Roof Edges: Drip Edge, Fascia, Soffit and Rake Boards
6 step by step guides
The edge of a roof takes more abuse than any other part. Water runs off it, gutters hang from it, wind lifts it and wet leaves sit against it. It is also where wood meets weather, so it is where rot starts. Most fascia and rake boards fail from the top, where water gets behind them, long before the paint shows it.
Protecting the edge is a sequence of small metal details. Drip edge and gutter apron send water into the gutter and off the wood. The boards themselves are replaced when rotten and often wrapped in aluminum. Underneath, soffit panels close the overhang and let the attic breathe. On gable ends, rake boards need the same care.
In the Fraser Valley, long wet winters make edge trim one of the most common rot repairs. Fixing the detail that let water in matters more than replacing the board. These guides show both.
Roof Edges, Fascia and Soffit Guides
- Guide 1How to Install Drip EdgeInstall drip edge by fastening it directly to the bare deck at the eaves, then laying ice and water shield and underlayment over its top flange. At the rakes, put the underlayment down first and fasten the drip edge over it. Lap joints about 2 inches, nail along the top flange about every 12 inches, and cut mitres at corners so water is directed into the gutter and away from the fascia.Intermediate2 to 4 hours for a typical house
- Guide 2How to Install Gutter ApronGutter apron is a flashing with a long roof flange and a drip leg that kicks out over the back of the eavestrough. Fasten it to the deck at the eaves under the underlayment, with the lower edge extending about 1/2 inch into the gutter. Where the gutter is hung tight to the fascia, add back flashing behind it so water cannot run between the gutter and the board.Intermediate2 to 4 hours for a typical house
- Guide 3How to Replace a Rotten Fascia BoardReplace a rotten fascia by supporting or removing the gutters, pulling the drip edge and lower shingle course if needed, cutting out the rotten board back to sound wood on a rafter tail, checking and repairing the rafter ends and sub fascia, and fastening a primed replacement with 2-1/2 to 3 inch corrosion-resistant nails or screws into every rafter. Use scarf joints over a rafter, flash the top, and rehang the gutter.Advanced4 to 8 hours for a typical house
- Guide 4How to Install Aluminum Fascia CladdingInstall aluminum fascia cladding over sound, dry wood by cutting pre-painted coil stock to the fascia height plus the top and bottom returns, bending it on a brake with a hem at the drip edge, and fastening with aluminum or stainless nails every 16 inches through the face into the rafter tails. Allow room for expansion at joints, lap ends about 1 inch, and form corners with mitres or folds.Advanced1 to 2 days for a typical house
- Guide 5How to Install Aluminum or Vinyl SoffitInstall soffit by fastening J-channel to the wall and F-channel or a second J-channel to the fascia, adding 2 by 2 nailers across the overhang every 16 inches where the span needs support, cutting panels about 1/2 inch shorter than the distance between channel bottoms, and sliding them in with vented panels where intake air is needed. Nail in the centre of the slots every 16 inches, loosely, and form corners with mitred channels.Intermediate1 to 2 days for a typical house
- Guide 6How to Repair a Rotted Rake (Barge) BoardRepair a rotted rake board by finding why water got in, removing the roofing edge and drip edge, cutting out the rotten board back to sound wood and checking the fly rafters or outriggers behind it. Fasten a primed replacement board with corrosion-resistant nails into the framing, add a new rake drip edge over the underlayment so it covers the top edge, and reset the shingles with a 1/2 to 3/4 inch overhang.Advanced4 to 8 hours per gable end
Also on this site
Roof Edges, Fascia and Soffit: Common Questions
What is the difference between fascia and soffit?
Fascia is the board that runs along the ends of the rafters at the roof edge, where the gutter is fastened. Soffit is the underside of the overhang, closing the gap between the fascia and the wall. Fascia is seen from the front of the house, soffit is seen looking up, and soffit is usually vented to let air into the attic.
Do I need drip edge on my roof?
Drip edge is good practice on any shingle roof and is called for by most shingle manufacturers. It guides water off the edge into the gutter, protects the wood edge from water running behind it, and stiffens the first row of shingles. Check the local building code and the shingle instructions for your roof.
Why does fascia board rot?
Fascia rots when water gets behind it or sits on its top edge: a missing drip edge, a gutter that overflows, shingles that stop short of the edge, or a gutter that holds standing water. Wood that stays wet through a long winter softens from the top and the back, so the front can look sound while the board is decayed.
Can you install soffit without removing the gutters?
Usually yes. Soffit sits under the overhang and is held in channels against the wall and the fascia, so it can be installed with the gutters in place. Fascia replacement is different, because the gutter is hung from the fascia and has to come off or be supported while the board is swapped.
Rather Have It Done Right?
Fraser Roofing does free roof inspections across the Fraser Valley, from Hope to Abbotsford. See our Fascia and Soffit service.
Call 604-728-0146More How-To Categories
- Asphalt Shingles (18)
- Metal Roofing (18)
- Torch-On Roofing (9)
- EPDM Rubber Roofing (8)
- TPO and PVC Roofing (8)
- Flat Roof Details (8)
- Flashing Details (16)
- Roof Valleys (8)
- Chimneys (10)
- Skylights (9)
- Ventilation and Attics (10)
- Tear-Off, Decking and Underlayment (10)
- Roofing Tools (17)
- Roof Safety Setup (6)
- Roof Repair (10)
- Specialty Roofing (6)
Want someone to look at your roof?
Kory & Johnny have roofed homes across the Fraser Valley since 2016. Free inspections, honest estimates, no pressure.
604-728-0146Text UsEmailServing Hope, Agassiz, Chilliwack, Rosedale, Abbotsford & the entire Fraser Valley
$1,000 off applies to full roof replacements of 3,000 sq ft or more. Cannot be combined with other offers or previously placed orders. Not valid on partial jobs, repairs, or insurance claims.