Guttering Without Fascia Made Easy: Complete Guide

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Several terms can be used to describe Fascia Boards. And contrary to popular opinion, they are not a prerequisite for fixing or building your gutter. At least, not with us. We bring you the complete guide on how to build your gutters without the use of Fascia Boards.

Many of our readers live in homes built in a way the contractors thought would not require gutters. Homes like these don’t usually have a fascia where gutters can be attached to. Unfortunately, weather can be unpredictable, so if you have a house where the roof overhangs at around 3-4 feet without a basement, a gutter system is required. Before we dive in more in-depth and assuming that this guide is for beginners, we should discuss what a Fascia Board is precisely.

WHAT IS A FASCIA BOARD?

Fascia is the name given to the horizontal board that is attached along the rafter ends of the eaves, which cements the gap between each rafter. It is usually made of 1” or ¾” thick timber although PVC has been the new wave over the past couple for a majority of developers and contractors due to its maintenance-free qualities.

In layman terms, the piece of timber to which your gutters are fixed to is referred to as the fascia board.

How Do I Build A Gutter Without Fascia Board?

Now, it seems like we are contradicting ourselves as we just told you how important a fascia board is to a successful guttering system. Nevertheless, exceptions can be made in the case of homes that were built without the intention to set up a guttering system.

And we are going to tell you exactly how. By building a roof strapped gutter.

The answer is roof straps. A house without fascia needs to have gutters set up using roof straps. The roof straps are fitted to the hanger in the gutter and attached directly to the roof. If the roof is ancient, then it would be wise not to lift up the shingles in a bid to reach the strap under, because it could rupture or break the shingle. The best option is to secure the roof strap directly over the shingles.

The final result should look similar to the image below, after fitting.

 

How Do Roof Straps Work?

Not all homes are fitted with flat fascia boards that make gutter installation easy. Most homes are built with angled fascia boards, Hicks Vents, while older homes from the ‘40s usually have built-in wooden gutters or crown molding detail lined across the roof edges.

The primary aim of this article is to touch on homes like this as they are the ones that usually need to be retrofitted with roof straps. Homeowners who are looking to avoid re-roofing costs, especially in projects that require building a roof over the existing wooden gutters, now have the luxury of finding a solution to immovable parts of the house like a built-in wooden gutter.

Roof straps, if done by a professional, is an efficient way to build a gutter without fascia boards. A professional company has the skills to ensure that any applications involving the roof strap will be invisible.

A professional job should look like the image above with all the straps carefully tucked under the existing shingles. It is also possible to paint the straps in a similar color to the roof shingle color so that they can match in areas where it is impossible to hide the straps under the shingle – in cases of rubber roofs or if the straps cannot be delicately manipulated.

Why Use Roof Straps Instead of Fascia?

Roof straps are not used as a direct replacement for fascia. They serve as a cost-efficient functioning gutter system. Roof straps are extensively used in place of extensive crown moldings on the fascia boards if the homeowner is skeptical about making changes to the original structure or modifying of the crown molding. You cannot afford to waste money, labor, and compromise the beautiful look of your house when you have an affordable and efficient ally in the form of roof straps.

You can quickly and safely solve your rain control needs with little alteration of the existing structure by employing the aid of roof straps. The rigidity of this tool makes it resistant to high winds, ice, and seismic forces by safely connecting hangers to the wall of your roof.

Many benefits accompany the use of roof straps in place of fascia board without making the homeowner feel like they are settling for less. Maintaining the integrity of your structure while upgrading the safety of your home is the dream of every homeowner, and the retention rate is an aspect we are sure our readers who have decided to install a roof strap in place of a fascia board will come to appreciate.

Deciding to pick the perfect type of security measure for your roof during unusual weather conditions is a decision that should not be taken lightly, especially if you have a home that cannot afford to install gutters with fascia boards.

We believe this article has served its purpose in informing our readers of the replacements that won’t compromise the integrity of their existing aesthetics.

If you have any further questions about gutter systems, fascia boards, roof straps, cost-saving options and the intricacies of installing a successful gutter system, be sure to ask us in the comment section below.