How to Vent a Soffit for Your Home

Place a ladder against the exterior wall in a position that affords good access to the soffit board to be ventilated, without you having to reach sideways. Ensure that the ladder is set on a firm and slip-proof surface, or have an assistant secure the base for you.

Climb the ladder, taking a tape measure and pencil with you in a secure pocket. Measure the width of the soffit board and the location where the vent is to be created. Divide the soffit width by two to determine the center. Mark this point on the soffit board. For example, if the soffit is 12 inches wide, make a mark six inches from the edge because 12 divided by two equals six.

Descend the ladder and discard the tape measure and pencil. Check that the drill is not connected to a power supply. Fit a circle cutter of the desired diameter into the drill chuck, and tighten it using a chuck key. Remove the chuck key and connect the drill to a power supply. Squeeze the trigger and observe the cutter. It should spin with no sign of wobble or eccentricity. If the cutter wobbles, switch off the drill, loosen the chuck and reposition the cutter before again checking that if spins correctly.

Climb the ladder, taking the drill with you. Align the pilot drill in the center of the cutter with the mark made on the soffit board. Ensure that the drill is perpendicular to the board, and then drill into the board. Continue until the cutter passes right through the board. Withdraw the drill and smooth the edges of the hole using sandpaper. Drill additional holes as required.

Return to ground level and swap the drill for a bucket of exterior paint that matches the soffit color and a small brush. Return to the soffit board and paint the sides of the hole to protect it from the weather.

Access the soffit board from within the attic or loft space. Locate the hole. Cut a square of strong plastic mesh to a size sufficient to cover the hole, with sufficient overlap for the edges to be stapled to the soffit board. Secure the mesh all around the edges with enough staples to prevent birds or squirrels pushing it aside and entering through the hole.