How To Repair Damaged Rafter Tails

Download Commodity

Download Article

Water damage and nesting animals can actually take a toll on your dwelling house'southward eaves, only the good news is that fixing rotted eaves is really a pretty unproblematic project that you can do yourself. The best part? Y'all'll never have to climb onto your roof. We'll walk you through everything you demand to practise to repair your eaves so they're rot-free. Bank check out the steps below to go started!

1. one

   Remove the gutters and roof flashing if needed. In order to give yourself clear access to the eaves, you may showtime demand to detach the drainage structures covering them. Unscrew the gutters at the brackets, and then pull out the nails holding them in identify and lower them downward safely. Practise the same for flashing where it overlaps the edges of the overhang.

   • Set up a ladder on a flat stretch of ground straight below the section of gutter you're removing and station a friend or helper nearby to stabilize it while you're working.^[1]
   • For larger projects, consider renting and assembling a full scaffolding around your roof. A scaffolding will also exist much safer to work on, and won't require any boosted help for support.

2. 2

   Pry off the shingle mold. Starting at 1 corner of the roof, wedge a pry bar into the narrow infinite at the tiptop of the shingle mold (the sparse wooden strip that sits just below the shingles). Force the mold away from the roofing a few inches at a time, then lift off the entire piece in one section. Agree onto the sometime shingle mold if information technology looks to be in good shape. You can reuse it later.^[2]

   • If you're having trouble getting the shingle mold to budge, try scoring the upper and lower edges with a utility pocketknife.^[3]
   • Exist careful not to damage the piece by wrenching on it with the pry bar.

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Pull away the rotten fascia. With the shingle mold out of the way, you'll exist able to only work the fascia (the vertical boards framing the outside of the eaves) costless by hand. Due to their deteriorated state, they should come away easily. Don't discard the former fascia just yet—it will come up in handy for cut your replacement materials.^[iv]

   • Use your pry bar to loosen sections that have get stuck or jammed.^[five]
   • Keep a large waste material bin or similar container nearby to dispose of all the rotten roofing materials together when you're finished with your projection.

4. 4

   Remove the sometime soffit. The soffit is the wide horizontal lath that encloses the underside of the eaves. Similar the fascia, a decaying soffit should exist soft enough to pull out manually. Take hold of the exposed border of the board and requite it a sharp tug downwardly to dislodge it.^[6]

   • Don't be surprised if the soffit breaks autonomously while y'all're attempting to pull it free. Waterlogged boards will often be soggy and prone to aging.
   • Take caution when removing the old soffit. It's not uncommon for birds, squirrels, and insects like bees and termites to build their nests behind these enclosures.^[vii]

5. v

   Cut away rotten or damaged rafters. Examine the condition of the rafter (the thick beam running the length of the overhang). Bold information technology'south in good shape, you can exit information technology in place and install the new materials effectually information technology. If it shows signs of rotting, h2o damage, or other wearable you lot'll need to chop it out using a reciprocating saw.^[8]

   • To make the removal process easier, cutting the rafter in one–ii feet (0.30–0.61 grand) sections, and then pause to rip each section individually.
   • If your eaves are upheld by multiple rafters, y'all'll need to remove and replace them 1 at a time in order to avoid compromising your roof'southward stability.

   Advertisement

1. 1

   Assemble your materials for the new eaves. Head down to your local dwelling improvement center and shop for boards to replace the worn-out soffit and fascia. It'due south important that the new boards match the former ones in terms of width and thickness—you can cut them to the right length later on. It may help to bring along a pocket-size department of the onetime materials for reference.^[nine]

   • In improver to wood, you likewise have the selection of choosing a cloth like cellular PVC, fiber cement, aluminum, or galvanized steel for your new eaves. These materials will be stronger, longer-lasting, and more than weather condition-resistant than ordinary boards.^[10]
   • Brand sure y'all also pick upward plenty pressure-treated lumber to cutting new shingle molds and rafters, if necessary.

2. 2

   Cut new lumber for the rafters if needed. If your supports are in need of replacing, saw the new axle to match the one-time one. Remember to employ only pressure-treated lumber for the rafters. It will concord upwardly much better to moisture and stress.^[xi]

3. iii

   Install the new rafters. Clamp the replacement beam to the wooden backboard at the rear of the eave enclosure to agree it in place. Fasten the rafter with 4" (10 cm) woods screws. When you lot've successfully replaced one rafter, it will be safe to brainstorm removing the side by side one.^[12]

   • Since the rafters are a critical part of the eaves' support construction, it will exist necessary to brand sure they're in good status earlier you begin installing the new components for your eaves.
   • Printing on the newly-installed beam to double check that it'south solid and secure earlier moving on.

4. 4

   Cut the new soffit. Using a section of the rotted soffit equally a template, saw the replacement fabric to the right size. This can be done with a handsaw, though you'll get the near precise and efficient results with a circular saw or table saw. Ideally, the soffit should exist made up of only 1 or two boards to minimize leaking.

   • If yous don't take enough intact soffit to serve as a template, measure the underside of the eaves from ane side of the business firm to the other and marking the dimensions on the new board.
   • The fewer pieces you lot use to mode the soffit, the less chance there volition be of water, insects, and other destructive forces finding their style in.

