WHAT IS FASCIA BOARD ROT? – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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WHAT IS FASCIA BOARD ROT?


Fascia doesn’t get as much attention as the roof and gutters, but they are essential in protecting your attic from harsh elements.  They also help support the gutter system of your home.  However, this exterior component can be prone to water damage since it’s located below the roof and is affixed to the gutters.

WHAT IS FASCIA BOARD?

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.  Exposure to water and moisture causes fascia boards to deteriorate at a much faster pace than if protected.  This process is called Fascia Board Rot.

First the waterproof paint will wear away which leaves the wood open and exposed.  Once the paint is gone the deterioration process speeds up until the boards start to fall apart.  Eventually the boards will start splinter into shards and the gutters will fall as the boards are no longer able to support the gutter system.

Causes of Fascia Rot

The most common reasons for fascia rots are improper installation of drip edges and gutters, which are both meant to direct water away from your home.  This issue can indicate water buildup in other parts of the house.  The fascia may absorb water from heavy rains, but water will continue to make its way to the base of your home.

See your basement or crawlspace for water accumulation. I t can mean that the building materials under the fascia can be damaged.  For this problem, you may need to contact a professional to determine if your home requires repairs.  However, the damage is beyond repair in some cases, and a replacement is necessary.

What You Can Do

Once you’ve noticed issues with the fascia, check the soffits for damage.  Usually, soffits and fascia both suffer from water accumulation.  For your safety, it’s best to leave repairs and replacements to professionals.  Like any other component of your home, the best way to preserve and extend the life of your fascia is through regular maintenance. Make sure to have your gutters cleaned routinely to prevent water buildup around the edges of your roof.

ROOF RAFTERS

In addition to fascia board rot from exposure to water the roof rafters can also take on water damage if water is getting behind the the fascia boards.  Furthermore rot can even spread from board to board through contact.  Roof rafters make up the frame of the roof.  Therefore, another way to think of rafters is that they make up the skeleton of the roof.  Unfortunately, replacing roof rafters is a very complicated and expensive process. Therefore, making sure fascia board rot doesn’t get out of hand to the point it spreads to the rafters is absolutely vital.  If the rafters go then your looking at framework and possibly roof replacement.

GUTTER PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE FASCIA BOARD ROT

  • LOOSE GUTTERS

  • CLOGGED DOWNSPOUTS / EXCESSIVE DEBRIS

  • DRIP EDGE ISSUES

LOOSE GUTTERS

When gutters are loose from the home to the point there is a gap behind the gutter, then water is able to come in contact with the fascia board.  Direct contact with water is the worse thing possible for fascia boards.  Therefore, it is important to keep an eye out for gutters coming loose and have them fixed sooner rather than later.

CLOGGED DOWNSPOUTS / EXCESSIVE DEBRIS

Neglecting your gutters by allowing them to stay full of leaves and other debris for extended periods of time will lead to costly home repairs.  Clogged gutters and downspouts cause damages to fascia boards in different ways.  When the water is not able to drain it fills up the gutters until they eventually overflow. Often times the water overflows behind the gutters where it wears away at the fascia boards.  Not only does the direct water contact cause damage, but the additional weight of the water also causes much strain on the fascia. It is common for gutters full of water to pull the fascia right off of the wall if it wasn’t secured properly.

In addition, wet piles of debris that are overflow the gutter end up making contact with the fascia boards and roofing eave.  Therefore, the debris is able to transfer moisture to the surrounding wood which keeps the wood soggy and damp. Especially since the debris pile also shades out the sun from drying the wood.

DRIP EDGE ISSUES

One of the most important components of the roofing eave is called the drip edge.  Drip edge is a flashing used to bridge the gap between the roof and the gutter system.  It is tucked under the shingles so that it reaches from the roof deck to the inner gutter. Therefore, water is diverted to the inner portion of the gutter.  Without drip edge water is able to go behind the gutter and cause damages.  In the below photo the drip edge is the white strip at the top of the gutter.

FASCIA BOARD REPAIRS

Sometimes fascia boards could use a little bit of repair or upkeep to keep make sure they will last a few more years.  The tell tale way to know if fascia boards are able still usable is if they are still solid. Knocking on the board is the easiest way to go about this. A solid board will provide a crisp and sharp knock while a soft or damp board will be make more of a thud sound.

FIX LOOSE FASCIA BOARDS

Water weight from clogged gutters is the most common cause of fascia boards to become loose.  Another common cause of loose fascia is when the boards were installed using nails or screws that were too short.

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 professionals 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.