Soffits enclose the underside of eaves and porch ceilings. Hiding areas that building owners do not wish to be seen, they often cover structural elements like load-bearing beams, HVAC ductwork, electrical wires and plumbing pipes. They exist at the point where the roof projection and the side wall of a building meet. Metal soffits are available in a variety of colors to match buildings, and come as solid panels, lanced or perforated. Usually measuring 16 to 24 inches wide and 12 feet long, their preformed lengths are cut to match overhang depths and then fit into matching, preformed receiving channels that hold them in place.
Information on how to install metal soffits correctly
Options
Soffit installation depends on the type of material used and the eave construction. Check local building codes for the ventilation required for specific geographic areas and maximum permissible span of the soffit material. Soffit installation also depends on whether the eave construction is open or closed. Open eave construction, where the rafters or trusses are exposed, is common on new construction. Closed eave construction, where an existing soffit is in place, is typical of remodeling projects.
Photo courtesy of AEP Span
All metal soffit panel applications are designed to attach directly to the soffit’s substructure. “This substructure could be constructed from light-gauge framing members like hat sections and/or cee section members, girts or purlins or even a solid deck substructure,” says Randy Tweedt, manager- technical services at MBCI, Houston. “The substructure should be erected plumb and aligned to receive the soffit panel attachment. The panels would then be secured to the framing or substructure with the designed fasteners. Some metal soffit types may be attached to the substructure by a concealed clip system, they may be attached to the substructure directly through a fastener ledge integrated in the panel’s profile or may even be attached directly through the panel itself.”
Photo courtesy of Englert Inc.
Because metallic finishes tend to be directional and batch specific, Eamon Lyons, sales representative at AEP Span, Fontana, Calif., stresses great care must be taken to ensure that panels are not installed in reverse. “They will look like totally different finishes and cause for punch list rejection,” he cautions. “Nonferrous materials (copper, aluminum and stainless steel) tend to mark up much more easily and also absorb oils, which makes gloves a necessity when installing. Perforated materials can be especially tricky depending on the perforated pattern required; the higher the percentage is, the higher the risk of damage during installation.”
Jeff Barnard, CSI, CDT, senior applications specialist at Englert Inc., Perth Amboy, N.J., believes that in spite of their options, generally, most soffit panels are installed the same way. “Usually soffit panels are oriented perpendicular to the exterior walls,” he says. “Soffit panels can also be installed parallel to the exterior walls at greater cost. Soffit panels can be used on the interior of the building.”
Soffit Installation
Barnard says a standard soffit installation procedure consists of:
- Installing hat channel furring
- Cutting metal soffit panels to length
- Installing trim (usually before the soffit panels)
- Cutting panel penetration openings, e.g., light fixtures
- Installing the soffit panels
“All soffit panels systems require sheet metal flashing at the perimeter to trim the raw panel edges,” Barnard adds. “Fabricated trim can be purchased from some manufacturers, for some soffit panel profiles. For the most part, soffit panel trim is fabricated by the architectural sheet metal contractor, from matching prefinished flat stock provided by the manufacturer.”
Lyons says a soffit installation procedure consists of:
- Carefully review specs, plans and details to be aware of any unusual conditions that might cause issues if not aware of ahead of time.
- Review manufacturer’s installation guide to ensure correct procedures are followed if not familiar with product.
- Review and inspect work area/space for any safety or restrictive conditions (e.g., open ditches).
- Establish height/elevation of soffit line and ensure this is workable across the entire area of the proposed soffit area.
- Review and coordinate with other sub trades that have scope in the same area so that all trades are scheduled correctly.
- Verify contents of delivery against the shipping documents and cut list to ensure all materials required are present and notify suppliers of any deficiencies.
- Check substrate that will receive attachment is in place and consistent so as not to cause issues with finished product transferring out of plane issues.
- Decide if panel is single direction or universal, and after review of install area decide on the starting point best suited to how panel must lay/install.
- Establish control lines for height.
- Measure length of run for soffit panels and lay out panels. Cut panels can be included at each end of the run to ensure symmetry of installation.
- Attach receiver channel or angle at the back side of the soffit that will receive panels.
- Continue in the direction of layout cutting around any protrusion that may exist (e.g., other trades such as electrical or fire sprinkler).
- Pay close attention to check for proper engagement of panel interlocks/side laps.
- Make sure to maintain “squareness” of panels.
- Once panels are installed, complete final trims, closures and flashings.
- Double check that fasteners/rivets are complete and per recommended spacing.
- Apply touch-up paint as required due to handling/installation process.
Photo courtesy of IMETCO
Timing and Access
Soffit panel installation can generally occur during almost any phase of the roof or wall installation. However, Tweedt says the best option is to install the soffit panels after the wall has been installed. “This will allow the soffit panel to terminate into the wall system providing a clean appearance,” he says.
Lyons stresses that since modern construction is often designed to overlap with trades “working on top of each other,” and since construction projects always have a critical path component, timing and communication is important to successful soffit installation. “Communicating with other trades working in the same area as referred to in the step-by-step procedures and co-coordinating areas receiving soffit installs is critical,” he says. “This often boils down to your on-site labor not just being a competent tradesman but also a good communicator/people person.”
Lyons also cautions that an often-overlooked detail with soffits is the need for access after installation and the necessary installation/placement of a required access hatch/panel. Care should always be given to this aspect of the project before cut listing and ordering commences, he says.
