Fascia replacement

The first step is to prep the fascia boards.  Standard fascia boards are called pre-primed pine boards. Meaning that they are pre coated with a primer. The primer is a white undercoat that ensures that any paint that is applied will adhere to the wood properly.  Some roofing or gutter companies will install fascia boards directly to the home with only the factory primer layer. However, we take our fascia board prep a little more seriously. We like to add 2-3 coats of waterproof exterior paint to our fascia boards at the shop before taking them out for the fascia board replacement project.

We only supply white exterior paint, typically semi-gloss or hi-gloss, for all wood repair projects. For homes that require alternate colors, we ask that the customer provides the paint. That way we are not responsible for the color matching.  When the fascia boards require a different color, we will have to pick up the paint from the customer ahead of time so that we can paint the boards in the shop. Otherwise, we will need to paint the boards on site which can add extra time waiting for the paint to dry.

To transport the fascia boards via work trucks we like to stack them with cardboard strips in between each board, and then plastic wrap them into a bundle. This keeps the paint from taking marks or scratches. Then the boards are secured to the ladders using bungees or straps, preferably over a section that has carboard and plastic wrapped to avoid marking the wood.

-REMOVE ALL EXISTING GUTTERS

Once you have arrived on site to the fascia board replacement job, the very first step is going to be to remove the existing gutters.  We recommend to leave the downspouts attached to the wall so that the gutters are easy to re-install.  The easiest way to do this is to take the top screws out of the downspout where it connects to the gutter outlet on the bottom of the gutter. From there you are usually able to move the downspout elbow out of the way slightly so that it is not in the way.

Since gutters are mounted using various forms of support such as gutter spikes, gutter hangers, or brackets different tools may be required for the gutter removal. If the same gutters are going to be re-installed after the fascia board replacement, then we recommend being very careful when removing the gutters. Be sure not to let the gutters bend or twist at any point during this process.

-REMOVE FASCIA BOARDS

Next up is the actual removal of the fascia boards.  Most fascia boards are screwed into the roof rafters using coated deck screws that feature star tip heads. Meaning you will likely need the correct star tip bit to remove the screws from the boards.  The most common size star tip driver needed is the t-25. However be sure to have an arsenal of bits because you never know what somebody may have had to use in an emergency.  In addition to deck screws we’ve seen everything from sheet metal screws to nails used to install fascia boards. If the boards were installed using nails, then a good ole fashioned hammer and prybar will be needed. In fact, you should always have a hammer and pry bar available for all wood jobs anyway.

-PREP ROOF RAFTERS

After removal of the fascia boards, it is time to prep roof rafters for the new fascia boards.  Nails, screws, debris, or even shrapnel are often sticking out from the rafters and will need to be removed. Be extra careful not to damage the integrity of the rafter boards in any way. In fact, it should be noted that rafters are often very soft or touchy, especially in areas where there was fascia board rot. This is because the dampness spreads from the fascia to the rafters as well.

The goal is to be able to remove all nails and screws so the wood is smooth. However this is not always the case. Nails sometimes do not want to come out and will instead need to be nailed in or nailed flat. Do whatever it takes to clean the surfaces of the rafter tails so that you can finally install the first fascia board.

-GATHER 1ST BOARD MEASUREMENT

If you were to pre-cut all of the fascia boards all at once before installing, it could likely end in disaster. For installing fascia boards, it is better to measure, cut, and install one board at a time. Otherwise, you will be going back and forth to re-cut multiple extra times and potentially shorting yourself on materials.

Start at either the far left or far right of the home to get your measurement. The first fascia board is to but up against the rake board that finishes up the edge and then go to the furthest rafter it will reach. Since standard boards come in 16 ft. sections, the furthest rafter will likely be around 14 to 16 ft. away. Get the measurement from the edge of the rake to the center point of the roof rafter. Since two fascia boards will need to share the same roof rafter it is important to aim your measurement for the middle of the rafter.

Using a rafter square, mark the fascia board at the desired length and then cut the board using a circular saw.  Finally, we ae ready to install the 1st board.

-INSTALL FASCIA BOARD

Start by installing the 1st board to the spot that it was measured for. If you have a helper this part is easy because you can each carry the board up two ladders and center, it accordingly. Otherwise, if you are working by yourself you will need to carry the board up the ladder holding it by the middle.  Once the board is centered to it’s location it needs to be tacked in place by loosely screwing in a wood screw.  Next we suggest to mark the fascia board where every rafter is. That way once you start mounting the fascia board you know where there rafter locations are behind the board. Otherwise you will be screwing into air and not biting anything.  The standard recommendation is two screws per rafter to ensure that the fascia board is not able to pull loose again.

Once the 1st board is up it is now time to get the measurement to the next furthest rafter. Repeat the same step from earlier by measuring from the edge of the 1st fascia board to the furthest rafter that is less than 16 ft. Get that measurement and repeat the steps and then keep going until the fascia board installation is complete.

-RE-INSTALL THE GUTTERS

Finally, once all the fascia boards are installed and sealed it is time to re-install the gutters. (or new gutters) We use our own heavy duty hidden gutter hangers to re-install the gutters. This ensures that the gutters will not come loose again. If the gutters had gutter spikes then you will need to remove those, and add hidden hangers where each gutter spike hole was. For homes that already have hidden hangers we will leave those in place but also add our hangers in between.