Tight Soffit Detail AKA Modified Monopoly Framing 

As a contractor.... I'm over it. I'm in northern Colorado and the past several years has been a complete nightmare.... to the point that I am changing my business model. I can no longer rely on subs or find qualified employees. I know that they are out there but I am not willing to sacrifice quality or fix their mistakes until I find that rare sub or employee. I tell people before they give me a bid that I am OCD and I want their best work and I am willing to pay for it.... They do enough to pass inspections. I burnt out trying to do everything myself. I'm hoping that this next crash will wipe out the hacks and make it easier to find and access guys who really care....

Scott, just yesterday in an interview I was doing with a potential builder I "tested" the builder on how he air seals his soffits and discussed your method and referred to you....as well as you being on Matt's channel. You are very important to helping me with preparing for this build and finding the right team. I think I may have finally found the right builder who already practices air tight energy efficient builds. It took 4 yrs of perseverance....and last Summer I was ready to Give UP! Cheers from small province of Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada. I have subscribed to your channel and bookmarked it in the document I prepare for building details for my build. Thank you so so so much Scott! Continuity!👍💯 🙏🇨🇦

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! I first saw your system on Risinger’s video and really didn’t want to build in his manner because of the higher cost, your solution solves my concerns. I wish Matt would be more cognizant of his much more expensive building techniques. I will definitely be using your technique to build my new home.

Followed you over from the video you did with Matt Risinger. I personally appreciate you giving us affordable options to get a nice, tight home. I'm looking forward to your content.

Thanks for the tip Scott . I saw your video with Matt yesterday and glad to see your bringing more air sealing and building details to a spec house. I have followed Matt for some time but has house budgets that are way beyond what most people can afford. Glad to see you hopped onboard u~tube and sharing your knowledge. Looking forward to the next video!

Scott thank you showing the details of this.im a truck driver by trade and have done some hammer swinging. I am getting ready to start building my retirement home/barndaminum which ill do most all of the work. So yours and matts videos are invaluable education for me.

This is a perfect detail for houses with hip roofs and overhangs that cover patios! I really wanted to do Matt's "monopoly" style as he described it, but with a hip roof and 10' overhangs, his method of "faux tails" on top of the roof just wouldn't cut it. Your method would have been absolutely perfect and wow, do I wish I had known about this at that stage of construction!

Scott, really excellent that you're sharing videos about your experience, I too am a majority spec builder here in SETX & i can relate to many of the same issues with building tighter, better houses. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're doing on the roof decking on this one. Thanks again!

Thanks for the video. If at all possible, please consider adding a hand-drawn sketch depicting a cross-sectional view of the detail from the architect's plans to help the viewer. Also, please consider a future video discussing roof sheathing choice 5/8 Zip versus 5/8 OSB, discussing how best to use each.

Great video! Love the modified detail and the clear explanation. Thanks for putting in the effort and sharing this video.

Hey Scott. Those Builders that stormed off your job because they wouldnt do what you ask. DONT HIRE THEM BACK ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WORK GETS SLOW AND THEM BUILDERS ARE BEGGING FOR WORK. You dont need those types of builders in the industry. Period.

Glad you started a channel. Excited to follow some of your projects; and keep posting!

Thanks for this Scott, we just broke ground for our build and i am watching you for all of my "belt and Suspender" methods. My builder was at the Las Vegas build show, so he has a few things he would like to try.

Looks good. I am in South Carolina. Most people here look at me like I am some sort of alien when I talk about thermal breaks or air sealing my home I am currently building. I want Zip R sheathing but the supply houses here will not even order it for me. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks 😂. Thanks for the video. Terry

Hi Scott. Just a plea for you to make more videos. I'm sure you will settle into exact style & how specific to go for each upload, but more is better. Love the content & appreciate you sharing insights to building homes that balance affordability and performance. Thanks!!

I will be following you intently as you pour out your knowledge on RU-vid. Hopefully there will be some value add we can give back in return. Thank you!

Great description. Thanks. I wish I had a drawing of this detail.

Thank you for this video. It would have been more helpful, for me at least, if you would have taken some video during the entire construction of soffit you describe. I can see the finished product and it looks great, but just need more help getting there myself. Again, thanks!

Love your content. Down to earth. Solid details!

Are the shingles nailed to the rain screen material and doesn’t penetrate the osb?

Is there a function of the vented soffit panels if there's ZIP enclosing the rafter tails and bays running underneath it? Or was this an instance of using the material that was available?

Hey Scott, would nailing on some temporary blocking onto the sub-fascia (example 2x4) to gave the straight edge for the decking work? Later you just pop off the blocking, tape the sub-fascia to decking and liquid flash the nail holes. Or would that be too unconventional too? That way you could install the James Hardie afterwards without having to tape the James Hardie Fascia.

