Fascia board is a type of roof trim that is commonly used on houses. It is mounted on the exposed ends of rafters or the top of exterior walls to create a layer between the edge of the roof and the outside. In addition to serving an aesthetic function by creating a smooth, even appearance on the edge of the roof, it also protects the roof and the interior of the house from weather damage. Not all styles of home design feature this trim, but many do.
In cases where the edge of the roof is flush with the edge of the walls, the fascia board may include soffits for venting, while in other instances, soffits may be hidden under the eave, invisible behind the board. It also provides a point of attachment for the gutters of the house, along with the drain pipes, facilitating drainage from the roof and ensuring that water does not pool around the house during the rainy season.
This section of the roof trim may require periodic repair or replacement. The boards can be vulnerable to water damage, which leads to rot, and the rot can spread to the rafters and roofing materials, which is undesirable. If fascia boards appear to be rotting away or they become detached, they should be replaced. It is usually not necessary to replace the entire length of board; instead, people can cut a fresh segment to replace a damaged one, taking care that the seams of the boards meet on a rafter so that they can be firmly nailed in place.
Replacing these boards is a very easy task that can be accomplished with a ladder or scaffolding, hammer and nails, saw, and board of the appropriate width and thickness. It also helps to have paint or stain so that replacement segments can be painted to match the existing trim; if the paint on the older board is especially faded, people may prefer to paint all of the boards so that the new segment will not stand out.
When replacing fascia board, people should take care to lift any shingles that overlap the board carefully, and they should take the opportunity to inspect the roof and flashing as long as the boards are removed. People can prolong the life of this part of the roof trim by cleaning the gutters regularly to avoid water buildup around the edges of the roof, removing moss and chunks of material that become wedged between gutters and fascia boards, and engaging in regular maintenance, such as painting, to keep trim materials in good condition.
