How to Repair the Fascia Boards

Gain access to the fascia boards with a ladder or scaffolding.

Inspect the fascia boards for signs of peeling paint, splitting, warping or rotting. Many times, gutter failure causes water damage to fascia boards, making immediate repairs necessary.

If only paint is peeling off the fascia board and there is no sign of other damage, scrape the paint to remove as much of the old paint as possible. If the fascia boards show other damage, proceed to Step 6 before scraping, priming and painting the existing fascia boards.

Paint on a coat of exterior-grade primer and let the primer dry for two to four hours.

Apply two coats of latex-based exterior paint to seal and protect the fascia boards from the weather.

Remove the rain gutters from the fascia boards if necessary.

Place a utility knife on the upper edge of the fascia board and cut through the old caulking material.

Pry off split, cracked or warped fascia boards with a pry bar, or pull out the nails holding the fascia boards with a claw hammer or nail puller. Remove the board from the house. If only a small section of the fascia board shows damage, cut the damaged section out with a reciprocating saw. Cut next to the existing nails rather than through them.

Match the width, height and thickness of the old fascia boards. Cut new fascia boards to the correct size with a circular saw equipped with a standard blade. If you are replacing a damaged section of the fascia boards, measure the missing section and cut a new section to the exact size for a tight fit.

Lay the new fascia boards across two sawhorses. Apply a coat of exterior-grade primer. Let the primer dry for two to four hours. Paint on two coats of an exterior-grade latex paint. Let each paint layer dry for two to four hours between coats and before installing the new fascia boards.

Place the fascia boards up against the roof rafters vertically and hold them in place with the help of an assistant. Drive galvanized nails through the fascia boards into the rafters at the top, bottom and middle of the rafter.

Load a caulking gun with an exterior-grade silicone caulk. Apply a bead of caulk to fill gaps and spaces between the new fascia board and the existing fascia board. Run a bead of caulk along the top edge of the fascia board and the roofline. Wet a finger and press the caulk into the void space between the boards.