If you need to install gutters in your home or business, then you also need to have a fascia board as well, to the point where the fascia board is almost a necessity. However, what is a fascia board and also how do you install them? Well, this article is going to tell you everything you could ever want to how about these types of boards, and why you need to have them in your gutter system.

What Is The Fascia Board?

A fascia board is a necessity in gutter installation, and it runs along the roofline and also connects the ends of the rafters and trusses. They also prevent the rafters from rotting, support the roof, and they also hold up the gutters as well. However, the main purpose of having a fascia board is to keep moisture from getting on the roof and then entering the interior of your home.

A fascia board is also another part of your gutter and roofing system, along with the frieze board which is installed between the soffit and the house’s siding. Additionally, the fascia and soffit work together to keep pests and water out of your home. So, they need to be installed correctly, because if they aren’t then the gutters won’t work as well as they could!

As the gutters fill with and redirect rainwater and other moisture away from the house, you don’t want any extra moisture coating your roof and then eventually dripping into your home. Water infiltration can cause a lot of problems for your home, which is why you need to make sure that your fascia board is properly installed so that you have a fascia roof.

What Is A Fascia Board Made Of?

The fascia board can be made up of several different materials, and all of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you plan to be installing your gutters, you should have an idea of what each of the different materials can bring to your worksite and your roof! In some cases, one material might be better than the other, and in other cases, it might be your budget or your timeframe that says what type of fascia boards you will use.

Wood

This is the most common selection whenever you design and create a fascia board. Wooden designs can support wooden sidings and can bring a pleasing aesthetic value to your home from the outside. Most of the time your wooden fascia boards are going to be made of cedar and redwood, because these woods are extremely resistant to rot due to excessive moisture.

PVC

PVC plastic can be used for a lot more than just pipes, and while PVC fascia boards look like wooden Fascia boards, they are much better at resisting rot. They can also come in a wide selection of colors and you can paint them however you want. Just keep in mind that PVC fascia boards will expand, so you need to use glue and headed nails to secure each board to your roof.

Fiber Cement/Composite Fascia Boards

Finally, fiber cement or composite fascia boards are made from recycled woodchips and sawdust bonded together by epoxy resin. These boards are very expensive and can’t be painted, so if you are looking for a full custom job, they might not be the best choice. But they do have some effective rot resistance properties and durability going for them, so if you don’t care what your gutters and fascia boards look like, these are great options for you.

Why Do Fascia Boards Rot?

Whenever you work with a fascia board and the soffit board for your gutters, you might see that your biggest problem with these boards is going to be rot. But why do fascia boards rot? Most of the time the rotting is done because of moisture damage and wood rot. Additionally, the boards can rot and become exposed to water if the gutters are leaky, and all the excess moisture drips down into the fascia. Make sure to always check your gutters for leaks if you detect rotting boards.

Storm damage from severe storms can also cause damage to your fascia boards. If you find that your roof was damaged by a severe storm, you should also have the repairmen check on your fascia boards and gutters. Because you don’t want your gutters to be broken whenever the next big storm comes along!

Installing fascia boards can be a one person job if you know what you are going. You need to measure your roof to determine what length your fascia boards need to be, and then cut the boards to the length you need them to be. Once that is done, you can climb up on a ladder and install the boards.

Press the board so it is level with the top edges of the rafters, and then tack the ends of the board to the rafters with carpentry nails. Then keep on nailing them into the rafters and keep an eye out for any bowing because you don’t want the board to start peeling away from the house.

Then you just need to fill in the gaps and nail holes with body filler putty, and cover the fascia board with metal drip edges, and that’s it! Your gutters will thank you because they will have fascia boards supporting them, and as long as you keep an eye on them, they will support your gutters for years to come!

Make Sure To Install The Fascia Boards Right

The actual gutters might get all the credit, but gutter installation depends on quite a few things and moving parts. So if you are installing your gutters yourself, you need to make sure that all the supporting parts are correctly installed because that will keep your home free from the damaging effects of moisture, and any excess water from storms can be safely moved away from your home.