Rotten Soffit Repair: Why Soffits Rot and What a Proper Fix Involves
By STOP THE ROT CO.
The soffit is the underside of your roof overhang, the panel you see when you look up at the eave. It is easy to ignore, which is why soffit rot is often found late. By the time a stain or a sag shows from the ground, the wood behind it has usually been damp for a long time.
Why soffits rot
Soffits almost never rot from rain landing on them. They rot from moisture arriving by another route:
- Trapped humidity from the attic. Poor ventilation lets warm, moist air condense against the underside of the roof, and the soffit takes the moisture from the inside. This is why a soffit can be soft while the outside still looks fine.
- Water from a rotted fascia above. If the fascia board is wet, the water runs behind it and into the soffit.
- A roof or gutter leak. Overflow and small leaks at the roof edge keep the soffit wet over a whole wet season.
Vancouver’s long wet season makes all three worse. Wood that stays damp from October through spring does not get the chance to dry.
Signs to look for from the ground
- Brown or grey stains on the panel
- Paint that is bubbling or peeling
- A section that sags or has pulled away
- Dark spots, or a musty smell near the eaves
- Wasps, birds or rodents getting in through gaps
Press any wood soffit or trim with a screwdriver. If it sinks in, the wood is rotten. A moisture meter then tells you how far the dampness goes.
What a proper soffit repair includes
- Find the moisture source. Replacing a panel without fixing ventilation or the fascia above just resets the clock.
- Remove the damaged panels and wood. Soft material is cut back to sound wood.
- Check what is behind it. Rafter ends and the edge of the attic space.
- Repair or replace. Small areas are repaired. Panels that are sagging or stained over a wide area are replaced.
- Seal and finish. Primed and painted so the new wood is protected.
Soffit, fascia and gutters work as one system
A rotten soffit often means something is also wrong with the fascia or the gutters above it, so we check all three at the same time. Fixing only the soffit and leaving the source in place is the most common reason soffit repairs fail.
What it costs
Soffit repairs are priced after a free inspection, because the cost depends on how many panels are affected and whether the fascia or rafter ends need work too. You get a written quote about 15 minutes after we finish. For typical prices on related jobs, see what wood rot repair costs in Vancouver.
Next step
Not sure if what you see is rot? Send us a photo and we call or text you within 15 minutes. Or learn more about soffit repair and fascia repair, or book the free 20-point inspection. Every repair has a 2-year craftsmanship guarantee.
