Signs of a Rotten Fascia Board – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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Signs of a Rotten Fascia Board

Fascia boards are trim boards that gutters are mounted to.  Fascia boards are installed horizontally across the roofing eaves of homes by mounting to the roof rafters.  Without fascia the edge of the roof line would be exposed to the elements and wildlife.  Not to mention air would freely flow into your roof/attic making it more expensive to maintain temperatures in the home.

What Causes Fascia Rot?

Fascia is the flat board installed at the end of the rafter and where some professionals secure gutters.  A common issue with this home exterior component is rot. When this problem occurs, it means that water has already compromised the condition of the facia board.   An improperly installed gutter system or drip edge can cause water to reach your fascia.  Once the fascia becomes saturated with water, it will eventually rot, causing water to travel to your basement or crawlspace.  If you’ve noticed that water is settling in these areas of your home, it can indicate that everything below the fascia has already potentially suffered water damage.

The Importance of Fascia Boards

In addition to being the primary source for securing new gutters to your home, fascia boards are essential to be in working order.  When your home is built, the roof trusses hang over the walls of your home.  This allows for ventilation to occur within the attic/roof.  To cover the ends of the trusses, fascia boards are used. On the underside, ventilated soffit is installed.

 The fascia board also happens to be where gutters are mounted to.  So, saying the relationship between your home’s fascia boards and your gutters is important would be an understatement.  Without fascia boards, your gutters would have nothing to mount to. However, without gutters (or gutter guards) that are installed correctly/working, your fascia boards run the risk of getting exposed to moisture.

Gutter Lean

Once fascia board gets soft it can no longer support the weight of the gutter.  Eventually the gutter will fall off of the wall.  You can see the gutter hardware (hidden hangers) are no longer biting into the fascia board.  You can also see that the fascia board behind the gutter is discolored and rotting.

Gutter Falling Off House

Anytime you see gutters hanging off of the house, chances are that the fascia board is damaged. In the picture above you see a gutter that is half on the house, and the other half is hanging to the ground. From the picture it appears they attempted to attach new fascia board to old fascia board, and the old fascia is completely rotten.

Gutters Keep Coming Loose

If you had a gutter re-secured because it was hanging loose, but then a few weeks later it came loose again.  That fascia board is likely too soft and needs to be replaced. As a gutter company that does a lot of repairs, we see this all the time.

Visible Deterioration/Discoloration of Fascia

Over time the paint on fascia boards will flake off.  The paint was the protection layer so once this happens the wood is vulnerable to water damage.  The white boards are the easiest to spot discoloration on.  By taking a lap around your home every 6 months to a year you can keep an eye on your fascia boards.  Since the gutters are mounted to the boards, you may only get to see the bottom or the top of the wood.  Look for any signs of rot on the exposed sections of wood you can see.  One general rule of thumb is to poke the wood fascia board with a screwdriver.  If it’s solid it is still good.  However, if your screwdriver goes into the wood itself, then that wood is getting soft.

Anything from cracks, splits in the wood, paint peeling, moss, mold, wet spots, and termites is all considered fascia board damage.   Since the gutter is mounted to the board and it is higher up, you may need to use a ladder to get an upclose view.

What Happens When a House Fascia Board Rots?

Once the fascia board starts to rot then everything else that is attached to it is also at risk of falling.  Sometimes fascia board holds up the soffit or gutters that is installed under overhanging roofs.  When you have a rotten fascia board the gutter is usually the first thing that comes loose.  If you do see the soffit starting to fall out in one section, you should have them check the fascia when re-installing the soffit.

How to Keep a Fascia Board in Good Condition

It is ultimately your responsibility as a homeowner to maintain the overall condition of your roof, and that includes protecting your fascia boards from rot. Here are some tips:

  • Install a drip edge. As required from building codes, a drip edge must be installed to preserve the life of fascia boards.  It sits right below the first layer of shingles and keeps water from reaching the fascia.  If your existing roof has a drip edge, make sure that it is not loose or misaligned.

  • Keep the gutters clean. When water backs up due to clogged gutters, it goes to the fascia boards before it even seeps underneath the shingles.  Have your gutters inspected and cleaned at least twice a year — once in spring and once in fall — to ensure there are no dead leaves, animal nests and other debris clogging up the system.

  • Give the fascia a fresh coat of paint. An annual roof inspection is a perfect time to make sure the fascia board is sealed and caulked.  You should also let roofers touch up any areas where paint is peeling or flaking before water penetrates them.  Giving the fascia a new lick of paint every now and then will help protect it from elements and keep the exterior of your home sightly.  If the fascia is made with wood, choose a premium exterior paint that can stand up to severe weather conditions.

  • Remove insect nests. Especially in the colder months, your roof becomes a beacon of light for pests and small animals.  Periodically check for evidence of bee, wasp and hornet nests in the corners of your home where the exterior walls meet the roof.  If animals nesting on your roof has become a serious problem, call a professional to have them safely removed.

If your fascia boards are slowly exhibiting signs of deterioration, it is often more cost-effective to replace them.  Make sure you remove the old fascia boards before adding new ones.  Installation should not include cap covers since they can promote moisture buildup on the timber, therefore causing it to rot.

What Can You Do About This Issue?

Keeping your fascia in good shape means protecting your siding, basement and other parts of your home.  You can prevent this component from rotting with regular roof inspections and maintenance.  Make sure to maintain your gutters regularly because when they are in good condition, facia rot is less likely to occur.

Contact a professional as soon as you notice signs of rot in your fascia.  Addressing the issue early can keep it from affecting other areas of your house.  If your fascia is rotting, you must have it replaced immediately.