What are fascia boards and how are they technically defined? The term ?fascia? itself denotes any vertical surface which covers the distance across the top of columns or across the top of a wall. It is derived from the Latin word, meaning ?band? or ?doorframe? in the field of architecture. Fascia boards indeed are the term used to cover the end of the rafters outside a building and is used to hold the rain gutter. The finished surface below the fascia and the rafter is termed as the ?soffit? or ?eave.?
In general, fascia boards are horizontal structural pieces that caps or cover the gap between the top of the wall and the soffit that is over it. In the industry of constructing homes and buildings, fascia boards not only enhance the appearance, making it more attractive and appealing, but also are rendering a means of structural support and insulation.
Most of the houses today in Western countries have been built and constructed with gutters which are fixed and fastened to the fascia boards of a house structure, just directly below the roof line. These gutters are of great importance since their purpose is to protect the paint in the house both at the sides, front and back from the damage of weather threats such as rain, snow and moisture. The gutters catch these threats and have it flow to down spouts, an opening that allows the passage of liquids away from the house structures. With this, minimal damages have been incurred with the house structures.
This construction of gutters and positioning it against the fascia boards of a structure is very popular and is widely known. The gutter itself was manufactured of a thin sheet of aluminum, vinyl, plastic or wood which is very light in weight. The presence of these thin aluminum or plastic gutters with these fascia boards is the reason why it is quite difficult for a person to reach and enter the roof or any upper position of the structure. Commonly, when trying to reach the roof, a ladder will be placed and supported against the structure and the worker goes up and climbs the ladder to reach the roof. However, as what had mentioned earlier, the gutter's purpose is to stick between the lower roof line to effectively trap the rain, snow and moisture. Therefore, the ladder will then be placed against the gutter. Since the gutter is very light in weight, it will never be able to hold the pressure into it and the gutter's tendency will be crushed and broken down. In this case, the worker must be careful enough to avoid these damages.
With the latest technologies, more brands of fascia boards are now evolving and had been creating a name in the market in the industry. Amongst these were:
