In 2019, 88% of Americans had to invest in at least one repair.
Over time home repairs and replacements can be expensive! With labor and materials costing quite a bit, it's important for homeowners to find durable and reliable materials.
Soffit boards are no exception. If you're wondering how long your soffit board will last, keep reading to learn more!
How Long Will Your Soffit Board Last?
Soffit and fascia are two of the most common exterior features of a home to be overlooked.
While they're easy to forget about since they're located under the lip of your roof, it's important that they're well maintained and replaced as necessary. Without proper maintenance, your soffit can leave room for water to leak into your attic as well as pests to build homes.
So, how long does a soffit board last? The life of soffit boards will depend on a variety of factors. It's wise to have inspections at least twice per year to check for any flaws.
During inspections, look for:
- Wood that's rotting
- Evidence that rats or other pests are present (bites, nests, droppings, etc.)
- An abundance of algae, mold, or fungus on the surface of the soffit boards
- Boards missing entirely
- Cracks in the boards
If you notice that your soffit boards are deteriorating during one of your inspections, you'll want to replace them. To avoid replacing your soffit boards often, there are a few ways to maintain them.
While soffit boards will inevitably need to be replaced at some point, you can prolong the time before replacements. This will save you money on labor if you need it as well as materials.
Here's how you can extend the life of your soffit boards:
1. Keep the Soffit Clean
It's important to wash your soffit regularly to keep it in the best shape.
Ideally, you'd use a power washer to remove any mold or mildew from the area. This will remove any dirt that's building up as well. Since the soffit doesn't receive any sunlight, it's important to remove mold and mildew buildup yourself.
Not only will keeping your soffit clean prolong the life of it, but it will look better while you have it!
2. Keep it Painted
If you have wood soffit, you'll want to maintain the paint job.
As the paint begins to peel, use a power washer to remove as much of it as you can. Consider using a primer to make the finished product smoother. Once you've washed the old paint and applied primer, choose your favorite exterior paint color!
3. Repair as Needed
With any exterior feature on your home, it's important to repair components as they break down.
For example, if there's a small hole or crack in your wood soffit, replace the boards as needed.
How Will You Make Your Soffit Last?
With proper care and maintenance, the soffit board can have a much longer life.
While the replacement time will vary depending on the materials you use and how you maintain the soffit, don't forget to have inspections twice per year.
If you found this post helpful, check out our other blog posts!
