The Adventures of a Carpenter - A Weekly Update - 2024.9.30/2024.10.4
New installation of fiber-cement fascia and soffit replacement.
Life moves quick. And being a carpenter in the remodeling and home repair industry seems quicker.
I’ve tried doing this before. Ultimately with the demands of work and personal life becoming overwhelming. To the point that it is expected. But these are priorities that over take my need to express what is happening. But for this time, I have a moment. And want to update what is going on.
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The past week, I had begun a complete fascia and soffit repair for Peach Roofing.
Peach Roofing will be replacing all the shingles on this project. But damage from a fallen tree limb, coupled with years of little maintenance, and various pest infestations, has caused the boxing (the term for soffit and fascia combined) to need replacing.
And the material of choice for this project is fiber-cement.
Fiber-cement requires specific tools and blades to work with. A circular saw can be used, but it must have a fiber-cement blade to cut. There are 'dustless' tools that can be used, but in this instances, a lot of dust will be created by the saw.
Fiber-cement is a good material, but it does come with issues. Insects are not attracted to it, but I have noticed that woodpeckers and squirrels will still damage it. Additionally, the material is very strong with proper installation and support, but it is a very brittle product. Breaking easily during handling and installation. Coupled with being a very heavy product (due to cement), and needing speific tools for cutting, it can be a very difficult product to install. One note from the client on this project, when brought up was the cost difference between fiber-cement and wood products. Due to its difficulty.
This does not mean, that I am against the product. If the material is specified by the client, then I will install it. But wooden products, given the correct protection and installation is my favorite product. Along with other reasons, that I may dive deeper into another post.
When complete boxing replacements are asked for by the client, the one big question I have, is if the gutters will stay or not?
The fascia had rotted out from behind the gutter. This is due to damage, improper installation of the gutter, or never performing maintenance.
The reuse of the gutters, poses a completely different method. One that requires more work. And from experience, when a complete boxing replacement is mentioned, the gutters usually lend a hand to the deterioration. Caused from leaks unseen in the gutters. Which for this project, the gutters were approved for replacement.
With the gutters removed, the installation of fiber-cement becomes easier. But is still a demanding task.
Again, this product is prone to breaking easily from its own weight. The weight is also multiple times heavier than other products. The installation of this does pose an issue for a single person, such as myself. But the years of working alone, has taught me a few tricks. Still difficult, but attainable through uses of ‘third hands’ (tricks carpenters use with other materials fastened as supports).
Carpenter bees are cute, but they severely weaken our structure by the tunnels/nest they create. One issue created by these tunnels, is it creates a weaker hold for gutters.
Additionally, the house being covered almost entirely in cedar, pointed out the over abundance of carpenter bees. This project has to be the second most infested structure I have seen of the insect. A known fact about cedar, is its resistance to rot. Rot is mostly caused by molds that thrive within the wood, and feed on the fibers, causing it to break down. This is sometimes confused as also being insect resistant, but cedar from my experience tends to be more attractive to carpenter bees. Possibly due to the stronger smell being an attractor. Fiber-cement is a good material that these pest can not penetrate, but can also be corrected by using oil based stains or primers on wood.
In all, this project took a little over a week.
With help from a local carpenter friend, who assisted me on the higher rear end of the house.
Walkboards, along with multiple adjustable ladders, set up on the 'flats' of fascia runs, creates a more efficient work environment.
One thing that was noted by the local operator of Peach Roofing was the speed at which this was completed. 75% of this project was completed by myself. While experience and tricks are the biggest contributors, here is one tip I can give in being more efficient:
Be mindful of every step required to complete the project.
What does this mean in respects to this project?
Apply any primer, and first coat of paint, should be performed on the ground.
Working off ladders is difficult. To install the product, and then perform all the necessary steps takes longer. On the ground, you can spread the materials out. Working in a more confined and efficient space.
Do everything from the ladders as needed, before moving them.
A lot of people assume, I install everything one time around the entire structure. Then move again with caulking everything. Putty the nails circling the structure again. With every other step that is involved, consistently moving ladders. But the truth is, I perform all these task on one side of a structure before moving any ladders. In terms of dry times, by the time I have started on one end, and made my way to the other, the product has skimmed over or dried. By stacking walkboards across the entire wall of a section, or multiple ladders, I am able to move efficiently at elevated levels.
Investing in the correct equipment speeds up efficiencies.
This piggy backs on the above. Ladders and walkboards have made a huge improvement on my ability to finish projects quicker. Even down to how I store and transport tools has been a game changer. Both on the ground and in the air. And if it came down to only owning one ladder, I would have at minimum two 5-gallon buckets to help with transporting tools, as well as being able to bring them up on ladders (with ladder hooks) to reduce myself from climbing multiple times.
'Third Hands' make it so you can hold one end of a material, while the third hand holds the other. In this example, a piece of scrape wood is fastened to a lookout with two nails.
Along with the fascia and soffit repairs, I was also tasked during this to repair multiple doors and windows on the property. If you are interested in learning about my process for window sill repairs, you can read it over at A Guide to Window Sill Repairs.
Also, if you or anyone you know is looking for a complete shingle replacement job in Athens or Savannah, then visit my friends over at Peach Roofing (peach-roofing.com). John, Cameron, and Clay, will more than take care of your project.
The finished project. New fascia and soffit is installed with two coats of exterior paint.
