Yuck: what’s that next to your gutter? If you have gutter problems or need a roof replacement, rotten fascia boards could be one of the indicators of poor roof health. How can you make sure that all parts of your gutters and roof stay functional and sound for as long as possible?

Where Are Your Fascia Boards? 

Most people don’t think a lot about the anatomy of their gutters: they just try to clean them every so often and make sure that they don’t leak very much. However, if you ignore the different parts of your roof and gutters, it’s like missing a key point on your health checkup. Your gutters could be working well, but if your fascia boards are rotten, that’s a problem.

Your fascia boards are the long boards the run just under the roof. Your gutters sit right next to them. The fascia is attached to the end of the roof and supports the lower edge of the bottom row of roof tiles. It is also hard at work supporting your gutters and everything that they contain.

Taking Care of Your Fascia Boards 

Fascia boards are a vulnerable part of your roof. If there are problems with your roof or your gutters, they bear the brunt. If there is a particularly intense rainfall, they’re responsible for supporting your gutters.

How can you take care of your fascia boards?

• Make sure that you choose excellent products. If the fascia board products you use are prone to rot, then that could be a serious problem a few years down the road.
• Use galvanized nails. Make sure that you reduce any of the possible ways that rot and water could get into the boards. If your nails are degrading in the weather, this is a problem.
• Don’t nail them in a way that will split the board over time. Roofers should know this and ensure that fascia boards are well-secured and not nailed too close to the end or at a strange angle that will lead to splitting and rot.
• Paint them when possible, or add wood hardener. Painting your boards, at least at the ends, provides a coating that can help to prevent rot.
• Prevent leaking gutters that send water out all sides of the gutter, damaging your fascia and your landscaping. Clean them regularly or attach a gutter guard.
• Inspect the boards regularly when you check your roof, so that there are no surprises. According to Angie’s List, “You may identify rotted and damaged fascia boards by using a screwdriver and pressing against the suspected areas.”

Replacing Your Fascia Boards 

If you have to replace the fascia boards, ideally, you should replace your fascia boards during a roofing project, not after. It is much easier to access them before roofers complete the drip edge of the roof. According to a contractor writing on Angie’s List, replacing the fascia is simpler before the roof is complete: “Not only is it easier and less expensive, but also from an aesthetic standpoint, without the new drip edge in my way, I can sometimes do a little nicer looking job as well.”

At Lednor Home Solutions, we want to make sure that your home is in good health and that it supports the health of your family as well. Say goodbye to rotten, leaky roofs or gutters: contact us today about the possibility of roof replacement. Schedule a free estimate now.

Written by Del Thebaud