Fascia Rot
Fascia rot is decay of the fascia board, the trim board that runs along the roof edge and holds the gutter, caused by repeated wetting. Wood fascia soaks up water from overflowing gutters, leaking seams, ice dams, and missing flashing, and it softens, darkens, and eventually crumbles.
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In depth
Early signs are peeling paint, dark stains behind the gutter, soft spots a screwdriver can sink into, and gutters that sag because the hangers have nothing solid to grip. Rot often starts behind the gutter where it cannot be seen. Cleaning cannot repair rotten wood: soft sections must be cut out or replaced and the water source corrected, or the new board rots too. Keeping gutters clear and flowing, sealed at the seams, and installed with proper flashing is the cheapest prevention.
How this shows up on our jobs
Madison fascia endures ice dams and long wet springs. We document soft or stained fascia in our gutter photo reports so you can fix it early.
Services where this matters
Frequently asked
- What is Fascia Rot?
- Fascia rot is decay of the fascia board, the trim board that runs along the roof edge and holds the gutter, caused by repeated wetting. Wood fascia soaks up water from overflowing gutters, leaking seams, ice dams, and missing flashing, and it softens, darkens, and eventually crumbles.
- How does Fascia Rot show up on our jobs?
- Madison fascia endures ice dams and long wet springs. We document soft or stained fascia in our gutter photo reports so you can fix it early.
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Related terms
Fascia Board
The fascia board is the horizontal board running along the lower edge of the roof, to which gutters are typically fastened. It covers the ends of the roof rafters and gives the roofline a finished appearance. In wood construction, fascia is typically 1x6 or 1x8 pressure-treated or painted pine; in newer construction, it is often PVC or fiber cement. Because it is exposed to constant moisture from gutters, drip, and snow melt, the fascia is one of the most rot-prone boards on a home.
Gutter Apron
A gutter apron is a strip of flat metal flashing, usually galvanized steel or aluminum, tucked under the first course of shingles and bent down into the back of the gutter. It carries roof water into the trough instead of letting it run behind the gutter onto the fascia.
Drip Edge
Drip edge is an L-shaped or J-shaped metal flashing installed along the eaves and rakes of a roof to direct water off the roof edge cleanly and away from the fascia board and underlying structural components. At the eave, it sits under the first course of shingles and over the top of the gutter, channeling water directly into the gutter rather than letting it wick back under the shingle onto the roof deck. At the rake (the sloping edge of a gabled roof), it sits over the underlayment and under the shingles to shed water sideways off the edge.
Ice Dam
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof when heat escaping through the attic melts snow on the upper roof, the meltwater flows down toward the cold eave overhang, and refreezes against the cold roofline. As more water flows down and freezes behind the dam, the pool of water behind the ice ridge backs up under the shingles, seeps through the roof deck, and enters the attic and wall cavities below. Water damage from a single significant ice dam event can reach thousands of dollars in insulation replacement, drywall repair, and mold remediation.
Gutter Seam Sealing
Gutter seam sealing is applying a flexible, waterproof sealant to the joints where gutter sections, corners, end caps, and downspout outlets meet, to stop drips and leaks. Most gutters leak first at these connection points, because sealant dries, cracks, and pulls apart with age and temperature swings.
Gutter Pitch
Gutter pitch is the slight downward slope built into a gutter run so water flows toward the downspout instead of pooling. A common rule of thumb is about a quarter inch of drop for every ten feet of gutter. Too little pitch leaves standing water, and too much looks wrong and can overshoot the downspout.