How to install Soffit Vents

Hey Folks, the video above is the one that really got my youtube account going. I shot this one last July while installing some soffit vents at a job I was working on. We filmed it in one take, straight off the cuff from a cell phone. This video is not the best quality and the audio is very low. The video just reached 10,000 views over the Christmas holidays. The video is titled “how to install soffit vents” and the reason I’m posting this video on my blog is so I can explain in greater detail on how to perform this project. I do intend on filming some better quality and more detailed videos on soffit vents in the future.
Lets get to it!!!!! First of all there are two basic types of soffit vents…the continuous run type which is what I’m showing in the video and the individual panel type. I will stick to the basic procedure for the continuous run type since that’s what our video was depicting.
 
Step 1, on the bottom side of the boxing blocks measure the distance from the freeze board over to the end of the ribbon or rafter tail if the structure doesn’t have an outer ribbon. Find the center point and make a mark. Now make a mark half the width of the soffit vent (which is approximately 1 inch) toward the freeze board against the house.

Step 2, From that second mark measure over to the edge of the ribbon. Lets say its 12 inches. Go to the other end of the boxing and measure 12 inches from the edge of the ribbon toward the center of the boxing block. Put a mark there.

Step 3, Chalk a line from the each mark you just made along the bottom of the boxing blocks.

Step 4, Now you cut your 3/8” plywood and nail it to the area between the freeze board and the line that you chalked. Go ahead and cut it a little narrower than needed. Make sure the outside edge of the plywood has a good straight cut and is positioned on the line you chalked. This will insure that your soffit vents will look straight all the way down the house.

Step 5, Nail your plywood in place but don’t nail near the edge where the chalk line is until the vent is slipped into place.

Step 6, Slide each section of soffit vent into place under the lip of the plywood and nail with a crown stapler.

Step 7, After the soffit vents are in place its time to cut and nail up the outer pieces of plywood. When that’s finished your ready to install your new fascia board and trim out the gap against the freeze board and plywood. Caulk, prime, paint, and you have a finished project……….thanks for stopping by folks, take care