Fascia covers are an integral part of the roof system because they are the primary protective barrier keeping the elements from the underlying fascia boards. As such, the covers must be installed properly. Although you are supposed to trust the roofer you task with installing fascia boards on your house, there is nothing wrong with asking a few questions related to the installation process. The answers you get will give you an idea of whether to retain a service provider or look elsewhere. This article highlights key questions you should ask potential roofers looking to install fascia boards.
What Fasteners are you Going to Use? — Most modern fascia boards are designed with a tongue-and-groove locking mechanism. This system allows easy locking between fascia boards for a tight fit. However, for the mechanism to work effectively, fascia covers must be fastened in place, and your roofer must have the right fasteners for the job. Ideally, the best fasteners for fascia covers are ring shank nails. Notably, the roofer should ensure that they use the right nail size. Undersized ring shank nails should not be used to fasten fascia covers because they are too fragile to secure the boards long enough.
What will you Fasten the Nails to? — After one look at a roof and the underlying rafter, a professional roofer will know how to nail the fascia covers securely. Usually, fascia covers are best fastened on the beam ends, but this only happens if the rafters are in good condition. The problem comes when the rafters are not in excellent shape, and this is where you can differentiate a professional roofer from a newbie. The latter will likely go ahead and screw the fascia covers on the damaged rafters, but that will only lead to a crooked installation. A professional roofer, on the other hand, will find a creative way to install the cover properly. For instance, they can use a plastic board or a piece of timber between the fascia and rafters to achieve a straight and solid fixing point.
Will there be Seams at the Corners? — When installing correctly, fascia covers should appear seamless. However, some seams exist at the corners where the covers meet, and the number of the seams depends on the style the roofer uses to cover the corners. For example, a box mitre corner is popular with low-budget fascia cover installation projects and has at least three seams. Custom hand-mitred corners, on the other hand, have only one seam in each corner. The higher the number of seams, the more likely they are to develop a leak. This enables the custom hand mitred corner likely to achieve a tighter and leak-free fascia cover.
To learn more about fascia cover installation, contact a roofer in your area.
