Most of you have heard common roofing terms describing the exterior trim of the building, such as gutters, siding, eaves, and soffits. But, roofing terms don’t stop at that. Have you heard about rake board and fascia?
These two are important terms in understanding your home’s exterior trim and architectural style. If you haven’t heard about these two, worry not. I have prepared this intelligent exterior trim guide to help you learn more.
What is a Rake Board?
When I started to train as a roofing solutions provider, I thought a rake referred to what we use to move leaves around the ground. I also thought that it was a roof rake-what we use to remove snow from the roof of a building.
But, I quickly learned what a rake is in exterior trim terms. It is the exposed outer portion of the gable roof extending from the eave to the roof.
A roof rake can be flat along your wall with no overhang, or it can overhang the roof decking like an eave. If your rake has an overhang, it can be closed in with a soffit and fascia or left open.
What is a rake board? The simple definition is that it is a vertical fascia board. But, because you might not be familiar with a fascia board, let’s look at a more in-depth definition.
A rake board is a board found on your home, running up the A-frame of your roof gable. The rake board’s purpose is to protect your roof and the building in general from water leakage and damage.
It prevents water from running behind the siding. However, rake boards also serve an aesthetic purpose adding a great look and character to the roof line of your house.
Some roof experts and homeowners may agree to wrap the rake board with metal to give it a finished look. Notably, you will most likely find a rake board in a home with a gable.
What are Rake Boards Made of?
Traditionally, you would find the most common roofing material for making rake boards as wood. However, with the continued improvements in roofing solutions, rake boards come in diverse roofing materials-wood, metal, plastic, and uPVC.
Most roof rakes today are made from uPVC. Roofing experts choose uPVC because of its low maintenance capabilities and resistance to UV and weather exposure. If you are keen on aesthetics, uPVC will also be your best bet.
Your roofing expert can easily coat in wood grain foil finish to give your roofing system that beautiful, aesthetically pleasing timber-like look.
Types of Roof Rakes
Roof rakes can be; overhanging exposed, overhanging and boxed in or abbreviated/extended.
- Overhanging exposed roof rakes have the rafters and framing open their eaves. They are most common in sheds or cottage homes.
- Boxed roof rakes have a soffit of 6 inches or less in width. They are the most common roof rakes for roofing due to their simple design.
- An abbreviated/extended roof rake has a soffit wider than 6 inches. It is more complex, making it a less common design.
Common Problems with Rake Board
Now that you understand rake boards will protect your building from damage caused by water leakage and serve aesthetic purposes, what are some of its common problems?
The water/moisture that it protects from is the most common cause of problems. Water can cause cracking or rotting. But, the good news is that you can replace your damaged rake board.
Another problem you may experience is with animals and insects. If there are gaps or missing pieces of soffit and fascia, the creatures can gain entry into your attic space, creating a mess you don’t want.
What is a Fascia Board?
The fascia board is the horizontal member of your roof or the long straight board running along the bottom edge of your roof. It connects the ends of the rafters and the trusses.
What is the purpose of the fascia board? The fascia board prevents the bottom edge of your roof from sagging and separating by giving it the appropriate support.
During a rainstorm, hundreds of pounds load your gutters. An incredible amount of weight is transferred from the roof shingles to the gutters, which can cause them to cave in.
However, the fascia board offers appropriate support, ensuring that the gutters stay put even in the middle of heavy rains.
The fascia board will also help protect the interior of your house from water-related damage by preventing water infiltration. Fascia boards will also give your roof a beautiful and finished look.
Common Types of Fascia Boards
There are two main types of fascia boards.
- Exposed fascia: Does your roof have a trim peeking out/exposed below the gutters? If so, then you have an exposed fascia board. The exposed trim is more for aesthetics as it gives your house a more dramatic visual effect than for structural integrity.
- Hidden fascia: These are not immediately visible to everyone. The reason you may not see your hidden fascia board is that the gutters drop below the fascia line, connecting directly against the soffits, hiding the fascia material. Hidden fascia boards are easier to maintain than exposed ones.
Common Problems with Fascia Board
Even with the best fascia board installation, your fascia board may experience many problems. A common problem is wood rot if your fascia board is made from wood. Most roofing experts recommend using cedar or redwood as they have a natural rot resistance.
However, the wood may decay over time, preventing your fascia board from playing its important role. You can keep your wooden fascia boards in shape through regular painting using high-grade primers.
