Fastening Aluminum Soffits

01-26-2012, 10:37 AM	#1
huesmann Member   Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Washington, DC area Posts: 54	Fastening Aluminum Soffits If one was going to use aluminum soffit panels to put a ceiling on a structure (like a carport) with steel I-beams (W section) spaced across the structure, how would one go about attaching the soffit panels to the I-beams? TIA!

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01-26-2012, 10:44 AM	#2
Windows on Wash Exterior Construction     Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: VA, MD, DC Posts: 3,493	Fastening Aluminum Soffits Best to put up a set of purlins that can more easily be screwed into to span the distance across the beams. This will level the surface as well as give you a nail/screw base. Attaching soffit to a steel beam is painful to say the least. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-2012, 10:56 AM	#3
huesmann Member   Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Washington, DC area Posts: 54	Fastening Aluminum Soffits And do the purlins need to span the space between beams, or just a short distance across each beam? How would the purlins themselves be fastened to the beams?

01-26-2012, 11:29 AM	#4
Windows on Wash Exterior Construction     Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: VA, MD, DC Posts: 3,493	Fastening Aluminum Soffits You are ultimately going to have to fasten the purlins to the beams. You should have them span the full length and see if you can use plastic or some sort of pressure treated lumber where it meets the steel. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-2012, 11:37 AM	#5
huesmann Member   Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Washington, DC area Posts: 54	Fastening Aluminum Soffits What kind of spacing should be used for purlins?

01-26-2012, 04:15 PM	#6
woodworkbykirk journeyman carpenter     Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: nova scotia canada Posts: 2,162	Fastening Aluminum Soffits typically 16" o.c running perpindicular to the direction of the soffit so you have a constant fastening base to screw the soffit to

01-26-2012, 05:32 PM	#7
mae-ling Member   Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,982	Fastening Aluminum Soffits Can you posts pics of what you have and what you want to do?