Staples vs. Screws for Soffit Installation
arnoldk
| Posted in General Questions on
For soffit installation aluminum and vinyl , I notice in the “how to videos” that they use narrow crown stapler since it’s faster but they staple at every rib. If using pan head screws, should a screw be placed at every rib or every other?
I am trying to figure out if it’s cheaper to buy a narrow crown stapler gun versions buying hundreds of screws since I am doing my entire house and detached garage with aluminum soffit and fascia.
Thank you,
Arnold.
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
I can tell you what would be faster :) (staple)
If you don't fasten at every rib you're going to get sag, and it won't look right. If you're doing your entire house, spend the $100-150 or so for a decent narrow crown stapler. If you want a cordless one, it'll cost more. You could probably sell the cordless after the job though to get at least some of your money back out of it.
Bill
I ended up with both.
My aluminum soffits are 4 feet deep the plans called for 3 1x4s attached to the trusses and the builder built what the plans showed. With 3 staples hidden in each joint. The wind was blowing out the soffit before we moved in. The span between the 1x4s was too long and allowed the panels to flex enough to disengage from one another. Going back with 4 1x4s was not going to happen. I made thousands clips from matching aluminum bent to fit into grooves of the soffit each panel got 6 clips with a stainless screw on top of the 3 staples. The lesson is hidden staples will work if they are less than 15 inches apart in every third rib.
I am not sure it would be possible to fit the panels together with pan head screws sticking up.
I do not think staples will work in vinyl as it needs to be able to slide when it expands.
Walta