5. 5

   Cutting the replacement fascia. Trim the fascia boards to the right length the aforementioned way you did the soffit. Be sure to cut the edges where the boards volition meet to opposing 45 degree angles and then they'll fit together properly.^[xiii]

   • If your dwelling house's eaves feature whatsoever unique angles or projections, it may be necessary to measure and mark these features on the fascia lath prior to sawing to ostend that everything will line up the way it's supposed to.
   • Some materials, like aluminum or steel, may need to be measured and cut in-store by a abode improvement specialist before you bring them domicile.

   Advert

1. i

   Apply a glaze of weatherproofing sealant to wood fascia and soffits. Before you put the new roofing components in place, you'll want to make sure that they'll be able to stand the test of time. The best fashion to practice this is to treat them with a wax or resin finish. Brush the sealant onto both sides of your materials, and so let them sit down until they're dry to the affect.^[14]

   • It should only have 1-two hours for the sealant to dry into a functional terminate.
   • Once it's gear up into the forest, the sealant volition help repel moisture, mold, grime, and other messes, preventing rotting in the futurity.

2. two

   Adhere the new soffit. Marshal the soffit board with the underside of the eave then that its edges are flush with the rafter. Then, nail it into place. For a sturdier agree, sink a smash every 4–half dozen inches (10–xv cm).^[15]

   • one.five inches (three.viii cm) wood screws will also be stiff plenty to get the job done.
   • Information technology may help to have an assistant hold the board in place while you fasten information technology downwardly.

3. 3

   Spread caulk around the edges of the soffit. Use a caulk gun to make full in any gaps, cracks, or crevices you happen to spot in the new soffit. This will provide further protection against water and insect-related damage. Allow the filler to harden earlier modifying the soffit in whatsoever way.^[16]

   • You can as well utilize roofing cement or woods putty in place of traditional caulk.^[17]

4. 4

   Attach the new fascia. Position the replacement boards over the rafter and secure them using galvanized nails or 2.5 inches (half-dozen.4 cm) forest screws. Repeat this procedure for each section of the roof where the eaves are starting time to show signs of deterioration. In one case the new fascia is in place, you can fill the nail holes and paint the boards to match the rest of your home'south trim.

   • By the time you terminate your projection, your new overhang will be solid, watertight, and fix to stand up to a strong downpour or a family of nesting squirrels.

   Advertisement

Add New Question

• Question

  Tin can I just cut direct into the eave?

  

  Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of piece of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University.

  

• Question

  How big are eaves?

  

  Barry Zakar is a professional person handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Abode Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and diverse pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University.

  

• Question

  Which eaves typically demand to be repalced?

  

  Barry Zakar is a professional person handyman and the founder of Little Reddish Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Surface area. With over ten years of feel, Barry specializes in a diverseness of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of piece of furniture. Barry likewise holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy Academy.

  

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert respond.

  I've noticed that vertical bar rafters tend to have a lot of problems. These are the ones at the edge of the roof that stick out in the front and dorsum of the house. They're typically ornamental, but they just become absolutely destroyed by bad weather. Luckily, they're pretty easy to replace.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your electronic mail address to get a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

VideoRead Video Transcript

• Invest in durable, high-quality edifice materials to ensure that your new eaves volition last a good long time.

• Before you become to the trouble of repairing your eaves, make sure yous've thoroughly investigated and resolved the cause of leaks and harm. Otherwise, it won't have long for the same thing to happen to the new materials.

• If y'all have any doubts almost your power to install any of the new roofing components yourself, rent a professional contractor. This type of fix-up tends to be relatively inexpensive, and usually merely requires a single day'due south piece of work.

Advert

• Should yous discover whatsoever big nests or insect hives while replacing your dwelling'due south eaves, call an exterminator or pest command specialist.

• Ever have the proper rubber precautions anytime you're operating automated saws and other power tools.

Advert

Things Y'all'll Need

• Wooden soffit and fascia boards
• Cellular PVC, fiber cement, aluminum, or galvanized steel replacement materials (optional)
• Force per unit area-treated lumber
• Hammer
• Nails
• Electrical drill
• i½" (iii.eight cm) and two½" (6.4 cm) wood screws (optional)
• Circular saw, tabular array saw, or handsaw
• Utility knife
• Measuring tape or yard stick
• C-clamp
• Wax or resin weatherproofing sealant
• Ladder
• Work gloves

Most This Article

Article Summary 10

Over time, weather and nesting animals tin rot your home's eaves, which are the overhanging edges of your roof. Fortunately, repairing rotten or weathered eaves is a relatively simple project. Your first step will be prying abroad the bottom and sides of the former eaves. Your new boards will take to match the sometime ones in terms of width and thickness, then when you go to your local home improvement center yous may want to bring them a sample of your one-time eaves then they match. When y'all're set to install your new eaves, utilize a weatherproof blanket to the new pieces. Once the new eaves are prepare, you can secure them using stainless steel nails. If in that location are any cracks and crevices, seal them up with caulk to keep h2o, animals, and insects out. To learn how to pick the best textile for your eaves, go on reading!

Did this summary help yous?

Cheers to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 69,388 times.

Did this article help you?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-Rotted-Eaves

Posted by: guidryhandsore.blogspot.com

Share this post