A fascia cap or fascia trim can also come in handy in keeping your fascia board in shape as it will cover it preventing it from decay. Unfortunately, your fascia board can also suffer from moisture damage if you have clogged gutters, damaged drip edge metal or the tiles have the incorrect overhang.
You can protect your fascia board from such a problem by installing drip edges and keeping your gutters clean.
The Best Material for Fascia Board
Like rake boards, the most commonly used roofing material for fascia boards in the past was wood. Wood would give the house that rustic and natural look.
However, its cost of repair is higher than other roofing materials. Wood is also prone to rot if low-quality timber is used.
Today, the most commonly used roofing material is uPVC. Roofing experts will prefer uPVC as it requires minimum upkeep efforts to resist warping, rotting, peeling, and discoloration.
It can also stand extensive periods of weather exposure with little or no damage. However, if you are concerned about the aesthetics with uPVC, worry not.
uPVC fascia boards come in several woodgrain finishes that will help in recreating genuine wood aesthetics. Fiber cement, vinyl, and aluminum are also options to consider for material for fascia board, although they are rarely used.
Roof Rake vs. Fascia
Rake boards and fascia are nearly the same things. So let’s compare roof rake vs. fascia board to see their points of similarity and difference.
| Point of Comparison | Rake Board | Fascia |
| Description and location | A long, straight board running along the lower edge of the roof. Nevertheless, it runs diagonally and is located at the house’s gable roof. | A long, straight board running along the lower edge of the roof. However, it runs horizontally, carrying the gutters and supporting the bottom row of roof tiles. |
| Function | Protects your roof from water and moisture damage add aesthetic value to your roof and home. | Prevent the lower edge of your roof from sagging and separating by providing the needed support, preventing the gutters from caving in during extreme weather conditions such as a rainstorm, protecting the house’s interior from water moisture damage, aesthetically enhancing your roof and home. |
| Materials used to make | Materials can include wood, smart board, PVC board, and concrete board. | Materials for making can include wood, aluminum, composite material, vinyl, and uPVC |
Drip edge on Rakes
Now that you have all the information you need about both types of boards, you might as well learn a little about drip edge on rakes. So, what is a drip edge on rakes?
Drip edges are the L-shaped metal components installed along the roof edges. They direct water from your fascia board and into the gutter.
If your house were to be constructed without a drip edge, then the water would end up underneath the roof shingles causing damage to your entire roof.
I am sure none of us wants the cost and inconvenience of this. Thus, if you are wondering whether installing drip edges is necessary for your roof-drip edges are necessary.
You should also note that they should not be used as an alternative to rakes but rather as an added layer of protection that will prevent excess water from causing the rake boards and fascia board from rotting.
Rake Board vs Fascia FAQs
Where is the Rake Board on the House?
The rake board on the house is on the roof. It is the slanting edge of a gable roof at the end wall of the house. It covers the exposed top edge of the roof and prevents moisture damage to your roof and house in general.
What is the Difference Between Rake Board and Fascia?
It’s easy to confuse the rake and fascia boards as they are nearly identical. They are both long, straight boards running along the roof’s lower edge. Nevertheless, the fascia boards run horizontally while the rake boards run diagonally and are located at the gable roof.
What is the Rake Board on the House?
The rake board on the house is the exposed portion on the sides of the gable roof extending from the eave to the ridge of the sloped sides. It covers the exposed top edge of the roof and protects your house from moisture damage. The rake board on the house also serves aesthetic purposes making your roof line look more beautiful.
Is Rake Board the Same as Fascia Board?
The rake board is not the same as the fascia board. They are closely located on the roof, but the rake board runs diagonally on the gable roof while the fascia board runs horizontally. Both protect the roof and the house in general from moisture damage and serve an aesthetic purpose.
Are Fascia Boards and Rake Boards Necessary?
Yes, fascia and rake boards are necessary and should not be seen as a luxury. Apart from their aesthetic purpose, they will protect your roof and house from moisture damage. In addition, the fascia boards specifically will provide a means for diverting rainfall from your house and provide support for your gutters.
Conclusion
I hope this intelligent guide has enlightened you on your roof’s fascia and rake boards. While it may be easy to overlook these two small components of your roof, could you not do it?
After all, it’s the small things that make the difference. And understanding your fascia boards and rake boards may make the difference between a damaged home and a healthy one.