Fascia boards are the long, straight white trim boards that run along the lower edge of the roof. It is secured directly to the lower ends of the roof trusses and does much of the work of providing support to the lower edge of the bottom row of tiles. The gutters are also mounted to the fascia board and carries all of the guttering. The main job of a fascia board is to stop water from going into the walls and to cover and protect the exposed rafters. By doing so, it gives the home a finished look as well as prevents insects, birds, squirrels, etc. from getting in.
Fascia boards come in a couple different choices of materials, wood being the most common because it is the cheapest and is easy to work with. It is important to remember that all wood will rot from exposure to water. Wood rot is the most common type of fascia board damage. Fascia boards begin to rot when they have been exposed to water for a long period of time. Therefore, it is important to paint the fascia with a waterproof based paint and sealant.
Gutter systems are created to keep water in the gutters and to stop water from going behind them. When water does have the opportunity to go behind the gutters, it begins to destroy the fascia board and seeps inside your walls. After the fascia board becomes rotted to the point that is it soft, it is no longer able to provide support the weight of the gutters, resulting in the gutters falling off of your house.
Signs the Fascia Board is Rotting
Gutter Lean: Once the fascia board becomes weak, it can no longer provide support to the gutters. As a result, the gutters eventually fall off.
Gutter Falling Off of the House: When you see gutters hanging off the house, there is a good chance that the fascia board is damaged.
Gutters Keep Coming Loose: If you had a gutter re-attached due to it falling off, and then a few weeks later it came loose again, then the fascia board is most likely too soft and needs to be replaced.
Visible Deterioration/Discoloration to Fascia Board: Over a period of time, the paint on the fascia board will begin to come off. This paint is the protection layer so as soon as this occurs, the wood becomes vulnerable to water damage.
Can You Re-Paint the Fascia Board?
If you catch your fascia board early enough before any major damage happens, then yes, you can re-paint it. The fascia board must still be hard and solid in order for it to work. In order to do this, you would have to remove all of the hardware and gutter attached to the fascia and then remove all of the paint. Next you would need to re-paint the fascia board and re-install the gutter system. Doing all of this by yourself may be time consuming and cost more than expected, especially if you are not an expert in this field. Hiring a professional to remove and reinstall the gutter system and repaint the board is going to cost you just as much as if you did it yourself.
If you are needing to replace your fascia board, the best bet is to hire a professional to make sure it is done correctly, whether it is re-painting it or replacing it entirely. It is a time-consuming project that can become overwhelming when you are not sure what to do. GutterPros has 14 years of experience in the gutter industry. Our work comes with a 5-year workmanship warranty, our employees are dedicated, and we take pride in making sure our customers are happy with the outcome. Call us today at (314) 656-7195 so we can help fix any issues you are experiencing.