Your home…Your castle, your sanctuary of solitude, the one place you can unwind.
If something is valuable to us, we look after it. Your home is no exception. The interior of the home often gets the most attention, but the exterior of the house is what keeps the interior safe. How so?
The outside of your home is the first layer of defense in stopping Mother Nature’s elements from entering the inside of your home and causing any number of problems – including water damage, wood rot and pest infestations.
Your soffit, fascia, and the wood otherwise making up your exterior are all critical components of that first layer of defense. And like so many other things, ignoring the small wear and tear leads to costly long-term repairs.
This guide will explain the importance of soffit, fascia, and wood rot repair for your home. It will also explain how you can prevent that damage before it becomes a major issue.
What Are Soffit and Fascia?
Soffit and fascia aren’t something that we would usually spend much time considering, but they serve a very important function in the protection of your home’s exterior.
Soffit is horizontally placed beneath the roof overhang and should vent your attic space. This is absolutely critical to stop ice damming and to prevent moisture (and mold) build up.
Fascia is the vertical trim along the edge of your roofline. Gutters and some weatherproofing (such as the drip edge) are usually attached to it.
Because these are typically made of perishable materials, such as wood, they will, over time, degrade from moisture, insects, and wear and tear.
Your home may need soffit and fascia repair if it is experiencing any of the following:
Peeling or flaking paint
Softening or water stains
Infestation by pests, i.e., squirrels or birds nesting
Visible cracks or openings in the material
If these initial warning signs are left unaddressed, they can lead to further water damage outside and inside the home, wood rot and mold, and pest infestations.
What is Wood Rot and What to Do About It?
Wood rot is every homeowner’s nightmare. It can undermine your home’s structural integrity, cost you thousands of dollars to repair and, if left unchecked, cause more and more serious issues.
Wood rot is formed when water and fungi break down the wood fibers and cause rot.
Some typical places where wood rot is found:
Rooflines, fascia and soffit
Window frames and sills
Decking and porches
Trim and siding
Some of the first signs of wood rot are soft or spongy wood, discoloration, and a damp, musty smell.
If you’re in the Kansas City Metro and looking to get any of the above forms of wood rot repaired, look for a company with a solid reputation.
For wood rot repair on the roofline, facia and soffit, one highly rated option is Gutter Cover Kansas City®.
For more complex wood rot repairs on window frames, sills, decking, porches, and trim and siding, look for a company that specializes in that particular part of the exterior.
Exterior Maintenance Tips for Homeowners
Adhering to some simple maintenance tips can prevent serious issues down the line.
Regular Inspections: Inspect your home once or twice a year for signs of wood rot. Don’t just look down at things like your deck, but check your roofline, fascia, and soffit. Make sure to always do this after severe weather, such as hail storms or high speed winds.
Clean Gutters: Wood rot and fascia damage can be the result of clogged, undersized or improperly sloped gutters (basically anything that makes the gutters overflow). Make sure your gutters are functioning properly. Keep them cleaned out.
Durable Materials: Utilize materials like aluminum, vinyl or composite on the home’s exterior (such as for fascia and soffit). They have much higher durability to the elements and pests.
Seal and Paint: A quality sealant and/or paint on wood will repel water.
Trim Shrubs and Trees: Overhanging branches can actually lead to a lot of problems for a house. They can prevent the sun from drying sections of the roof or roofline, lead to more dirt and debris collecting on the home and in the gutters, and are an easy entry point for pests (think squirrels). Keep them trimmed back.
By doing our due diligence when it comes to maintenance, we can prevent huge and expensive problems down the road.
When to Call a Professional
Small maintenance tasks can often be handled with a quick YouTube video tutorial, a trip to the hardware store and some determination.
However, even in these matters, make sure you understand how to perform them safely and effectively. For example, cleaning your gutters is not technically difficult, but it is dangerous. People fall from ladders every year performing this very activity.
Obviously, the more technical something gets the more important it becomes to have a knowledge-base to work from when diagnosing an issue and repairing it. In other words, once you start cutting into your house, you had better know what you’re doing.
If you don’t, as in it’s not your profession, then hiring a professional is usually best.
DIY vs. Professional Repairs
Following are some examples of work that you can do yourself versus when you should seriously consider hiring a professional.
DIY Repairs: Cleaning your gutters, scraping/sanding/painting, or caulking a small area, etc.
Professional Repairs: Replacing rotten wood, any type of structural damage, flooded basements, windows needing replacement, etc.
Investing in an experienced professional contractor with a good reputation will ensure the proper repairs are done and the additional damage is halted, which will save you money down the road.
When searching for a professional, we recommend the following to be a part of your investigation:
Take the time to read though the reviews and testimonials, especially third party
Request proof of insurance from the company
Request a detailed estimate and make sure everything promised is in writing
Take Preventative Steps to Avoid Problems Later
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is as true of exterior home maintenance as it is of anything else. Keeping your home’s exterior wood, fascia and soffit in good repair is important – Both for the home’s health and its curb appeal.
