn't nail/staple only if the pieces' are under 2'. Anything over that hit a truss or strapping with a nail/staple... And fasten loose so there's some play (vinyl soffit).

easy sider · 04-21-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimNJ

Am I reading this right? You have vinyl soffit that is 5-6' lengths and they are only held in place by the channels at each end? If so, I'm surprised they aren't all laying on the ground by now. You couldn't have 5-6' length plywood soffits nailed only at each end and not expect them to bow. Take it all down and add nailers 12-16" OC then nail it back up.

Yes Sir.... Thats the way for sure... Use nails not stapples.

artinall · 04-21-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Am I reading this right? You have vinyl soffit that is 5-6' lengths and they are only held in place by the channels at each end? If so, I'm surprised they aren't all laying on the ground by now. You couldn't have 5-6' length plywood soffits nailed only at each end and not expect them to bow. Take it all down and add nailers 12-16" OC then nail it back up.

Yes, that's right. You're saying to add nailer parallel to chords, right?

Problem I'll have now is that the ridges aren't going to line up on center. And the vinyl is probably discontinued/weathered to match remainder of soffit on the house.

Will have to nail through the sheer sections and this, will make it obvious.

What would you use for nails? Will the vinyl expand/contract similarly with the nailers?

As a sidenote - the entire porch was done the same way. There is a large bow on this ceiling - roughly 6' in depth. Building is a duplex.

MALCO.New.York · 04-21-2008, 08:33 PM

I do not see the problem. It is an improper install and now you are there, many years after, to fix it. BILL ACCORDINGLY! And then some!

Patrick · 04-21-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

I do not see the problem. It is an improper install and now you are there, many years after, to fix it. BILL ACCORDINGLY! And then some!

LOL bout time someone slaps him. For us, we would be selling an ENTIRE new siding job or saying see ya later. a soffit install like this is just the tip of the iceberg i bet.

The BEST soffit screw up is the idiots that try to run soffits parallel to the porch, and will seam soffit together! OR who run parallel to joists without strapping.

artinall · 04-22-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

The BEST soffit screw up is the idiots that try to run soffits parallel to the porch, and will seam soffit together! OR who run parallel to joists without strapping.

Interesting way of putting this, Patrick.

If going parallel to joists, why not screw centermost through the mounting slot, leaving unsnug, so the vinyl can slide if necessary for movement?

A W Smith · 04-22-2008, 09:39 PM

if I am reading this right. Your truss lower chord runs in the same direction as the panels? and your nailing hem has no backer to nail to? why cant you just dismantle the ceiling and provide 1/2 inch plywood and reinstall all the old material using the nailing hem? Will this additional half inch lower the ceiling below the facia "L" bend and the soffit "J" or "F" channel on the wall?

artinall · 04-23-2008, 09:28 AM

A W,

Thank you for the response.

Yes, the truss chords run parallel to panels.

Might end up blocking nailers off at a right angle to chords.

Did not want to nail plywood since this will mean losing ventilation, and these areas connect with others that would be 1/2" higher, and would loose L channel.

Probably will have to crawl attic at the far end of a very slim pitch roof to view this from above.