Hi all, I've worked the past 3 winters with friends from home (in W Va) to build a 24x48 SIP building on a concrete pad here in SE Arizona, for a winter camp. We've installed interior partitions/wiring/rough plumbing this winter, and now I have a solar expert finishing up a solar array for electrical service and a locally famous stucco craftsman covering the exterior with a thick layer of stucco. The roof is galvalume over heavy 30 lb felt all on the 6 inch polyurethane panels we used for the roof last winter. I'm at 5500 feet just about 25 miles from the Mexican border, on a hillside with lots of dying live oak, pinon, etc. The fire hazard seems high, which is why I picked stucco and metal roof. Question, though, is what to cover the underside of the roof eaves with? The walls and roof are very fireproof, and we used 5/8" Type X on the interior partitions. I want to be fire resistant in every way I can, but I don't have any good ideas for under the eaves... Durock or Hardyboard, maybe, with lots of paint? Thanks, JR in WV (Arizona right now, heading home for spring soon)

There are numerous manufacturers of metal (typically aluminum or galvalume steel) soffit and fascia. Just google [metal soffit] for more info.

I like to use the prepainted hardipanels on the soffits. A little heavy but with glue and screws it will hold up well and give you the fire resistance you are looking for.

Tom Pittsley
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www.eebt.org