Gutters & Exterior · 4 min read
What Causes Fascia Rot (and How to Stop It Coming Back)
Published
Replacing rotted fascia without fixing what rotted it means doing the job again in five years. There are only a few root causes and all are fixable.
Cause one: missing or short drip edge
Without drip edge, water wicks off the shingle edge and runs down the back face of the fascia board, where it never dries. This is the single most common cause and the easiest to fix during a reroof.
Cause two: overflowing gutters
Clogged or undersized gutters send water over the back edge, straight down the fascia and into the soffit. This is why gutter cleaning is fascia maintenance.
Cause three: insufficient shingle overhang
Shingles should extend roughly an inch to an inch and a half past the drip edge into the gutter. Too short and water runs behind; too long and the shingle edge curls over time.
The permanent fix
Cut back to solid wood, replace with primed material, wrap in custom-bent aluminum, install proper drip edge, and rehang gutters at correct pitch with hidden hangers into the rafter tails.
If any of this applies to your own home, our fascia installation crews handle it every week, and you can see how we work in your area on our Troy, Ohio roofing page. Inspections and written estimates are free either way — call 937-749-7767.