Fascia Boards

Fascia boards are an important element of any home. However, if you are not familiar with the term then here is a quick beginners guide to get you started.

What Are Fascia Boards Used For?

Fascia is generally used to describe any vertical surface across the top of a wall or column. Fascia boards specifically are the materials used to cap the end of the rafters on the outside of a building. They are usually used in order to help a rain gutter.

Fascia boards are traditionally placed at the ends of roofs, and the space around the fascia is known as the eave. Their purpose is to protect your building by working with the guttering to keep the weather and any unwanted debris out of the walls. The way the fascia boards are installed will depend on the particular style of the building.

The final additions to the trim and roof are the installation of fascia and soffit. The fascia may be made of vinyl or wood. Using wood is a bit more challenging and is also a bit more prone to rot if moisture gets behind it and attacks the rafter ends. Installation requires a period of dry hot days to dry the wood before placement.

Installing Fascia

Many people choose to install their fascia ‘DIY’. It isn’t too difficult, though if you are unsure then there are plenty of professionals who should be able to help you. If you do choose to do it yourself then you should cut and measure the boards ahead of time to make things easier.

You may want to paint your fascia if it is made of wood. This can help to protect it against all weather. This will probably add on a few days to the fascia installation process due to the fact that you’ll have to wait for the paint to dry out.

When you do put the fascia boards up make sure to start in one corner and follow the house round in sequence. You should attach the fascia using nails to the rafters. You should make sure that they are secure, and they are going to help seal your house against the rain that flows into your guttering. They should also seal tightly at all corners.

Conclusion

Fascia can be an extremely important element of your home. Together with the roof and guttering it will help to protect your house against the elements. If they aren’t there, or are not properly maintained, then you may experience water leaking into the bricks of your house. If this happens then there is the chance it could leak further and ruin some of your furnishings.

If you need to replace or install new fascia then just follow these basic tips to get started. If however, you are unsure then simply look up a few contractors in the Yellow Pages or online and call them for a quote.