Lights installed in your soffit are usually found on your front porch and at the corners of your home. The procedure for installing new soffits around lighting depends on your type of lights. You will only remove the cover plate on recessed lighting, and all other lights must be completely removed except for the anchor plate and electrical box.
- Skill level:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things you need
- Variable speed drill
- Drill bits
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Saw horses
- 2 6-foot long 2-by-4-inch boards
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1
Remove the light bulb from your recessed lighting. Reach up into your light and lift up on the spring clips and release them. The spring clips hold your cover plate in place. Remove the cover plate from the light.
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2
Lay the old section of soffit on top of a new section so you can use the old section as a template if you can remove it in one piece. Mark the length, and trace the light hole with your pencil.
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3
Set your sawhorses up and lay your 2-inch-by-4-inch boards across each end. These boards will provide support for your soffit. Cut the appropriate length of your soffit with your circular saw. Follow the line you drew with your pencil.
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4
Insert a ½-inch drill bit into your drill. Drill a hole in the center of your circle. Use your jigsaw to cut out the circle, starting at the hole you drilled. Cut across to your pencil drawing of your circle, and follow the circle with your saw. Your soffit can now be installed over your light. Replace your light cover after you have secured your soffit in place.
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5
Remove all light fixtures to correctly fit your soffit. Shut your power off before you remove your lights. It is easy to forget that the power is still on. Remove your light covers and light bulbs. Unscrew the base of your light and disconnect your black wires and your white wires. Place the wire nuts back on the wires in the electrical box. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to cut your new soffit to fit. Install your soffit, reconnect your lights, and turn your power back on.
Tips and warnings
- If you cannot save your old piece of soffit, there is another way to help you get the correct pattern. Measure across to your light from the backside of your fascia, and from the interior wall after you have removed your cover plates or light fixtures. Mark both distances on your new soffit. Make a cardboard template of the light opening and place the template between your pencil marks on your new soffit. Trace your template with a pencil.
