Signs of a Rotten Gutter Fascia Board – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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Signs of a Rotten Gutter Fascia Board

In roofing, the fascia refers to a flat board that runs along the roofline and connects the rafters and trusses.  It is visible from the exterior of your home as it holds the gutters in place, protecting your interior from moisture-related issues.  Unfortunately, it is possible for the fascia to rot.  In fact, it is one of the most common dilemmas that homeowners face.

Functions of a Fascia Board

In addition to supporting the structure of a roof, the purpose of a fascia board is to keep moisture out of the system.  It also provides a clean, finished look to the edge of the roof.  On top of that, the fascia is known to be behind a strong and sturdy gutter system.  During heavy rainfall, the fascia carries the weight of the gutters and the high volume of water it holds.  The gutter system is likely to sag when the fascia is in bad shape, causing the water to spill over to the side and pool near the foundation of the home.  Along with the soffits, the fascia board also helps keep birds, squirrels and other pests out of the roof.

When it comes to designing a fascia board, wood perhaps is the most common selection, though PVC, fiber cement, aluminum and vinyl can also be used.  A fascia board can be bull-nosed, square-edged, or laid flat directly onto a wall or flat roof.

Causes of a Rotting Fascia

Roofing professionals have found that rotting fascia is usually caused by two things.  The first common cause is the improper installation of the gutters and drip edge.  The drip edge is installed at the edges of the roof to keep water away from the fascia while the gutters are responsible for transporting runoff down to the downspouts and into a drainage in the ground.  When installed incorrectly, these components can cause water to infiltrate your fascia, potentially damaging the building materials below it.  Once water finds its way behind your gutters, it is only a matter of time before it rots out both the fascia board and roof decking.  With that in mind, it is crucial that an expert roofer installs your gutters and drip edge.

The second possible cause of rotting fascia is storm damage.  Due to its location, the component is extremely susceptible to wind-driven rain during a storm.  If it collects enough moisture, the fascia can start to rot, putting your home at greater risk of damage that requires roof replacement.

What to Do About a Damaged Fascia

Most of the time, it is easy to identify a damaged fascia because the signs are obvious.  Dark stains, cracks, holes and splintering are a few common ones, while the worst-case scenario entails portions of the fascia board missing from the roof.  At the first sight of these signs, call a professional to schedule an inspection.  Ask the professional to check the soffit as it may also be compromised by excessive water buildup.  To avoid future leaks and water damage, the seams of the fascia board should be precisely lined up with the rafters.

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.  Below 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 touch up any areas where paint is peeling or flaking before water penetrates them.  This 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.

Signs of Deterioration

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.

Gutter Falling Off House

Anytime you see gutters hanging off of the house, chances are that the fascia board is damaged.

Gutters Keep Coming Loose

If you had a gutter resecured because it was hanging loose, but then a few weeks later it came loose again that mean the fascia board is likely too soft and needs to be replaced.

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 walking 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 up close view.

Conclusion

Fascia board is considered a very essential part of your gutter system and roofing eave.  To get the most life out of these boards as possible you’ll need to keep an eye on them and act fast if you see signs of damage.  Always remember that there is no repair for rotting wood.  It will need to be replaced.  Most importantly, keeping your gutters regularly cleaned and maintained is the best thing you can do for your home.  Gutter negligence is the #1 cause of all problems with your gutter system.  If debris is piled up in your gutter than water could be going behind the gutter and damaging the wood.