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 a


(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?