Fascia boards: Plastic, concrete take over from wood

A fascia board is a long wooden or plastic board that runs horizontally on the edge of the roof.

This board connects the gutters to the roof truss. The fascia board is also key in preventing leaks and water damage.

Ruth Kavuma, who recently renovated her home and replaced wooden fascia boards with plastic ones says she does not regret her decision. “The wooden fascia boards had been damaged by rainwater and were rotting. Therefore, I replaced them with plastic fascia board,” she explains.

Kavuma says she opted for fascia boards when she visited her friend’s new house, in Najjera, Kira Municipality. “The plastic fascia boards beautified the roof’s structure, causing it to standout,” she notes.

Wooden board damaged by rain water

Wooden fascia boards phasing out

Many of the posh houses in Kampala either have plastic fascia boards or concrete cement board. The fascia boards are made of UPVC and PVC material. “These materials look similar to wooden fascia boards and can be painted to match the colour of the roof,” Godfrey Mukasa, a professional roofer explains. The wooden fascia boards are phasing out because of their limited life span of 10 years.

“Detraction of wooden fascia boards is caused by moisture, especially if they were left unsealed,” Mukasa says. Roof leaks and gutter clogs also lead to wooden fascia boards being exposed to moisture. Muhammed Nsereko, a construction expert explains that since it is a new trend, whoever is building a new house should choose plastic or concrete (cement) boards.

Plastic fascia boards. Many fakes on the market

“The other problem with wooden fascias is termites and other insects which damage them. So, to avoid double expenditure, go for plastic or concrete board. Plastic can be cleaned using water,” Nsereko notes. Experts say concrete cement boards are durable and can protect the house from strong wind and rain.

Cost

“To install fascia boards for a four-bedroom house, you will be required to use 12 pieces of plastic fascia boards, costing about sh1.2m,” Abdullah Mukiibi, a hardware shop dealer in Ntinda, a city suburb says. Mukasa says labour costs are negotiable, depending on the skill of the roofer and the roofing style of the house.

Mukasa installing a plastic board

How to tell counterfeit plastic fascia boards from genuine ones

With the increasing demand for plastic fascia boards, counterfeit ones are also flooding the market. To avoid being cheated, before buying the boards, Mukasa says you must first bend them. “If the plastic fascia board breaks while being bent, then it is fake. Others are affected by heat. When it is hot, the board develops cracks,” Mukasa notes.