In terms of both curb appeal and functionality, your home’s fascia is essential for a variety of different reasons.
Located along the edge of your roof where your roof meets the walls, a fascia board helps to provide a barrier for your home and roof against moisture, while helping to provide additional structural support for the guttering as well.
Fascias are often referred to as the unsung heroes of the roofing world. Sure, they look nice, but people don’t really pay them much attention, not unless they’re damaged, rotten, or generally in need of some TLC.
Because fascias are constantly exposed to the elements, poor weather can really take its toll, not only on how they look, but also on how structurally sound they are. If they’re rotten or damaged, this could allow water to get into the home via the roof. Should this happen, you’ve a lot of work and expense on your hands. This is why finding a fascia that actually lasts is so important.
So, out of wood, aluminum, and PVC fascia, which offers the most protection and actually lasts?
Wood Fascias
If you’re looking to give your home a more traditional, rustic, rural appearance, wood may be your material of choice when it comes to fascia material.
For many, wood is the ultimate in home aesthetics. It’s timeless, it’s elegant, it’s luxurious, and it is also very functional. The fact that artificial materials are sometimes designed to mimic the appearance of a good quality wooden fascia should show you just how popular the material really is.
Wooden fascias help to give your home an upmarket traditional look and feel. Wood is also very customizable and can be cut to size and come in a variety of different designs to choose from. Because there are so many different species of wood to choose from, wooden fascias also vary greatly in price. More upmarket woods such as oak, teak, beech, and walnut tend to cost more because they last longer and require less maintenance. Teak for example, offers fantastic water resistance with little maintenance, which is why it is often used on boats.
As great as wooden fascias are, they are not perfect and they do require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking their best and working as they should. As you know, wood rots and if you don’t regularly waterproof your wooden fascias it won’t be long before they’re warped and letting water in. To keep them looking their best, they also require regular oiling, staining, or painting.
Wood is also very appealing to bugs, insects, and other creepy crawlies like ants, termites, and woodworm. Suffer an insect infestation and you’ll have no choice but to replace the wood.
Aluminum Fascias
Up next we have aluminum fascias.
Aluminum is one of the most recyclable materials in the world, making it extremely environmentally friendly. It is also one of the most durable metals in the world, with the added bonus of being lightweight.
Despite aluminum being a metal, it is extremely weather resistant and does not rust. This is why it’s the material of choice for beverage companies around the globe. Because it is so resistant to rust and corrosion, it’s also a great choice for fascias.
As well as offering weather resistance, aluminum fascias are also great because they’re very low maintenance. They don’t need to be sealed, stained, oiled, or waterproofed regularly, though they can be accessorized to a certain degree if you do wish to style them to match your home’s décor outdoors. Because they’re so light in weight, aluminum fascias will also not compromise the structural integrity of your roof.
Despite the benefits, there are also certain drawbacks associated with aluminum fascias that also need to be considered. To begin with, to some people it is not as aesthetically pleasing as wood. On top of that, aluminum fascias can also be expensive so if you are on a budget, this is well worth remembering. As the metal is so thin and light in weight, if it is struck during installation it could potentially become dented.
PVC Fascia
Finally, we have PVC fascias.
Vinyl fascias are becoming increasingly popular in homes around the world. Available in a variety of different colors and designs, it is a low-maintenance alternative to wood that is more affordable than both wood and aluminum.
PVC fascias are popular because they require very little maintenance. They’re weather resistant, they’re easy to clean, and they are also resistant to bugs, insects, and animals in general. As well as being weather resistant, PVC fascias are also very strong and durable. In fact, a good quality PVC fascia will last decades with only the bare minimum in terms of maintenance.
Of course, they do also have their own unique drawbacks. The most common complaint that people have in terms of PVC fascias is the fact that they don’t look natural and can look cheap. Even though they are designed to look natural, in most cases it’s obvious that they’re not. While they’re great in damp climates, the material can become brittle and can crack or chip, especially in direct sunlight or extremely cold temperatures.
Which Fascia Material Actually Lasts?
Okay, so we’ve weighed up the various pros and cons for each fascia material, so all that’s left to do is decide which material actually lasts.
Well, in truth, with care and maintenance, wooden fascias, PVC fascias, and aluminum fascias all last. Of course, some require more maintenance than others, so it really boils down to your budget, and how much work you’re willing to put in.
From the three material types listed above, wooden fascias require the most maintenance, whereas PVC ones probably require the least. If we’re talking pure longevity however, aluminum probably comes out on top, simply because it’s weather resistant and is so durable.
The bottom line is that any of the three materials listed above would be ideal as a fascia, it simply depends how much time, effort, and money you’re willing to put in.
