How to replace wood fascia?

[jeffl_au]

Hi all,

My house has “boxed” aka concealed gutters and a lot of the fascia board are rotted around the corners, I imagine because water collects and leaks there.

The existing fascia boards are 35mm x 240mm.  This is my first problem, I can’t find the exact size anymore.  Closest thing from Bunnings is 30mm by 230.  Would that be ok?  I guess there will be a 5mm gap with the existing flashing.. is that fine?

In terms of fastening the fascia to the ends of the roof truss, what should I use?  I have an impact driver but not nail gun, can I use screw instead of nail? Will that make it hard to take of in the future if necessary since all the screw heads will be bogged and hidden?

Last question, can I put some sort of plastic sheeting between the fascia and the gutter to prevent the corner from rotting out again?

thanks heaps!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @jeffl_au,

You’ll need to check the measurements of the new fascia against the existing one to determine if the smaller size will work. Keep in mind that using the 30mm x 230mm fascia may alter the position of the eave linings where they connect.

For fastening the fascia to the roof truss, you can use screws instead of nails. While using screws can make removal more difficult in the future, it’s not impossible—simply use a crowbar to pry the boards off if needed. Keep in mind that once the screw heads are concealed, they won’t be easily visible, but this doesn’t make removal impossible.

To prevent the corners from rotting again, painting the fascia with a couple of coats of a quality exterior paint like Dulux Weathershield is essential to protect the timber from the elements. While you could use plastic sheeting, be cautious, as trapped water behind the sheet could lead to further issues. It's generally better to rely on proper painting and sealing to protect the fascia.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell