Fascia

The fascia is the vertical board fixed to the ends of the rafters or truss bottom chords along the eaves line of a roof. It does two things: closes the end of the rafters so the timber is not exposed to weather, and provides the fixing surface for the eaves gutter.

Materials. Three common fascia families in residential construction:

• Timber fascia is the traditional choice. Typical sizing is 290 mm × 19 mm or 240 mm × 19 mm hardwood or treated pine, depending on rafter spacing and gutter type. Painted finish. Susceptible to rot at gutter joints if water gets behind; flashing detail at the wall return matters.
• Metal fascia (Colorbond, Lysaght, Stratco) is the modern volume default. Pre-painted steel folded into a deep-edge fascia profile that pairs with a clip-on gutter. Concealed fixing into the rafter via fascia bracket. Faster install, no painting, and the gutter clips on without secondary brackets.
• Fibre cement fascia (HardieFlex variants) is used where a painted look is wanted but rot resistance matters (high-rainfall areas, painted-timber-style architecture). Heavier than metal, requires support battens.

The test for a good fascia install. Sight along the eaves line from the corner:

• The fascia must be plumb (vertical, not leaning out or in).
• The fascia must be straight (no bow between rafter fixings, no kinks at joins).
• The top edge must be straight in three dimensions; this is what the roofer reads off when setting the first-course tiles or the bottom edge of metal sheeting.
• Joins are tight, flashed (timber) or backed by a colour-matched butt strap (metal).

A bowed fascia is the most visible eaves defect when the house is viewed in oblique light at sunrise or sunset. Fix at install, not at PCI.

Gutter mounting depends on the fascia type:

• Timber and FC fascias take traditional gutter brackets at 600 to 900 mm spacing, screwed through the fascia into the rafter.
• Metal fascias take integral gutter brackets that clip onto the deep edge.

For builders.

1. Set the fascia plumb to a string line, not by eye. The rafter tails are rarely perfectly aligned; the fascia hides the variation but only if it runs to a straight line.
2. Match the fall when fixing. Gutters fall to outlets typically 1:500 minimum. If the fascia is dead level, the gutter falls have to be built in by the gutter installer; if the fascia is set to fall, the gutter follows.
3. Working at height. Fixing fascia is High Risk Construction Work under WHS regs (work at heights above 2 m); SWMS, edge protection, or harnesses required.

Also known as: fascia board, gutter board.

Category: Practical / framing / roofing.

Related

• Roof tiles install
• Chippy (carpenter)
• Metal roofing
• Soffit

See also

• HRCW list

---

Last updated: 2026-05-14. Verified: 2026-05-14.