Builder Tips Home PageDownload N330

APA Panels for Soffit Applications

If not installed properly, floor systems can squeak, buckle, and cause nail-pop. To cut callbacks due to these problems, follow the simple floor construction steps below. APA recommends a glued floor system.

Example of Nail Pop Attaching Plywood Underlayment to Subfloor

APA trademarked panels can enhance the appearance of almost any roof overhang. Quality APA panels are also an appealing alternative to other materials used in soffit applications. Other advantages include:

  • Stiffness and strength
  • Lightweight
  • Negligible shrinkage, warping, or twisting
  • Ease of fabrication and installation
  • Availability

There is a variety of APA face grades from which to choose. Selecting the appropriate panel depends primarily on whether the soffit is open or closed.

Recommended spans for open and closed panel soffits are given in Table 1: Panels for Open Soffits and Table 2: Panels for Closed Soffits. The recommendations in Table 1 for open soffits also apply to combined roof/ceiling construction. Panels are assumed continuous over two or more spans with the long dimension or strength axis across supports for both applications. For appearance purposes in open soffit construction, provide adequate blocking, tongue-and-groove edges, or other edge support such as panel clips. Minimum capacities are at least 30 psf live load, plus 10 psf dead load.

For open soffit construction, panels designated Exposure 1 may be used.

Exterior panels should be used for closed soffits (Figure 2). In open and closed soffit construction where Exposure 1 sheathing is used for roof decking, protect panel edges against direct exposure to the weather with fascia trim.

Finishing. Although unsanded and touch-sanded grades of plywood are often used for soffits, optimum appearance and finish performance is achieved by using panels with Medium Density Overlay (MDO), or textured (such as APA 303 Siding) or sanded A-grade faces. Top-quality acrylic latex house paint systems perform best and are the only systems recommended for A-grade faces.

Face checking (separation between fibers parallel to the grain of the face veneer) can be expected on non-overlaid plywood which is exposed to the outdoors, even when finished. If a smooth, check-free surface is desired, use MDO plywood. Surface flaking of some Exposure 1 panels is normal in this application.

Additional Information

For complete plywood or other structural wood panel application recommendations, visit the APA Publication Library and refer to:

  1. Engineered Wood Construction Guide (Form E30)
  2. APA Product Guide: Performance Rated Sidings (Form E300)