Georgia Roof Guide

How do you replace a damaged soffit vent screen?

Short answer. For a louvered metal vent, the simplest fix is usually replacing the whole vent with a new one that has a built-in screen, since the factory screen is crimped in place. For a wood soffit cut-out, remove the cover, staple new hardware cloth with openings about 1/8 inch behind it, and reinstall the cover. Perforated vinyl or aluminum soffit panels act as their own screen and are replaced panel by panel.

Step by step for a louvered vent

  1. Unscrew or pry off the vent; most are held by small screws or nails into the wood soffit.
  2. Look into the opening with a flashlight. If an animal is inside, stop and call a wildlife professional before sealing anything.
  3. Measure the opening and buy a replacement vent with an integral screen, or reuse the old cover with new mesh stapled behind it.
  4. Fasten with corrosion-resistant screws, and seal around the flange only where water could get behind it, never over the louvers.

Perforated panels

Vinyl and aluminum soffit panels with holes have no separate screen. When one is cracked or pushed up, it is replaced by sliding a new panel into the channels. Squirrels love to push up loose panels at the corners of a house; a short screw or clip into the fascia channel stops that.

Choosing the screen

Stay within the code's range for vent openings, at least 1/16 inch and no more than 1/4 inch. Window screen is too fine and clogs with pollen. Stainless or galvanized hardware cloth lasts longest and stands up to chewing.

Look for why it failed

A screen pushed in from outside means something wanted in. A screen torn from inside means something was already in the attic and wanted out. Rot around the opening points to water from gutter overflow or missing drip edge, which needs fixing before a new vent goes on, or the new one will loosen too. See roof anatomy explained and gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards.

In depth

Ridge vent or box vents: which is better, and can you use both?Ridge vents vs box vents, turbines and power fans for Georgia attics: how each works, why mixing exhaust typesDoes a hot Georgia attic shorten the life of your shingles?How hot Georgia attics and shingles get, what research says about ventilation and shingle life, and when radiaHow much attic ventilation does a Georgia roof need?Attic ventilation for Georgia homes: intake and exhaust balance, the IRC R806 1/150 and 1/300 rules with worke

People also ask