I really appreciate these video's. Thanks

What hides the tape on the fascia if you’re not doing gutters all the way around the house?

great videos. Thank you for providing real world building .

Zip flashing tape sticks to Siga tape with no issues? I'm renovating exterior and want to seal concrete/bottom edge of Zip R3 with Fentram, and curious on finishing Zip flashing tape from sheathing seams to Fentram.

Keep the videos coming! 👍🏻

I’m not gonna lie; I wish you’d have built your place about a year ago when I was building mine…would have saved a few thousand compared to the monopoly frame I went with.

Why is the soffit vented if it's completely sealed underneath? It's good to see you starting the social media stuff.

Since you vented the soffits in the garage and not the rest of the home, do you seal off the garage in the attic from the rest of the home?

I’m definitely doing this on my current build

Tip for the future if you continue doing RU-vid. Get a microphone so we the camera mic doesn't pick up the camera holder's breathing.

How do you handle the roof edge on top of the sika tape. Won't the tape show?

Actually, your houses look closer to real monopoly houses. Monopoly houses have soffits and overhangs.

Would really like to see how you incorporate rooftop insulation with this method!

Scott on the come up!!!

i am confused. What do the holes in the soffit do if just beyond them there is an air barrier to the attic?

Is there zip sheathing behind the fascia?

Who is the person whose seminar you went to?

How does that OSB on the roof hold up when it gets wet and is taped at seams?

I'm curious whether this is any more beneficial than just sealing the whole soffit/facia roof connection via the inside with closed cell foam.

Does the siga tape just sit on the outside of the fascia? I would think you wouldn't want to see it to have a clean look.

Great video! I just have one question. Where do you get your Siga tape??? It’s not available online or in any stores I know of in central Texas. I’ve tried contacting the Siga rep many times and he’s never returned my phone calls.

Scott, how are your venting the roof with this detail since everything is closed up? Rain screen for the roof with an ERV and dehumidifier in the attic?

I love your innovative details, but would like to understand why you vent the eaves in the garage. I look at that as part of my living space.

Why are you making the house Air Tite...????... I'm confused...

Are you painting the siga tape on the fascia? How is that covered up?

What R value will you spray the roof and will u have a vapor diffuser port along the ridge just in case

scott- great video. if you were doing a custom home and using plywood and a traditional wrb (meaning not zip), for the soffit detail would you just apply a liquid wrb (like a prosoco product) for this area?

This might be a silly question can you use weather wrap on the exterior and be successful running it up over the soffit and some facia, if you’re not using zip sheeting?

Like all ideas throughout human history, it is not new. Nor is it invented by one man. Like many ideas, simultaneously many are doing like-wise. What is seldom addressed is does an idea work? Will it stand the test of time, and will it work for all environments? The beauty of many a-like-mind is everyone tweaks it to what they think is best. The down side is few share info. (Many care not for fame of being on camera). Somewhere down the road failure falls to the wayside and the best concept are elevated for the few if it doesn’t make money easily. Such is the capitalist society. “Money for nothing and chicks for free.” We all could have told you that the bums you hired wouldn’t do the work your way …. There’s only money in speed and ease. In order to change the masses of fly by night contractors (half-assed workers) … those that work with dollar signs in their eyes and little to no pride in their work, is to do it yourself. And/or know intimately the task at hand and stand over them as they work (like master over slave) stopping any work not to your standards. Prior to doing that have a legal contract in your favor. Have all money in trust. Hence, putting the halfed-asser’s out of business. Thanks for sharing … keep the results public. Thanks. (JF)👍

Great Stuff

Scott - can you share your roof framing? Believe you stated it’s made on site and saw a glimpse on video with Matt.

so hardie soffet over zip sheathing. do the holes do anything?

??: How do you prevent condensation on the inside of this structure at roof?

yes what you do for air tightness seems like common sense.. Also shows how lazy most in the industry are about building quality. Seems like those who build with paper sheathing are much much much worse about building anything that comes close to quality. Just toured a dh horton new POS subdivision going iin. Basically lot line houses. I would like to say they sure are crappily built.. if they got blower door test near 3 I would be shocked.

Who form set that slab? WTF

😃👍🏻👊🏻

I'm sorry, you lost me a Hardi Facia and soffit. I have a whole house of that crap that is literally falling apart I suspect from moisture intrusion. I'll not use another piece of it on any building project. It's about as good as the old crappy masonite siding material.

Some rough looking stem wall action behind you

These framers or labourers do not understand the system or the idea. You need to do it yourself or most of the stuff before the contractors come on site. You will be surprised how many roofers and framers do not know about insulation and air blocking concept for the roof or the whole house.

Will subs put themselves out of business,to cheap a job

Great idea, poor delivery

thank you so much, for taking the time! very imfornative