I own a brick rancher with wood trim, and am planning to install siding for the fascia and soffit. I also want to put siding on gables. House is 40+ years old; the wood soffit and fascia are in pretty good shape. My questions concern whether -- in a case like this -- the "one-by" soffit are generally *removed*, or whether the siding is "simply" installed over the wood. So, queries are:
(1) Should soffit be removed and completely *replaced* by a quality siding? *Or* should (most) everything be left in place, and the siding overlaid?
(2) If the best answer is to leave the wood in place, should the wood be refinished [like primed and painted], or at least some Waterseal or Spar Urethane be put on the wood before "siding it in"?
I have two straight strips to consider soffit-wise -- about 75 feet in front and back, reachable by ladder. I realize I will probably need to consider more vents somewhere. Also the soffits follow the pitch of the roof. Is it better to stay with that or box it off by nailing the j-channel level with the bottom of the fascia?
I also want to do the gables [which have triangular metal vents at apex]; but I assume that, in that case, I would finish the wood and then put on vinyl siding panels. The gables currently have wood siding. Can I install the vinyl siding directly over it?
I also haven't decided whether to go with vinyl or aluminum for the soffits and fascia. Any ideas on which one is easier to install?