Your soffit and fascia are more than just the cosmetic features of your house. They also play a significant role in protecting your home from damage. Your soffit and fascia prevent water from slipping into your roof and walls. When they are in good condition, they do this job very well; when they are not in great condition, they can simply be a liability. Your best option is to make sure your soffit and fascia stay in good condition. That involves repainting them from time to time. So, the first step in repainting your soffit and fascia is making sure they are in good condition.
Remove Paint
First, you need to remove old paint and primer from the soffit and fascia. You’ll also need to inspect them for rust if you have metal fixtures, and remove any rust that you find. If they are made of wood or vinyl, then you’ll just want to look for signs of moisture damage. If you see any moisture damage, be sure to caulk around the edges of the soffit and fascia to make sure that no more moisture gets in. When the caulk dries, next clean the soffit and fascia with a chlorine-based cleaner to remove any mold, mildew, and surface contaminants. That will provide you with the clean surface you need to start working.
Start Working
Once you have removed the old paint and primer and cleaned the surfaces, you are almost ready to start painting. If you found any water damage or rust present, you need to use an oil-based primer first. The oil-based primer will create an extra layer of protection against water damage in the future. You should let the primer dry thoroughly, and once it is dry, you are ready to paint.
Begin Painting
If you have access to a paint sprayer, that will probably be the easiest and most efficient way to paint the soffit and fascia. A paint sprayer will apply an even coat of paint that doesn’t drip; this is especially important for surfaces that are parallel to the ground. However, working a paint sprayer can be difficult. So, if you are not very skilled with a sprayer, you should stick to using a roller.
When you are painting the underside of surfaces that are parallel to the ground, you should err on the side of caution. Choose to roll thin coats of paint onto your soffit and fascia so that they don’t drip. When the first coat is dry, then apply the next coat of paint. This will take a little bit longer than applying thick coats of paint, but thin coats provide better protection and don’t drip. That will serve you better than a thick coat.
After the paint is dry, you can apply a layer of clear coat if you like. Clear coat is typically a polyurethane-based substance that goes over the surface of the paint to protect it from damage. Clear coat is definitely advisable if you noticed any water damage when you were stripping the paint, as it will provide even more protection.
