Fascia
The vertical board or trim piece running along the lower edge of a roof, to which gutters are typically attached.
Fascia is the horizontal board mounted at the point where the roof meets the outer walls of a house. It runs along the lower edge of the roof rafters and forms a visible trim band at the eave line. Gutters are almost always attached to the fascia board. Fascia is typically made from wood, PVC, aluminum-capped wood, or composite materials.
Because it sits at the end of the rafters and directly beneath the gutter, fascia is highly susceptible to water damage from overflowing or improperly hung gutters, ice dam meltwater, and direct weather exposure. Rotted fascia boards compromise gutter attachment and can allow water to wick into the soffit and rafter tails.
Fascia replacement costs $6–$20 per linear foot depending on material and whether rafter tails also need repair. Replacing fascia at the same time as gutters saves on labor mobilization. PVC and aluminum-capped fascia offer much longer service life than bare wood in wet climates.
Real-World Example
The gutter installer found that 60 linear feet of fascia had softened from years of overflowing gutters and recommended replacing it with PVC-capped fascia before re-hanging the new gutters.