The fascia is the board along the roof edge that the gutter hangs from; the soffit is the underside of the overhang. When a gutter overflows behind itself, or a seam drips onto the same spot for years, the fascia is what rots.
Signs
- Paint peeling or wood darkening along the top edge, right behind the gutter.
- A gutter that will not stay tight however often it is refastened.
- Soft spots a screwdriver sinks into.
- Stains or sagging on the soffit below.
Why it comes first
Hangers are screwed through the fascia into the rafter tails. Into rotted wood they hold for a season, then pull out. A contractor replacing gutters checks the fascia along the whole run and replaces soft sections first; it costs least then, since the gutter is already off.
Many fascia boards are wrapped in aluminum. The wrap hides the wood, so a soft board can look fine; pressing along the bottom edge or looking at the end cuts tells more.
Homes built before 1978
Paint on houses built before 1978 may contain lead. Under the EPA's renovation rule (40 CFR 745), work for pay that disturbs more than 20 square feet of painted surface on the outside of such a home has to follow lead-safe practices by a certified firm. Replacing a run of painted fascia can cross that line easily. Each city page here gives the share of homes built before 1980; where it is high, ask the contractor about certification before the work is scheduled.