What Is a Fascia Board?

Features of Fascia Board

• Fascia board consists of individual boards placed at the end of the roof where it meets the house. The fascia board keeps the roof from looking like a separate area and evens out the appearance, making the roof look like an extension of the home. Fascia board often includes some type of soffits that provide venting for the home. Depending on the design of the building, the architect might place the soffits underneath the fascia board. The rain gutters often attach directly to the fascia board.

Benefits

• One of the primary benefits of fascia board is protection for the home and roof. The boards act like a border that keeps the end of the roof from touching the side of the house. When the roof ends at the wall, it lets water drip from the roof down to the walls and pool around the foundation. The buildup of water seeps through the walls and foundation, causing water damage inside the home. The fascia board pushes the water off the house by a few inches, keeping the water away from the house, which helps with both rain and snow.

Problems and Dangers

• As the fascia board sits exposed to the elements, it is susceptible to certain types of dangers, especially damage from rain and snow. Once water settles on the boards, it leads to rot. The rot spreads to other areas of the roof, including the rafters and eaves. The fascia board may also suffer damage as the result of tree limbs falling off the roof or a high wind that tears off the wood.

Replacing Fascia Board

• Depending on the severity of the damage, the roof may need all new boards or just a few sections. Measure the size of the damage and purchase new board of the same size. Gently cut away the old board and slide the new board in place. Nail the board to the rafter and follow up with a wood preservative. Use the same process for entire boards by removing the whole board before laying down a new piece.