Expert: Daniel Humphrey - 1/10/2008

Question
Hey Dan, I had a pole building built last year, 24'x32' with a 12'x 8' lean to attached. I need to cover underneath the lean too, as it's a bird nesting area. Can I run 12'x 12" perforated soffit under there, and what channel strip do I start and finish with? Thank you sincerely Doug

Answer
Doug,

Swallows? Or sparrows?

I guess you could use that soffit material under there, but it's a lot of work unless you want to match something else, or have a lot of it left over from another job.

As far as installing it, each soffit system is a bit different and has a slightly different design for the clips and channels. You should be able to find a little installation booklet on your product, showing all the trim pieces available.

Start off by making sure you have the fascia and rake trim that will provide an edge of at least 1 inch all around.

Your installation is made easier by the fact you probably don't need to access that area after installation; so if you use the kind I have, you can pretty much use the J next to the fascia on the eave, one end rake, and the top.  Use the T between courses and on the ends of full width pieces, until you get to the top. For the last course, slide the custom cut pieces in lengthways. Finish off with a T and a painted 1x2 to cover the flange, or a clip J.

But really, for this job, I would use plain 3/8" painted plywood or T-111 textured plywood, fastened with galvanized or coated sheetrock screws and trimmed with painted 1x2 on the seams. Look around at the different plywood available locally to see if there's something you like.

Good luck,

Daniel