What Is Fascia in Construction?
Fascia board, also known as face board, provides the finished look to a home's trim. It covers rafter ends and creates a surface along the edge of the roof. It protects the house from adverse weather by creating a barrier against rain. Fascia boards also prevent wildlife such as racoons, squirrels, rats and possums from gaining entrance into the home's walls or roof by covering gaps between the wall and the roof. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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You can choose fascia board that matches your home's exterior or paint the boards prior to installing. Fascia boards are available in vinyl, plastic, wood, steel and aluminum. Wood fascia boards require regular monitoring to make sure that they do not suffer areas of rot or damage. Any gaps between the fascia board and the wall sheathing should be filled with primer or closed by using crown molding to keep debris from accumulating.
Rain Gutters
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Fascia board often is used to affix rain gutters to the home's exterior. Often the water drips from the gutter and runs behind the fascia board. Specially designed rain gutters can serve as the home's gutter system and as fascia board. The distinct gutter system affixes to the roof's rafters and juts outward. It effectively catches the water and prevents it from running or overflowing into the home's rafters.
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Installation
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Installing fascia does not require extensive work. You need a tape measure, screws, screwdriver, eye protection and a ladder. If you are installing aluminum or steel fascia board, a pair of tin snips will quickly cut through the board. Some homeowners affix fascia board to the home using nails and a hammer. You can also install fascia trim boards along the fascia and the wall. The trim gives the home a finished appearance and further protects gaps and crevices in the home's construction.
Damage
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Woodpeckers can cause serious damage to fascia boards. The woodpeckers create large homes in the wood fascia board's surface. The bird will even peck at aluminum, steel, vinyl and plastic fascia boards. The incessant pecking dents the board's surface. Carpenter bees also tunnel into the fascia board to lay their eggs. Badly damaged fascia boards require replacement. Wood fascia boards usually need replacing often because of water damage, insects and rot.
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References
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