Although you might consider your home's fascia a cosmetic feature, it's integral in connecting your roof to your home's outer walls and supporting gutters.
If your fascia is damaged or missing, it could lead to bigger problems, such as water intrusion and roof leaks. So, you should regularly inspect the fascia (and the rest of your roof) to ensure it's intact and performing as designed.
Here's a look at why the fascia on a house is important, how to tell if yours is damaged, and when to call a professional.
The Purpose of Fascia on a House
Fascia is the material below the roof edge that hangs perpendicular to the roofline. This simple component plays a big role in your roof's health; it provides structural support for the first row of shingles and gutters and helps prevent moisture intrusion and ice dams.
In addition to boosting your home's aesthetic and architectural appeal, it serves several purposes:
- Gives the roof a finished edge
- Covers the end of the eaves and rafters
- Acts as the transition from the walls to the roof
- Provides a surface for the gutters to be mounted to
- Serves as a drip edge, preventing water from seeping into the attic
- Prevents pests from getting into the attic
Fascia comes in two standard sizes: 1 by 6 inches or 1 by 8 inches, with the width determined by the rafters' size. Custom sizes are available if the rafters aren't a standard size. On most homes, the fascia is made of either wood or aluminum. It's typically painted or coated to complement your home's exterior, where it's used to create attractive lines along the roof edge.
Fascia Materials
Fascia can be made of different materials, often depending on the materials used on your home's exterior. Modern looks call for aluminum or PVC, while traditional styles use wood or fiber cement.
Wood
The traditional fascia material is wood, with cedar or redwood preferred due to their weather resistance. It's cost-effective and lasts 10 to 20 years. That said, wood needs to be regularly painted or sealed to protect it from moisture and pests, like termites. It can be painted or stained to complement the home's exterior.
Aluminum
Aluminum fascia is often paired with aluminum siding and is finished in the same or a complementary color. A skin of finished aluminum is installed over wood fascia. This construction provides the structural integrity of wood with the consistent finish and protection of aluminum. However, it's more expensive than wood and can be prone to denting or scratching.
Vinyl
When vinyl siding is installed on a house, the fascia is often wrapped in vinyl. This is an economical choice, but vinyl can turn brittle in extreme weather.
Fiber Cement
Wood fibers mixed with cement provide a durable siding material that has the look and feel of wood, and it's often paired with the same material for the fascia on a house. However, it can be expensive and heavy.
PVC
PVC or other plastics provide an economical, durable product that can last 50 years or more. However, it's susceptible to extreme temperatures that cause it to expand and contract, potentially leading to cracks and gaps.
Signs of Fascia Damage
When fascia on a house is damaged, it's usually from either water or pests. These signs can look similar but appear differently depending on the material and its age. Evidence of fascia damage include:
- Rotting
- Cracking
- Peeling paint
- Discoloring
- Sagging or uneven gutters/roofline
Since fascia provides a line of defense against pests and water, regularly inspect your roof for these signs. To help you stay on top of possible damage, schedule a professional roof inspection around twice a year—before and after the winter season or after storms.
If you notice minor cracking or peeling paint, you may be able to address these issues yourself with some sealant or caulking. However, if you see more advanced signs of damage like rotting or your fascia is failing in some aspect, call a roofing professional. Your fascia, and portions of the roof structure, may need to be removed and replaced, which is best left to an experienced contractor.
Maintaining Your Home's Fascia
As part of overall roof maintenance, visually inspect and maintain your house's fascia. This includes biannual inspections, periodic cleaning, and painting when needed.
While you can address minor cracking or peeling with sealant or caulking, you might have a bigger problem if the damage covers a large area or your gutters are sagging or falling off. Instead of trying to determine the extent of the damage on your own, leave it up to a professional who knows exactly what to look for. They can repair or replace the fascia, align the joints with the middle of a rafter, and seal and paint each joint.
Reach out to a GAF-certified roofing contractor for help inspecting your roof. These knowledgeable professionals can assess its condition and determine what needs to be replaced.
