Fascias are the horizontal strips that cover the ends of the rafters under the roofline of a house (gutters are typically attached to the house's fascia). Soffits cover the bottom of the fascia to the outside wall of the house, and typically are perforated for ventilation. Fascia and soffits protect the house from moisture and weather damage, but not all houses have these features. Some architectural styles have open eaves and therefore no soffits, and a few have no fascia boards across the ends of the rafters, behind the gutters. The Weather Tight remodeling company in Wisconsin provides an illustrated overview[1] .
Typical costs:
Professionally installed soffits and fascias typically cost $6-$10 a linear foot for wood or vinyl, and $8-$20 or more a linear foot for aluminum, but costs can be more in some circumstances -- for a multi-story home with a high roofline, if the soffits are wider than the common 12"-16" or if there are a lot of mitered corners (cut so they meet on an angle). For a simple one-story home with roughly 200'-300' linear feet of soffits and fascias, the installed cost could be $600-$2,000 for wood or vinyl, and $800-$6,000 or more for aluminum.
Do-it-yourself installation is possible for those who are comfortable cutting materials to size and working on a ladder or platform to install soffits and fascia under the eaves of the house. Costs will vary significantly depending on the materials chosen. Pressure treated wood or vinyl soffits and fascias can cost $1-$5 or more a linear foot; aluminum can cost $2.50-$15 or more a linear foot. If the house has wooden fascia and soffits, it's possible to replace just the section that is damaged. (Always fix any moisture problems before making any repairs.) ThisOldHouse.com estimates it will cost about $50 and take about two hours to replace a single rotted section of soffit[2] , and rates this as an easy to moderate project if the person knows how to use a reciprocating saw.
Typically the contractor will remove and dispose of any old soffits and fascias, then install new ones. If the new soffits and fascias are wood, they will need to be painted. When comparing companies, be sure all stages of the job are included in each quote.
It's important to always follow the manufacturer's specific guidelines for vinyl or aluminum soffits and fascia, but there are some steps that must be done for all installations. Renovation Headquarters provides general instructions for installing vinyl or aluminum soffits and fascias[3] , and Extreme How-To gives an overview for installing all types of soffits[4] .
Additional costs:
Soffits and fascias are often installed at the same time as new gutters, which can add $360-$6,250 or more to the total cost. For details, see How Much Do Gutters Cost.
Shopping for soffits and fascias:
Prices vary considerably from contractor to contractor, so always get at least three estimates. Make sure the quotes are for the same type and quality of materials, and all necessary labor.
Request and verify references from satisfied customers.
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
I do roofing but clients get the wrong idea all the time. They think the soffit and fascia it's included. No, its not! It csan be included if the clients requested it.
I had a recent job done last year where I had to have both my soffit and fasia replace on a large section of about 12'-14' along the roof that had rotted away from rain and termite damage. Soffit was a total of 192 sqft at $3.50 a sqft, and the fasia was a total of 144 sqft at $2.50 a sqft. Prices included: pressure treated lumber, painting, caulking, 3 vent replacements and labor. A hired a local handyman in my area who was a pleasant and nice young looking clean-cut fellow who's been doing repair work for 15 years or so. He charged me $1,032. It was half the price than the two other estimates i had received from my local yellow pages. My neighbors nephew who is a contractor,had looked it over after it was finished and said that it was done right and that i had gotten a great deal!
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.
CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit Paid: 147.00 Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
Spanish Medical Interpreter Paid: 150.00 I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
Skin prick allergy test Paid: 573.00 Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]