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| Hole in Soffit; Temporary Measure ? | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 4 2016, 08:17 AM (761 Views) | |
| Olive Oil | Nov 4 2016, 08:17 AM Post #1 |
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Gold Star Member
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After trimming some cedars close to the house, I noticed there is a hole in one of the soffit boards. Because we are days away from snow, I want to temporarily patch it until Spring when I will have it replaced. One could use a thin piece of board and nails or screws but I am not skilled or confident enough to do this especially on a ladder. I notice there is a wood filler sold in tubes at Home Depot. . Does anyone know if this could work as a temporary measure? The hole is about the size of a fist and the wood looks rotten. I have even thought that maybe I could fill the hole with steel wool. Perhaps a combination of filler and steel wool? Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm worried about getting critters in the attic. |
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| Durgan | Nov 4 2016, 08:29 AM Post #2 |
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Go for it. A big gob of steel wool does wonders. |
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| angora | Nov 4 2016, 08:36 AM Post #3 |
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WWS Book Club Coordinator
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My daughter keeps critters out of her trailer all winter but putting steel wool in all of the inies. |
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| Olive Oil | Nov 4 2016, 09:25 AM Post #4 |
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Gold Star Member
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Thanks. I think Home Depot sells steel wool in a box. |
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| Dialtone | Nov 4 2016, 09:26 AM Post #5 |
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Gold Star Member
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Beside the steel wool, you might want to try some expanding foam big gap filler. https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.big-gap-filler-insulating-foam-sealant-454-g.1000145666.html |
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| Delphi51 | Nov 4 2016, 11:24 AM Post #6 |
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Member title
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you could staple a piece of plastic over the hole. |
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| campy | Nov 4 2016, 01:47 PM Post #7 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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It's no big deal to temporarily patch that hole until spring. Do all the preparation on the ground first. Get a piece of 1/4 inch plywood and cut a square or rectangle large enough to fit over the hole, make it oversize to escape any rotten wood underneath. You need to be able to screw into something solid. Now drill 4 holes in the corners of the plywood so that they just hold wood screws about 1 inch long. And put the screws in part way just so they hold. Spread waterproof caulking compound on the back of the patch. Now it is ready to be attached and all you have to do is screw it in place with the screws already there. In fact if you paint it the same color as the soffit it could become a permanent repair now. The reason there is a hole is because water is getting into the wood and rotting it. That other stuff will just fall out leaving the hole still there. That hole is the size of a fist. If you have a cordless drill with a screwdriver attachment it's a piece of cake. If you are afraid to go up on the ladder just get someone else to do the final attachment with everything ready. See you don't have to do any cutting or trimming up on the ladder if you do it all on the ground first. Edited by campy, Nov 4 2016, 01:54 PM.
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| campy | Nov 5 2016, 10:16 AM Post #8 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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so any comments/ is that any easy fix? |
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| wildie | Nov 5 2016, 01:52 PM Post #9 |
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Veteran Member
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A can of nonexpanding foam is good for this! You may already have critters in the attic. When the tree was there, they likely made the hole to get into the attic. Nonexpanding foam is very sticky so I would spray some around the perimiter of the hole, then push some steel wool into the opening, then spray the foam over the steel wool to close it up. Most cans of foam come with a pair of plastic gloves to keep any of the foam from getting on your skin. Make sure to use these, otherwise it sticks and you have to wait till the natural shedding of the skin, slows it off! |
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| Delphi51 | Nov 5 2016, 02:08 PM Post #10 |
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The old plywood soffit in my house had quite a bit of empty space above it; might be hard to fill with foam. It was a very dusty, dirty job to make ventilation holes in that plywood, and a pleasure to cover it with metal soffit. Well, not so pleasant in the high up parts. Glad I did that when I was younger. Campy's idea sounds good but if he is right about there being a leak, a roof repair will be needed for a permanent fix. Edited by Delphi51, Nov 5 2016, 02:15 PM.
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| campy | Nov 5 2016, 04:04 PM Post #11 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Forget the foam. Unless you have a backing the foam is impossible to use in a hole the size of a fist. There's notthing to grab on to. And it will be loose when it hardens. Any critter can push their way in. That's what we are trying to avoid. |
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| wildie | Nov 5 2016, 04:37 PM Post #12 |
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Campy. read my post again! I said to use steel wool as a base for the foam. None of this hanging from a ladder trying to juggle tools etc. I would have suggested using a screen mesh but that would mean fitting in the mesh. A gob of steel wool held in place by the foam around the perimeter of the hole doesn't require any fitting. Ten minutes later the steel wool can be covered over with more foam. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 6 2016, 01:26 AM Post #13 |
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Big City Boy
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A piece of 1/4 inch plywood, generously buttered on the edges with a quick setting epoxy and then stuck in place. If you don't feel comfortable holding it for the couple minutes it takes to set, hold it up with a broom handle. Alternatively, cut a piece of screening to size and epoxy that up. With the lightweight screening you might be able to get away with a tube of cheap caulking. |
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| Olive Oil | Nov 6 2016, 04:15 AM Post #14 |
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Gold Star Member
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Thanks everyone for all your excellent advice. Before I could make some decisions, DD called asking for a ride to the Mall. I explained to her that I had to attend to the soffit first and that's when it all hit the fan. Hopefully she will keep away today with her drama. Campy, you had an excellent idea but I am inept with tools, having relied on my DH for years who could fix anything. However a lot of the other ideas sound doable. I realize there has to be a permanent repair done but I would like to hold off until Spring when better weather gives me time to get a few quotes and make sure I get someone trustworthy. Today is the big day, come hell or high water. I don't like ladders so it will be a challenge. It's not a huge height but the angle is hard with the roof overhang, tree, and rocks. I really need to toughen up. |
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| Trotsky | Nov 6 2016, 04:24 AM Post #15 |
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Big City Boy
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Don't Fall, Olive. I just got off a high wire act on the stepstool to replace a bulb in the foyer fixture...we only have two hips and we need them both. Safety First. Edited by Trotsky, Nov 6 2016, 04:28 AM.
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