What are Fascias?
The fascia is mounted at the point where the roof meets the outer walls of the house and is often called the ROOF-LINE. However most people refer to it by the name of the main board that carries the gutter – the fascia or fascias.
Unfortunately, not many people are familiar with these terms, so we thought you might appreciate a few words of explanation.
Fascia
The fascia board is the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof. The fascia is fixed directly to the roof trusses and usually does all the work of supporting the bottom row of tiles and carrying all the guttering.
This is no mean feat, especially when it is raining hard. In a downpour the roof of a 3-bed semi could be washing several gallons of water per second into its gutters
Fascia boards can protect your roof, but just like any other portion of your home, they do require some form of maintenance. Otherwise, these fascia boards will build up moisture, causing them to rot and become weak.
8 Tips in Maintaining Fascia Boards
As a home owner, you're responsible to the overall healthy condition of your fascia boards. To make maintenance a little bit more convenient and easier for you, here are 8 great tips:
1. Use PVC fascia boards for less hassle. A PVC fascia board doesn't need repainting and can get back to its old form just by wiping. This means that you don't have to spend too much into it for maintenance. It will also mean less maintenance cost on your part.
2. Make sure that the installation doesn't only include cap covers. A lot of installation companies working on a fibre board and the roofing system will only add cap covers to your timber. This is actually not a good idea as this will encourage moisture build up on the timber and will cause it to rot. If the fascia board is attached to the rafters of your roof, it will eventually cause the latter to dry.
3. Don't add a new fascia board on top of an old one. There's no great shortcut when it comes to maintaining your fascia boards. If it is slowly giving signs of deterioration, you will have to remove them first, making sure that all are taken away, before you add the new fascia board. It's going to be time-consuming, but you can prevent dampness from happening in the future.
4. Utilise a ladder. You can't simply go over your roof and try to reach out to your fascia board when you're going to clean it. You need to use a ladder, so you can properly come near to your fascia boards and clean or repaint them.
5. Do the inspection together with your household chores. If you think that your fascia board requires some special attention, you can set aside a good day where you can comprehensively inspect every part of it. However, if it's not alarming at all, you can just do the fascia board maintenance together with gutter or roof cleaning. This way, you will be able to save some of your time.
6. Check the angled boards. When it comes to rotting, angled boards are normally the first ones that get affected. However, if they are all right, you're assured that the rest of the fascia board is also in good condition.
7. Keep track of too much water in or near your fascia board. Water is an enemy of fascia board, especially if you're using wood. This is because it can encourage higher moisture level, which, in turn, can cause your fascia board to rot. As much as possible, keep the area dry.
8. Use wood epoxy only if the fascia boards are in their early deterioration phase. This must not be the best solution to use if the fascia boards already need replacement. You also have to use it only for a very small area.
How to clean your Fascia board
This board is made of pressure treated lumber, vinyl or metal. Regardless of the material, they can all be cleaned the same way. Supplies to clean your fascia boards can be found at local hardware and home improvement stores.
Instructions
- Mix some water with the mild detergent in the bucket. Spray a section of the fascia with water from the hose. This will start to loosen up the dirt and grime so it will clean off easier.
- Set up the ladder where you want to start your cleaning process. Dunk the brush in the bucket and saturate it with soap and water.
- Scrub the fascia. Once you have cleaned all that you can reach, climb down the ladder and move it to the next area. Rinse the cleaned area of all soap while you are getting the next area wet. Continue until all of the fascia is scrubbed and rinsed.
Tips and Warnings
- For stubborn stains, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water. Combine 1/3 cup of vinegar with 2/3 cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray onto stain and scrub well.
- Protect brick or stone work with a plastic tarp. These surfaces may be affected by soap and water
- This job is best done with a buddy, someone who can hold the ladder steady as well as pass you cleaning supplies. Bucket hooks, available at hardware and home improvement stores, can hold your cleaning bucket leaving your hands free for additional safety.
I bid you adieu my dear Sirs and Madams
No comments:
Post a Comment