Soffits have always been a rather labour-intensive part of a build. A soffit may look simple to install, but most require a parade of tradies carrying out multiple site visits to complete the steps required.
Ribon has changed all that. Its clever interlocking technology clicks leaves of lightweight steel seamlessly into a bracket and the whole thing can be put in by one team of two installers.
Fibre cement has been widely used as a soffit lining for some time. The perception of it as a low-cost solution held sway at a time when a builder typically performed almost all of the construction tasks on the site and worked their programme accordingly. In the past two decades that approach has largely been surpassed as builders largely perform the high-end roles and managed the projects by sub-contracting installation work
With Ribon, the panel prep work is done before the soffits even arrive. Ribon’s interlocking steel panels are precut in the factory, minimising waste and harmful dust from cutting onsite. The patented framing system is set out first, then the lightweight pre-painted panels (protectively wrapped) are clipped in, allowing an install team to work quickly and efficiently.
Putting in a traditional soffit is onerous by comparison. The whole process is spread across several days, while builders, fascia installers, stoppers and painters all come and go. Each trade leaves a gap for drying, scheduling and site coordination and in the end the real cost of a traditional soffit isn’t the materials, it’s labour.
By contrast, the Ribon system is quick and efficient and eliminates a lot of these steps altogether. The whole process is a faster, cleaner install with fewer people on site and fewer opportunities for delay.
By applying the logic of roofing to soffits, using interlocking, colour-coated steel panels fixed to a simple bracket system, Ribon streamlines installation, reduces labour and delivers long-term performance. The result is a soffit system that saves not just money, but time and hassle across the entire build.
A traditional install versus a Ribon install
Next to an ordinary installation, the Ribon system is very simple:
- A bracket is fixed to the rafters
- Pre-formed steel panels click into place
- The system forms a clean, seamless finish in one pass
There’s no plastering. No painting. No time spent waiting for surfaces to dry. Ribon’s streamlined approach means installation can be done and dusted in one go, often in a single visit rather than multiple stages.
Depending on the scale of the project, a typical soffit installation will take an estimated labour time of 1-2 weeks and the co-ordination of 2-5 trades. By comparison, even allowing for project variations, the estimated labour time to install a Ribon soffit system is 3 – 4 days, and needs only one trade. The use of Ribon on a job will likely cut installation time by more than half.
Material efficiency and reduced waste
Traditional soffit materials, particularly fibre cement and timber, are heavy and difficult to handle. Fibre cement is difficult to remove and replace if onsite damage occurs. Cutting down fibre cement requires the use of high-speed cutting tools. This not only creates harmful, hazardous dust, but renders the off-cuts unrecyclable, resulting in material waste.
You won’t see waste with Ribon system. It uses pre-cut-to-length steel panels designed to fit efficiently with minimal cutting. The fact that it’s so light means it’s easier to handle, which improves productivity and safety onsite. Ribon, with its interlocking technology, allows for panels to be removed and replaced easily. You can do it without taking them all out.
Fewer delays, fewer headaches
One of the hidden costs of traditional soffits has to be project delay.
Because installation is spread across multiple trades, any hold-up, be it weather, scheduling, drying times or handovers, can push timelines out. So, then you get project delays, increased site management time and frustration for builders and clients.
By consolidating the installation into one process, Ribon removes the reliance on multiple trades and eliminates wet trades and their curing times. You end up with a far more predictable build project with fewer scheduling issues.
Fewer long-term maintenance costs
Cost savings don’t stop at installation. A traditional soffit will often require ongoing maintenance, like repainting, cleaning mouldy surfaces, making repairs to cracked materials and replacing panels due to moisture damage. Ribon’s steel system needs none of that. The whole structure is highly durable, resistant to moisture and maintains its colour-coated steel finish over time.
A cost comparison in real terms
While exact costs vary by project, it’s not the materials that push up the cost.
Here you can see at a glance how Ribon will save you, both in installation and across the entire life of the building. You can also see why Ribon’s existing customers, often become repeat customers; choosing to use Ribon soffits time and time again for the ease of installation, ease of maintenance and seamless good looks that are extremely easy on the eye.
Built for modern construction
Beyond cost and efficiency, Ribon’s approach aligns beautifully with how modern builds are evolving. It makes for faster construction timelines. Prefabrication makes things a lot simpler onsite and your reliance on multiple tradies is greatly reduced.
For builders, it means a lot more control over time and budget. For architects, it offers a clean, precise finish with no risk of leaks. For clients, it delivers long-term value with fewer issues down the road.
The bottom line
Soffits may seem like a small detail, but they can have an outsized impact on time, cost and complexity of a build. By totally rethinking the system, Ribon has cut out the unnecessary steps, reduced labour time and delivered a beautifully efficient solution that benefits everyone involved in the build.
Less time on site. Less cost in labour. Fewer headaches overall. That’s the Ribon advantage.
