How do you fix fascia?
Short answer. To fix fascia, first find what is wetting it, usually a missing or short drip edge, overflowing or loose gutters, or a roof leak at the eave, then repair or replace the damaged board and correct that water source so the new wood stays dry. Small soft spots can be filled with epoxy, while rotted sections are cut out and replaced and the whole board primed and painted.
Step 1: Diagnose why it failed
- Look above it. Is there drip edge, and does it extend past the fascia into the gutter?
- Look at the gutters. Are they overflowing, pitched wrong or pulling away? Leaves and pine needles packed in a gutter push water behind it.
- Look at the corners. Rot at roof corners and below valleys often points to concentrated runoff.
- Look at the soffit and attic edge. Stains there may mean a roof leak at the eave, not just fascia rot.
- Look for animals. Squirrels chew soft fascia to get into attics.
Step 2: Repair the wood
- Soft spots: dig out, harden, fill with epoxy, prime and paint.
- Rotted sections: take down the gutter, cut back to sound wood at rafter tails, install new board with angled joints, prime all sides and paint.
- Rotted sub-fascia or rafter tails: repair those first.
- Consider PVC or composite fascia in spots that stay wet.
Step 3: Fix the water source
- Add or extend drip edge so water drops into the gutter.
- Rehang gutters with hidden hangers into solid wood, and keep them flowing.
- Repair any roof leak at the eave.
Step 4: Protect it
Paint every face and cut end. If you use aluminum wrap, put it over sound wood only. See drip edge explained and gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards.