Your fascia board and gutters are an integral part of your roofing system. Both protect your roof and home from water damage. While the fascia improves ventilation and keeps moisture out, gutters direct rainwater away from your foundation and siding.
To keep your gutters and fascia working at their best, carry out maintenance tasks regularly. Regular maintenance addresses current problems and prevents future issues. Periodic fascia and gutter maintenance along with routine tile roof repair and maintenance can help Antioch homeowners save on repair.
Roof Fascia Maintenance Tips
A fascia board is a long, straight board that runs parallel along the roofline, and connects the ends of the rafters and trusses. It supports the lower edge of the bottom row of tiles. The right fascia board for your home can boost its aesthetic appeal by giving a flawless finish to your home’s exterior.
Here are our top fascia maintenance tips:
Carry Out Visual Inspections Periodically
Visually inspect your fascia board regularly for signs of wear and tear. Keep an eye out for small holes. These are usually caused by peeling paint and rotting. If you find any holes, seal and caulk them to prevent further damage. Remember, pests such as bees and cockroaches can enter your home through these holes. So, the sooner you fix them, the better.
Check the Angled Boards
Angled boards are susceptible to rot. Check your angle board regularly for signs of rotting such as texture changes, missing or damaged sections, and discoloration. If your fascia has just started deteriorating, use wood epoxy for structural repair.
Do Not Add a New Fascia Board on Top of an Old One
If your fascia board has deteriorated, remove it first and then install a new one in its place. Though a time-consuming task, removing an old fascia board before installing a new one can prevent dampness from occurring in future.
Clean Your Fascia
You can either clean your fascia using a pressure washer or manually. The most obvious and apparent advantage of a pressure washer is that it forces water at a high pressure through a nozzle to remove stubborn stains and dirt. However, if not done correctly, pressure washing can damage your fascia.
❖ With a Pressure Washer: To clean your fascia with a pressure washer, first soak the trim with clean water to remove loose debris. At this point, use low pressure on your washer or you may accidentally spray dirt in your soffit vents. After rinsing the trim area, add detergent to your pressure washer and repeat the process using a low-pressure nozzle. Let the detergent sit on your soffit and fascia for some time.
Replace the low-pressure nozzle with a high-pressure nozzle and run your pressure washer for some time to get rid of any detergent residue in the nozzle. Next, use your pressure washer to dislodge any remaining dirt and detergent. Adjust the spray wand to a low-pressure setting and rinse your fascia.
❖ Without a Pressure Washer: If you do not have a pressure washer, clean your fascia manually. First, mix 120 ml of dish soap or laundry detergent with around 10 liters of warm water in a bucket. If you have reasons to believe any mildew is trapped in your fascia, add two tablespoons of bleach to the solution. Using a ladder, gain access to your fascia. Soak a sponge in the cleaning solution and scrub along your fascia.
Pay particular attention to any textured areas that tend to trap dirt. Using a garden hose, rinse the area you have just scrubbed. Once all the dirt and soap have washed away, move to the next section. Repeat the process until you have cleaned every section of your soffit and fascia.
Gutter Maintenance Tips
Gutters are usually installed along the eave edges of the roof. Your gutters are responsible for catching rainwater as it streams down the surface of your roof. They then direct water to your roof’s edge and finally into your downspouts.
Here are some tried and tested ways to maintain your gutters.
Clean Your Gutters Periodically
Gutters can become clogged with debris such as tree leaves, twigs, and pine needles over time. Clogged gutters are rendered largely useless. The best way to prevent your gutters from clogging is to clean them once every six months. To clean your gutters, first remove debris from them by hand. Using a wire brush, loosen debris, and dirt and then rinse your gutters with a hose to remove remaining debris.
Carry Out a Visual Inspection Regularly
During visual inspections, check the positioning of your gutters. Make sure they are sloped one-fourth of an inch for every 10 feet. If required, adjust the tilt of your gutters to ensure they aren’t too far leaning forward or backward. Watch out for holes and other signs of rust and leaks. Fix any holes using metal flashing or a gutter patching kit.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
Have a professional inspect and maintain your gutter system twice a year. During a maintenance session, your roofing contractor will remove debris such as leaves, acorns, and sticks stuck in your gutters with their hand and using high-powered handheld blowers. They will check every downspout to make sure it is clear and will inspect them for leaks and rust. The professional will also make sure your downspouts extend several feet away from your home.
Install a Gutter Cover or Helmet
A gutter helmet or cover can help keep large objects out of your gutters. If the branches of a tree hang over your rooftop, inspect your gutter cover/helmet regularly and remove any pine needles, leaves, or other debris.
Whether your flashing is damaged or your gutters are not working properly, Roof Tile Custom Specialists, Inc. can help. We know all there is to know about different types of roofing systems. To schedule a tile roof repair in Antioch, call (925) 634-8700.