Windows, roofs, and doors. These prominent parts are what often catch our attention when we look at any home.

Did you know, even the small stuff like fascias are just as important for home improvement?

In this article, we’ll point out all the information you need to know about fascia boards. We hope in the end, you’ll gain a new appreciation for them!

What are Fascias?

Fascia in Latin means “band or strip of material.” In architecture, these are horizontal boards covering the joint between the top of walls and the projecting eaves.

Many homeowners don’t realize they even have fascia boards in their home, as they are often covered up by gutters. Fascia, drip edge, and gutters are extremely important for an efficient water drainage system.

Soffit and Fascia

New homeowners often confuse themselves with fascia and soffit, thinking they are one and the same.

Soffit is the exposed siding underneath your roof’s overhang. Since a soffit is located on the underside of your roofing, it’s not as visible in terms of curb appeal.

Soffit helps keep a steady airflow between your roof and attic. You need plenty of ventilation for your attic to avoid any mold growth, keeping it in its best condition always.

Soffits also keep animals, termites, and other pests out of your home. Make sure your soffit does not have any holes and cracks in them.

Fascia goes hand in hand with soffits. Fascia is the area of siding directly above the soffit.

It’s the exposed board you see on the front of your roof’s overhang.

Talk about home improvement, might as well maximize your home’s curb appeal by getting a good looking fascia board that matches the whole aesthetic of your house.

Do I Need Fascia Boards?

You might be wondering, how can fascia boards be so important to my home? Do I really need them?

Off the bat, the main reason is that a fascia board on your roofline is the final row of support for the lowest part of your roof shingles or tiles.

Aside from that, here are a few more advantages of fascia boarding for your house:

1. Holds your gutters in place.
2. Keeps water from leaking into the roof deck and getting into the internal system of your house.
3. Enhances curbside appeal by covering the edge of rafters.
4. Protects your roof and walls from moisture, insects, and animals.

What are the Types of Fascia Boards?

Wood, vinyl, aluminum, and composite are the four most common fascia board materials. Here are some of its features:

Wood Fascia

Wood fascia is the most popular among fascia board materials because of its affordability.

Wood fascia often uses spruce, fir, or pine wood. Although, we’ve seen an increase of interest in cedarwood fascia boards in recent years. If you’re looking at aesthetics as a form of home improvement, cedar gives off a nice rustic look.

Pros:

• Most affordable material and installation
• Good aesthetic
• Versatile with any roof and overall roof design
• Water-resistant with certain finishing and treatment
• Increased longevity when primed and painted over

Cons:

• High ongoing maintenance and repair costs
• Requires regular repainting

Vinyl Fascia

Vinyl is also known as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Its material includes plasticizers for additional flexibility. A vinyl fascia board is often used alongside wood fascia.

They increase durability to hold gutters in place and add curbside appeal. If you are considering installing a fascia board for your home as a DIY project, vinyl is the go-to.

It is also widely accepted under building code standards across the country.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Low maintenance
• Enhances roof appeal
• Cheaper repair costs than wood or aluminum
• Variety of colors available
• High durability
• Water, insect, and rot-resistant

Cons:

• Expands in seasonal changes
• Like vinyl siding, needs a very tight seal to prevent water from seeping through
• Could fade from extensive sun exposure

Aluminum Fascia

Aluminum fascia is flexible and can be used to wrap around wood fascia as a means of weatherproofing. You might however need a professional gutter contractor to have this done.

Aluminum fascia can be used alone, or with your existing fascia, extending its life. This material of choice is your quick and convenient upgrade from the traditional wooden fascias.

Pros:

• Durable, less likely to deteriorate
• Increases the life span of wood fascias
• Very versatile to match the existing exterior design
• Easy to paint on
• Like vinyl siding, is very low maintenance

Cons:

• Most expensive among all fascia board materials
• Expensive to install
• Even if they are durable, dents and scratches do happen

Composite Fascia

Composite lumber is made of wood chips, sawdust, plastic, and epoxy resin. The epoxy resin is what binds all the recycled materials together, all in all making this your most environmentally friendly option.

It is currently not yet widely used on the market but is still as effective as a fascia board for your house.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly with use of recycled wood chips, sawdust, and plastic
• Rot-resistant, colorfast and less likely to decay
• Long-lasting durability
• Comes in a variety of colors
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• Material cost exceeds wood or vinyl
• Difficult and expensive repairs
• Cannot be refinished or repainted

How Much Does it Cost?

One of the things to consider with your options, apart from its benefits, is the overall cost you will end up spending. It is very important you get your money’s worth even for homeowners whose budget is not a problem.

Fascia Board Material

Fascia boards are typically sold by the linear foot for a cost between $1 and $20 per foot, depending on the type of material.

Wood and cedar boards are the most common choice at $1 to $3 per foot. They are also easy to install, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing.

Vinyl is becoming more popular these days because of its low maintenance. They come around $5 to $8 per linear foot.

Composites only cost around $1 to $8 per linear foot. In the case of weather damage, expensive repairs might be an issue for most homeowners.

Aluminum fascia boards last longer and need less maintenance. They are usually much more expensive and harder to install, to the extent of needing contractors or professionals to get the job done. Aluminum costs around $8 to $20 per linear foot.

Fascia Installation & Replacement Costs

In addition to the cost of materials mentioned above, labor and equipment rates are also to be considered. These can vary between companies and locations.

The labor cost to install fascia runs from $6 to $20 per linear foot. A typical one-story home with 300 linear feet of soffits will require about 11 to 13 hours of labor.

Your labor costs will run between $800 to $1,400, with additional $120 to $150 equipment costs.

Also, take note, your contractor might charge extra for complex work, like with a difficult corner or hard to reach eaves.

Conclusion

Fascia boards are important elements to your home. Without them, you would not have space to securely install your gutters. Without your gutters, you couldn’t possibly keep your roof protected from water damage.

Whatever type of fascia boards you decide for your home, do put into thought its many pros and cons to maximize your home’s curb appeal. 

We’re certain you know the possibility of installing or replacing one yourself. We do encourage hiring an experienced professional for the best results.

We hope this article has helped you decide the best among fascia boards for your house! For any questions, feel free to leave us a message in the Comments section below!