Welcome to Family Roofing

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

SOFFIT AND FASCIA REPAIR

Roof repairs typically involve replacing damaged shingles and rusted flashing, but the overhang of a roof is often the first area to succumb to rot, peeling paint and other weather-related problems.  The good news is, unlike most roof repairs, you can fix an eave or gable overhang (rake) without climbing onto the roof.

Soffited eaves and gable overhangs are susceptible to water damage caused by ice dams, improper flashing, torn shingles, and faulty gutters.   Once water has seeped in, the rot spreads quickly because the wood stays soggy inside the dark, dank space.

Damage is also caused by birds and squirrels nesting inside eaves.  These animals have been known to chew or peck through a perfectly sound eave, but they’re especially attracted to a water-damaged fascia or soffit, which offers less resistance.  Bees and hornets also build nests in and under eaves.  Call an exterminator if you notice bees or hornets congregating around an eave — even if you don’t see the nest.

Homeowners should understand the purpose of the soffit and fascia on their home and be able to identify damage that needs attention.  The soffit and fascia serve both aesthetic and functional purposes on a home’s exterior.

The soffit is the underside of a roof’s eaves and the fascia is the board that extends straight down from the roof edge.  As the soffit and fascia age, they experience damage and require repairs.  The following are signs to look out for that indicate that your soffit and fascia need repairs.

Cracks and Chipped Paint

Paint on the soffit and fascia sometimes develops chips and cracks over time.  This is both an aesthetic problem and a functional problem.  While at first cracks and chips might be merely aesthetic, they can deepen and expand over time until they create leak problems. For this reason, homeowners should seal up cracks and paint over chips to ensure that the soffit and fascia are watertight.

Leaks in Gutters

If your gutters are leaking, chances are high that your soffit and fascia are suffering from water damage.  Leaking gutters can cause the soffit and fascia to be constantly exposed to water.  This can cause freeze-thaw damage in the winter months.  Flowing water can also knock the soffit loose and dislodge the fascia boards.

Poor Attic Ventilation

If your attic is not adequately ventilated and the attic air is stagnant, your soffit and fascia could be to blame.  Often, soffits are ventilated to allow air to flow into the attic and upper floors of a home.   Clogs and blockages in the soffit and fascia components could cause poor ventilation.  Dirt and debris become lodged into the soffit and fascia vents and block air flow. In this case, the components need to be cleaned or replaced.

Animal Infestations

One important function of the soffit and fascia is keeping pests from building nests under a home’s eaves.  The soffit and fascia are a first line of defense against pest infestations not just on the roof itself but in the home’s interior as well.  A careful inspection of the soffit and fascia is always important when pests have infiltrated a home.  Replacement of the soffit and fascia is important if pests have been making their way into the home through openings in roof eaves.

Rotting Wood

Wooden parts of the soffit and fascia are susceptible to developing rot over time.  This is especially true if there are leak or moisture control issues that are constantly exposing the soffit and fascia to moisture.  Rotting wood in the soffit and fascia creates a variety of problems.  Not only can rot be visible and unattractive, but it can also weaken the soffit and fascia so that parts come loose over time.  Also, wood rot can give off a strong odor if it becomes extensive.

Presence of Asbestos

If you’re living in an older house, the original builders may have used some building components that contained asbestos.  Older soffit and fascia were sometimes produced with asbestos.  If the soffit and fascia contain asbestos and become disrupted by damage or remodeling work, members of the household could face health threats due to asbestos exposure.  If you are concerned about the possible presence of asbestos in your old soffit and fascia, you need to look into asbestos abatement and removal services to safely resolve the problem.

Who Repairs Soffit and Fascia?

If you notice signs that your soffit and fascia materials are damaged or degrading, the good news is that they can often be fixed without the need for a full roof replacement or knowing how to install metal roofing or other roofing materials.   Most roofing companies can repair or replace soffit and fascia materials.  Call a professional.

If a fascia board experiences significant decay, you may have to replace it.  Fortunately, this is a fairly straightforward process and considered part of normal roof maintenance.   Replacement typically entails removing the old board and putting in a new one that has been cut to length. After you have installed the replacement fascia board, seal the joints and paint it.

But there are a number of considerations when choosing the right fascia board for your home.  Make sure you pick the best wood for your climate.  When in doubt, cedar heartwood and cypress are good options for most environments.  You should also opt for fascia boards with grain structures that are resistant to splitting, twisting, warping, and bowing.

The type of nails you use will also impact the longevity of a fascia board.  Your best bet will be either stainless steel or old-fashioned, hot-dipped galvanized nails, as each nail type is incredibly durable.