Hello, All. Somewhere in my reading process it was said facia (is it fascia - sorry about that) and soffiting vinyl are manufacturered thicker than normal vinyl siding. I did considered it a non-issue but thanks to you I've written it down to ask the contractor. If I can get thicker I'll get it. Going back a long ways a roof's overhang wasn't often enclosed except maybe for some guttering on the edge. The exposed rafters sure were a good place for wasp and hornet nests. In the 50's or 60's contractors began covering the area. I doubt if the words facia and soffit had come into being before then. Facia board covers the edge of the roof rafters and runs the entire perimeter of one's house. Where needed guttering is nailed over the facia. Soffiting covers the area beneath the roof rafters from the facia edge to the house. A few years ago I built a house that was left open between the overhanging rafters. This allowed air to flow from the outside, into the attic, and on out the ridge vent. Air flow was primarily to retard hot weather damage to the roof, and it kept the house a little cooler. Being the rafters were open the soffiting was preforated to allowed air to flow but kept out bees. Where I now live was built in the mid 60's. It does not have opening between the rafters. My current soffiting is unpreforated plywood, so the vinyl soffiting without preforations will be okay. My guttering will be seamless and I highly suggest it. I've had and heard too many stories about seam problems with the 10' section stuff. But I suppose it may have depended on how well it was installed. I talked to a couple of my kids (I'm widowed) about colors. I told them I wanted a color "standard" that would be acceptable for a number of years. Please rememeber, this is for me and not a recommendation. I have white vinyl windows. They said the facia, soffit, window trim, and door trim should be close to the same color as the windows. They said from their observations of new developments that's generally the case. So, I chose that color a little off white, called linen. My downspouts will be the same color as the vinyl siding -almond. My guttering will be the same as the trim - linen. I know what you mean about getting away from the colors you have. At my age my vision is probably a little shorter than most of you readers. I'm doing more what might be acceptable to others whereas if I were younger I may or may not have other thoughts. Screw in bolt brackets for guttering is typical, I think. Sure is better than nail in. The brackets expand the width of the gutter with a screw going through them, through the vinyl facia, through the facia board, and into a rafter. I'm not familar with any other type of supports. I'll keep reading this topic for a while, Folks. I'm trying to gain enough knowledge to ask the contractor the right questions. Regards, Gene

Stucco might be an ok look for the back of the house but real stucco is expensive--- might consider the Hardy siding that has stucco-type finish say new product called Cedar Boards insulated vinyl siding from Certainteed that looks interesting but like I said I don't think we can use vinyl siding--maybe because it is not on front of home if we DID use vinyl would we have to change out all the fascia around the house that is wood?

As a exterior contractor I wouldn't even allow it to be left on the house, and i doubt you would be able to sell the tear off for anything but firewood. PLEASE, do it right if your going to do it. Tear it off and put new house wrap or foam insulation on before you put your vinyl on. Seen to many jobs done wrong all at the cost of saving a $.

Hi Raye, I would love it if I could just go back to original wood clapboard siding, However, this is an insurance job due to hail damage. And I already know what is underneath. I'm 90% sure it is a mix of clapboard and stucco. I, by chance, met the grandson to the original owners of my house. He's in his 70s. He sent me photos of the house when it was just built. It could be fuzzy photos because he sent me photo copies. From talking to people, stucco is expensive to repair and maintain plus my house had an addition put on the back. Insurance company will only replace with aluminum or vinyl. Raee, Thanks your comment. I'll check them out. The 'restoration company' I hired to do everything has been very difficult to deal with, after I gave them the deposit. It's apparent they aren't use to working with people that care about historical integrity. He thinks just because it's an insurance job, he should just slap up the vinyl. I told him from day one that I wanted to do extras and was willing to pay for them. He was all full of promises in the sales process, now he's offering no help at all. The non-stock materials are already signed off and ordered so I'm stuck with this company. Here are some photos of my house from 1925. Now that I am looking at them.....I think the photos are just fuzzy...maybe it is all clapboards. Well, I'll find out soon.