Hidden Fascia Damage: What Roofers Find When They Remove Gutters
As a homeowner, there’s no sight more likely to fill you with dread than a damaged gutter. Now, some of you may be wondering why this is. After all, gutters don’t really offer a great deal of structural support, they’re easy to replace, and they aren’t especially expensive. So, then, why is damaged guttering such a big deal? Well, it’s because of what could be hiding out of sight.
A damaged guttering system may feel like an inconvenience rather than a crisis, but a damaged gutter could indicate a damaged fascia. A damaged fascia could indicate a damaged roof. If you’re dealing with roof damage, not only are you looking at more work to put things right, but you’re also looking at more money.
Sometimes, on the outside, fascias and gutters can look perfectly fine. It’s only when you scratch beneath the surface, and look a little closer, that the visible signs of damage really make their presence felt.
Worried your fascias and gutters could be at risk? Here’s a look at hidden fascia damage and at what roofers often find when they remove damaged gutters.
What are Fascias?
Fascias may be simple in terms of design, but don’t let that fool you, as they serve a number of purposes, both aesthetically and functionally too for that matter.
Fascias are basically large, horizontal boards that are found across the edge of your roofline where your guttering and the exterior wall meets the roof. They’re designed to not only provide a little additional support for your gutters, but to also help improve the aesthetic appeal of your roof and make everything look a little neater and tidier.
Hidden Fascia Damage: Warning Signs
If you’ve noticed problems with your roof or guttering, there will likely be a reason for this. The problem could very well be down to your fascias.
Even if, on the outside, your fascias look to be in good condition, that doesn’t always tell the whole story. Look a little closer, and you could very well find a few hidden signs of damage that will need taking care of sooner rather than later.
To help you identify small fascia problems before they turn into much bigger ones, here are a few warning signs of hidden fascia damage.
Warping and Sagging
One potential warning sign that your fascias are more damaged than you may have initially realized is if you can spot any warping or sagging.
Fascias should be straight, rigid, and flush with the roof, walls, and guttering. If you can see any parts of the fascias starting to sag, or looking a little warped or misshapen, this could be a sign that they’re damaged.
Once you or your roofers have removed the guttering, you should be able to see more clearly. If the fascia is warped, it will need to be removed and replaced as soon as possible, as the problem will only get worse as time goes by.
Fading or Peeling Paint
Another potential sign of hidden fascia damage hiding virtually in plain sight, is if you can see any visible signs of paint damage.
While fascias can be made from PVC and resin, most conventional fascias are made from wood and are usually painted to match the exterior décor of the home. As they’re constantly exposed to the elements, overtime the paint on them can begin to fade, crack, or peel away entirely.
If you notice any peeling, faded, or cracked paint on your fascias, it’s important to have a professional roofer take a closer look. Once they remove the guttering and strip away some of the paint, they’ll likely find out what’s been causing it in the first place. For wooden fascias in particular, the most likely cause is water damage. Once rot has set in, the wood will be no good and will need to be replaced.
Pests and/or Insects
If you can see any visible gaps or holes in your fascias, or if you can visibly see pests or insects coming and going, there could be more going on than would initially appear.
Small holes or gaps in fascia boards can provide entry and exit points for pests such as rats and rodents, or insects such as ants, termites, wasps or bees. If these creatures, or anything else for that matter, are allowed to set up home in your fascias, this could lead to very big structural problems.
Once the guttering is removed, if you can see any animal droppings, nests, or signs of animals or pests, they could be living in/under your fascia. This could result in your fascia being chewed or eaten away, so again, the problem will need taking care of as soon as possible.
Discoloration or Staining
Because fascias are constantly exposed to the elements, eventually they will begin to display signs of damage, especially after periods of extreme weather. If you do notice any discoloration, staining, or signs of water damage, however, it’s worth removing the guttering and taking a closer look, as there could be more water damage hidden from view.
If your guttering is cracked, leaking or sagging, this could result in more extensive water damage as the guttering system won’t work as well as it should.
With PVC or resin fascias, there’s less risk of water damage. With wooden fascias, as wood rots, it’s important to make sure that your gutter system works as it should, and that you’ve done all you can to treat and waterproof your wooden fascias.
Visible Damage
Finally, if you can visibly see any signs of damage to your fascias, it’s important to inspect the entire section as the damage could be worse than it initially appeared.
If you notice any cracks, breakages, or signs of damage, go ahead and remove the guttering and take a look at what’s going on underneath. While it’s not a given by any means, there’s a good chance that once the guttering is removed, you may find that the damage is more severe and extensive than you first thought.
No matter how minor or severe the damage is, any damaged fascias will need repairing or replacing right away, as the problem won’t go away by itself and will only get worse as time goes by and the weather worsens.
