Upkeep of these overhangs is essential—even if they’re not all that exciting a place to invest time and money. Painting eaves and soffits prevents weathering and keeps your exterior looking fresh. This project is fairly straightforward from an organizational perspective: After you’ve done all the prep work—by far the toughest part of the job—simply proceed from top to bottom. Not only does this keep splatters from marring fresh paint (as might happen if you worked in the opposite direction), but it also knocks out the most difficult details first. What to do with guttering? The answer is always to remove it. Even if you’re not painting the gutters, you will need to paint the fascia (the face of the overhang) where the gutters are anchored. Trying to slip the brush between the fascia and the gutters won’t allow you to coat the surface well enough to protect the wood. When painting soffits and eaves, allot 1 to 2 hours for every 25 linear feet. Before you begin, make sure the exterior has been properly prepped. That includes scraping, repairing, and priming damaged wood and cleaning the surface thoroughly. Then grab your brushes and start at the top. Keeping the ladder centered, move it down a couple of boards and paint them from one side to the other. If you have to overreach, adjust the ladder to one side or the other.
