Fascia board repair tips that will save you money

For a home to be dry and secure it has to have a waterproof roof. The points where water is most likely to get in are the joints, whether they are around the chimney or where the roof connects to the brickwork. Even the smallest gap can result in severe internal damage proper roof installation is essential, as well as regular preventative maintenance. The cost, time and effort you will invest in roof inspection is undoubtedly worth it. Each of the components making up your roof will deteriorate over time and will need repairs.

The majority of roofing faults are due to poor installation methods. Choosing your contractor carefully is, therefore, an important step when it comes to roof repairs. Inevitably materials do deteriorate over time, so regular maintenance checks are encouraged. If moisture gets into the wood of the fascia board, you will face problems ahead. Sometimes the problems are not visible because the board is protected by a coat of paint. You can check to see if that has happened by taking your screwdriver and pressing it against the board in several places. If the end can penetrate the surface, then it will confirm that the wood is deteriorating.

While you may cover the damaged area temporarily, you should look for a more permanent solution very quickly. There are other options available when it comes to repairing damaged fascia''s. You may replace with wooden fascia but in time they will rot, and you will face the same situation again.

You need to assess the extent of the problem and remove any wood that you believe to be damaged. It is important that you cut wood out to the end of a rafter in every case. Rafters will be anything up to two feet apart. There may well be some guttering attached to the fascia in which case you will need to attend to this depending upon the length of fascia you intend to replace.

Choose the materials with the best waterproof and durability properties

You have to decide on what you are going to use to replace the damaged fascia. There are a variety of products on the market including cement, plastic and timber fascia boards. If you are simply replacing a small section, you will probably be best changing like for like. If that means wood, then ensure you pick an excellent piece without knots or cracks. Watch out for warping when choosing timber replacement fascia. You should always check for good wood and prime it before thinking about putting it in place.

It is always worth double checking the size you require because once cut there is no going back if you cut it slightly short. You want as tight a fit as you can achieve. It is possible to use wood epoxy to fill in any gaps, but it is not advisable to need it for other than small areas.

You need to have the proper nails for the job, those suited for exterior work. They need to last as long as the new fascia board, and everything needs to be adequately prepared to face the elements once in place. The chances of future water damage will diminish if you make every effort to create a waterproof seal. We''d recommend Annular Ring Shank Nails.

Do you have the DIY skills? If not better hire a professional

If you are beginning to think this repair job is a little too much for you, then there will always be a company willing to do the work. Even professionals can make a mistake so ensure you get someone that has built up an excellent reputation for roof work. Your home is your investment, so you need to do everything possible to protect it. In the medium to long term, it will cost you money if you make false economies with work relating to any part of the roof. The fascia acts as the securing face to carry your gutter system to take the large amounts of rainfall that sheds from the roof slopes.

Provide adequate fascia protection with drip edges

There are times when gutters get blocked, perhaps from leaves from nearby trees and that can put extra pressure on the fascia. It can be protected somewhat by the installation of an L-shaped drip edge fixed to the decking below the bottom layer of tiles. It will stop water getting to the fascia. Some roofers skimp on installing drip edges as a way to reduce costs during the initial installation. If you are either doing repair work yourself or getting someone to do it for you, then you should opt for the drip edge as additional protection for your home.

If your fascia is in a bad condition, in general, you may think the best answer is a complete replacement, in which case you have the chance to use something that will last longer than wood. UPVC is durable as well as being waterproof. They are virtually maintenance free and the only real attention needed is an annual clean to keep them looking new. They''re usually up high and a real pain to repair so for me UPVC is a really credible option to timber. Fascia''s are an important part of the roof construction as well as being very visible and therefor need looking after.

View our range of Fascia and Guttering here.