Vinyl of Aluminum Fascia/Soffit
#1
04-06-07, 03:40 PM
Vinyl of Aluminum Fascia/Soffit
I am replacing the fascia and soffit on my home in prep for new seamless gutters. Looks my options are aluminum or vinyl, not sure which one I should use. Can someone please give me some suggestions. Thank you.
#2
04-06-07, 03:51 PM
Is the fascia good or bad ???? Do you need to cover it??? Are you putting new cover on the over hang??? Why cant you stay with what you have now????
#4
04-06-07, 04:16 PM
Group Moderator
Since you asked for suggestions, here's my opinion. Don't even consider using vinyl soffit and fascia. Use aluminum. I've used both, and hate vinyl. If the soffit is wide, the vinyl will bag down, and the vinyl fascia cover is a joke. If you look at any new home, it will have aluminum, not vinyl. I'd guess that 90% of pros use aluminum over vinyl.
The only drawback for a DIY'er is that most pro's have the use of a metal break, which is handy when you work with aluminum, but isn't always an absolute necessity. Some people bend their own fascia out of rolls of trim coil, others will buy prebent aluminum fascia, which actually is the better option, since it has ribs that give it strength and keep it from rippling. It comes in a variety of widths... 4", 6", 8". If you happened to need a metal break at some point, you can always rent them.
Aluminum will look good for years, and only needs an occasional pressure washing if you want to keep it looking like new.
The only drawback for a DIY'er is that most pro's have the use of a metal break, which is handy when you work with aluminum, but isn't always an absolute necessity. Some people bend their own fascia out of rolls of trim coil, others will buy prebent aluminum fascia, which actually is the better option, since it has ribs that give it strength and keep it from rippling. It comes in a variety of widths... 4", 6", 8". If you happened to need a metal break at some point, you can always rent them.
Aluminum will look good for years, and only needs an occasional pressure washing if you want to keep it looking like new.
#5
04-06-07, 04:22 PM
Scotty18,
In the 25 years installing fascia and soffit it is my recommendation to use aluminum over vinyl. The vinyl has the tendancy to sag and pull away from the 'j' channel. The aluminum will stay in place. If you have to clean the soffit vinyl will loosen. Yhe vinyl I have installed has had call backs but none for the aluminuml.
This is just my opinion. I am sure there are others who will disagree with me though.l
In the 25 years installing fascia and soffit it is my recommendation to use aluminum over vinyl. The vinyl has the tendancy to sag and pull away from the 'j' channel. The aluminum will stay in place. If you have to clean the soffit vinyl will loosen. Yhe vinyl I have installed has had call backs but none for the aluminuml.
This is just my opinion. I am sure there are others who will disagree with me though.l
#7
04-07-07, 06:34 AM
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Primereef: In 40 years, I have never used J channel for soffitt. I always use freezerunner for soffitt. That is what it is made for. J channel is too wide.
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
#8
04-07-07, 07:40 AM
I never used the wide j channel but you would be surprized how many who do. They do make a 1/2" wide J for aluminum. All of the vinyl soffit I have seen have been, to put it frankly, worthless. People have always complained about their vinyl soffit falling away from the house because of its sagging. I have never had complaints about the aluminum. For me, it not a matter of good or bad, right or wrong , but longevity and asthetics. It's a viable alternative to the soft (heat)and brittle (cold) vinyl.
