Soffit and Fascia Repair Types
The fascia is the board along the roof edge that the gutter hangs from. The soffit is the panel under the overhang, running from that edge back to the wall. Together they close off the eave and keep water and animals out of the attic.
Wood Fascia Replacement
Wood is still the most common fascia, but HomeGuide notes it handles water worse than vinyl, composite or fiber cement. The board has to be sound, because it carries the weight of the gutters. Material prices per linear foot, before labor:
| Fascia material | Price per linear foot, before labor |
|---|---|
| Wood or cedar | $2.00 to $5.00 |
| Vinyl or PVC | $1.50 to $5.00 |
| Aluminum | $1.25 to $4.00 |
| Fiber cement | $1.00 to $2.00 |
| Composite or engineered wood | $4.00 to $7.00 |
Installed, fascia replacement averages $5 to $12 a foot.
Aluminum Fascia Wrap
A wrap, or fascia cap, is a bent aluminum cover over the wood board. HomeGuide prices it at $3 to $4 a foot installed and says it shields the board from water. The Florida Residential Code (2023, 8th edition) sets the install method for aluminum fascia in R704.3 by design wind pressure, with separate rules at 30 psf, 30 to 60 psf and above 60 psf; at the highest pressures the fascia has to wrap the soffit corners (as summarized by the Vinyl Siding Institute; we couldn't open the code page itself). Wrapping over soft wood only hides it, so ask for rotted sections to be cut out before the cap goes on.
Vinyl Soffit
Vinyl is the cheapest soffit material at $1.00 to $2.50 a foot, and vented panels cost about the same. The 2023 code, per the same summary, requires vinyl and aluminum soffit panels to be fastened at both the wall and the subfascia, with extra nailer strips when the span is over 12 inches. In tests done for the Florida Building Commission, University of Florida engineers found that flexible vinyl and aluminum soffits generally failed at lower pressures than fiber cement, OSB or stucco. Panels on 24-inch overhangs failed sooner than those on 12-inch overhangs, and corners were weaker than straight runs. The authors called the results preliminary. A soffit that blows out lets wind-driven rain straight into the attic.
Aluminum Soffit
Aluminum soffit costs $2.00 to $3.50 a foot for material, and vented aluminum strips $0.50 to $1.00 (HomeGuide). It follows the same fastening rule as vinyl. Fiber cement soffit, at $2 to $4 a foot, came second only to OSB and stucco in the UF wind tests, which makes it worth pricing on wide overhangs.
Vented and Solid Soffit
Vented soffit lets outside air into the attic. HomeGuide prices individual vents at $15 to $30 each and continuous vented strip at $2.50 to $4.00 a foot, and it notes extra labor when insulation has been pushed against the vents and has to be cleared. The code ratio of intake to exhaust is explained on roof and attic ventilation.
Wildlife Entry at the Eaves
UF/IFAS Extension says bats can get into a building through openings as small as 3/8 inch, and you can confirm a colony by watching them leave the eaves at dusk or spotting greasy stains at the entry. Florida law sets the timing. Under FWC rule 68A-9.010, nothing that blocks bats from leaving a roost may be installed from April 16 through August 14, when pups can't fly yet. Permanent repairs that seal a roost are allowed only after a one-way exclusion device has been up for at least four nights in a row with forecast lows above 50°F. If bats are using your soffit, plan the repair between August 15 and April 15, on a stretch of nights warm enough for the exclusion device, and have the exclusion done first. HomeGuide prices removing a bird or wasp nest at $125 to $700.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Expert Roofing
- Your request reaches one roofer, never a call list
- Homeowners pay nothing to use this line
- Ask for the shingle wind class and Product Approval number in writing
- The roofer's estimate is free and you're not obliged to hire
Soffit and Fascia Repair Cost in Tallahassee
HomeGuide's figures by length of eave:
| Length of eave | Fascia only | Soffit and fascia together |
|---|---|---|
| 25 feet | $125 to $300 | $225 to $850 |
| 100 feet | $500 to $1,200 | $900 to $3,400 |
| 200 feet | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,800 to $6,800 |
Labor runs $2 to $7 a foot for each, and most contractors charge a minimum of $150 to $300. These push the price up:
Wide soffits
Two-foot panels double the per-foot material and labor.Height and access
Second stories and hard-to-reach eaves need more safety equipment.The eave itself
How the drip edge, valley flashing ends and sub-fascia were built changes the labor.Paint
Painting soffit or fascia to match adds $2 to $7 a foot.Lead paint
HomeGuide advises hiring a contractor with EPA lead-safe training for homes built before 1978. In Tallahassee about 37% of homes were built before 1980, by the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey, so ask about it on any painted trim that old.
HomeGuide says replacing soffit and fascia during a reroof is the cheapest time to do it, since the roof edge is already open; roof replacement covers that job. None of the guides we read gives a duration for an eave repair, so ask for one in the quote, along with how many feet of board are being replaced, which material, and whether the gutters come down and go back up in the price.
See gutter repair.