Please indulge me here as I have crossed over from Cooks Talk and know nothing about building. I need info about a material that could be used to install under soffitts that would be weather-worthy. This would be in a small strip mall in Kentucky.
A friend in an AcousticalTile business told me there is something called “Vinyl Rock” or similar that could possibly work for me. He said it is like a lay-in panel, but covered in vinyl. I tried to search and found nothing that could help me. A brand name or a correct name would be of great help in researching this. Many thanks.
Replies
I have to wonder why a cook wants to know about soffit material...
Is this a lay-in application? You need to be concerned with gusts of wind popping the tiles up. There is vinyl covered sheetrock, might work. There are formed metal panels that might work better. Also vinyl faced fiberglass ceiling panels. Check the USG website for starters.
Do it right, or do it twice.
There are many metal-building with brick veneer offices and retail strips around here, many have the detail like you talk about, a couple I am familiar with were built in the seventies and eighties. Look in yellowpages under "metal building contractors" -- that's where the co.'s that do work around here are listed.
>I have to wonder why a cook wants to know about soffit material<
I have some property in KY about 300 miles away from me that needs some work done on the soffits. I am trying to gather information for my property manager to deal with the contractors in the area. He is not much more informed than I, and I don't want to be ripped off...again. Anyway, I am not that great a cook, either.
>Is this a lay-in application? You need to be concerned with gusts of wind popping the tiles up<
The way it was explained to me it is a lay-in, but not with clips, rather something running the length of the area, and threaded through to keep them from popping up in the wind. This probably makes no sense.
Hi Dixie,
We normally use aluminum soffit panels that come in twelve foot lengths. These are cut to a little less than the width of the overhang and slide between a channel on the house, and one on the fascia/subfascia. They can be purchased with ventilation openings or solid, and in several different colors. The same type of thing is made from vinyl as well, though I've never used it myself.
These are the typical products. I'm not sure what the other thing is that you mentioned, but most houses are now built using the above material.
Or she could use hardiesoffit cut to size and laid in the grid.Do it right, or do it twice.
Thanks to everyone. This gives me some idea where to start.
Both USG and Republic -Gold Bond Division make vinal covered drywall. If wind is a problem when intalling this material in a suspended grid system just us hold down clips.
Cork
Hardisoffit has the advantage of being pretty fire resistant (except,of course, for the ventilation holes) - which might be a consideration if you are going to create a gigantic flambe under the shelter of the eaves...
You can check out the marketing blurb on Hardisoffit at:
http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/prodhome/hardisoffit.php
The Hardie soffit is also available with no holes.Do it right, or do it twice.
Casey, El Cid,
How do you guys like that stuff? I'm interested in upgrades like this in general. I think Aluminum soffit is (almost) the only conventional building material that makes the most sense and that I can stomach to use these days. I really think it makes a good finished look, even on $ houses.
Maybe it's time to move up here too?
dog