Siding and soffits

All,

I am siding the house and will replace the soffits as well. The contractor I am using would like to place the vinyl soffits over the existing wood soffit structures that exist.

The existing wood soffits do provide ventilation to the attic, but now I am concern that placing the additional barrier between to attic and the outside air will only decrease the amount ventilation.

My question is does it make sense to remove the existing wood soffits altogether and use the existing frame with the new vinyl soffits?

Thanks to all for your replies!!

 

Hello, welcome aboard!

What I do is to drill thru the boxed soffit with like a 3/4" bit several times right where the vented soffit pieces will go in. This allows inflow fresh air to come into the attic, the hot air is expelled thru exhaust vents higher up the roof.

If you have blow-in insulation, it should be raked back enough to allow an air space above it to allow the air to come in thru the vented soffits typically you install raftermates, which is just a thin piece of material, that's tacked into place that keeps the air channel open. Not so much of a concern if you have batt insulation up there, but still need to ensure there's a space open between the insulation & the roof sheeting to allow the fresh air in.

Good luck.

 

Here is what is going to happen. Do you have soffit vents in your existing soffits ? This is a yes or no. If it is yes, then when he puts on the soffit, be sure that he puts in a soffit vent in the vinyl soffit. He probably would.
If your answer was no, then have him put in soffit vents in your existing soffit and again in your new vinyl soffit. Vents are cheap, Usually about $5.00 each, and easy to install. Good Luck