What soffit and fascia do
Fascia is the vertical board at the edge of the roof that the eavestroughs hang from. Soffit is the horizontal panel underneath the overhang that closes the eave and — if it is vented — lets outdoor air into the attic. Together they keep water, squirrels and birds out of the roof structure and, on a properly ventilated house, they are half of the system that stops ice dams. Most Toronto houses still have original wood fascia under a thin aluminum cap and either solid plywood soffit or perforated aluminum installed decades ago, which is why rot at the fascia and blocked intake vents are the two most common findings on a roof inspection.
2026 price guide
| Scope | Installed cost per linear ft | Typical detached home (200–350 ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Fascia only (aluminum over existing board) | $7–$12 | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Soffit only (vented aluminum, 12–24 in overhang) | $6–$14 | $1,500–$4,500 |
| Soffit + fascia | $12–$24 | $3,500–$9,000 |
| Seamless aluminum eavestroughs | $8–$15 | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Soffit + fascia + eavestroughs | $20–$39 | $5,000–$13,000 |
| Replace rotted wood fascia board | +$6–$12 per ft affected | Typically $300–$1,500 |
Prices include removing the old material, new vented aluminum soffit and J-channel, aluminum fascia cap, drip edge where the roof needs it and disposal. They assume a one- or two-storey house with ordinary access. Three-storey homes, steep lots and houses that need scaffolding rather than ladders sit at the top of each range.
What moves the price
- 1Overhang width. A 12-inch soffit uses half the material of a 24-inch one and installs faster.
- 2Rot. Fascia board that has rotted behind the old cap has to be replaced before anything goes on; budget $6–$12 per affected foot.
- 3Height and access. Second- and third-storey eaves over a sloped side yard mean scaffolding or a lift.
- 4Gable ends and returns. Every corner, return and gable rake adds cut-and-fit time compared with a straight run.
- 5Colour and gauge. Standard white or brown stock is cheapest; custom colours and heavier-gauge fascia cost more.
- 6Bundling. With eavestroughs, a roof or attic ventilation, the set-up cost is shared and the price per foot falls 15–25%.
Why 'vented' matters more than 'cheap'
Intake ventilation through the soffit, paired with exhaust at the ridge, is how an attic stays cold in winter. A cold attic does not melt the snow above it, so meltwater does not refreeze at the eave into an ice dam. Solid soffit, soffit installed over old plywood with no cut-outs, or vents stuffed with insulation from inside the attic all defeat that. When we replace soffit we confirm the intake path is actually open from the attic side — it is the single most common thing a 'cheap' soffit job skips, and the reason ice dams come back the following winter.
If your roof is within five years of replacement, do the soffit and fascia with the roof. The crew, the scaffolding and the drip-edge detailing are shared, and a roof warranty that covers the edge is worth more than two separate ones that each blame the other.
Owner-Operator at Buildoreno with 25+ years of hands-on GTA construction experience. Last reviewed October 2026.