What's included
We probe the area to find where the rot starts and stops, then cut back to solid wood. New boards are cut to fit, fastened with exterior fasteners, caulked at the joints and primed. We can paint the new boards to match, using your paint or a color match.
- Rotted fascia boards replaced at the roof edge
- Soffit trim and soffit edge boards replaced
- Door trim and brick mold around exterior doors
- Window trim and sills where the trim is wood
- Garage door trim and jamb boards
- Choice of primed wood or PVC trim
- Primer, caulk and paint on new boards
Common South Florida problems
Rain and humidity are the cause almost every time. Water gets in at a failed caulk joint, a gap in the paint or the end grain of a board, and the wood stays damp for months in the rainy season. Fascia behind clogged or overflowing gutters is especially likely to rot.
The bottom of door and window trim is another hot spot. Rain splashes up, sprinklers hit it, and water sits where the trim meets the stucco or the threshold. The bottom few inches go soft long before the rest of the board.
Salt air near the coast and the Intracoastal, plus strong sun, breaks down paint faster. Once the paint cracks, bare wood takes on water. Keeping trim painted and caulked is the cheapest way to stop rot from coming back.
Rot often shows up after a tropical storm, when wind-driven rain has pushed water into joints that normally stay dry.
Wood or PVC
Primed wood costs less and looks the same as your existing trim once painted. It will last a long time if it stays painted and caulked, but it can rot again if water gets in.
PVC trim does not absorb water the way wood does, so it does not rot. It costs a little more per foot and it needs the right fasteners and joint details, which we handle. For fascia behind gutters and the bottom of door trim, PVC is what we recommend.
How a visit works
Send us photos of the rotted areas, a wider shot of the side of the house, and a rough idea of how many feet are affected. We will give you a starting price and let you know if anything looks like it may go deeper.
In homes built before 1978, we check painted surfaces for lead before we cut, scrape or sand painted trim. If it tests positive, we refer the job to an EPA lead-safe certified firm.
On the day, our tech removes the rotted boards first and checks what is behind them. If the framing is sound, we install the new trim, seal it and prime it. If the rot goes past the trim, we stop, show you photos and talk through next steps before doing anything more.
What affects the price
Linear feet is the main driver, followed by material, height and paint.
- Primed wood fascia or trim: $22 per linear foot
- PVC fascia or trim: $28 per linear foot
- $249 minimum per job
- Second-story fascia and hard-to-reach spots take more time and setup
- Painting new boards to match is added to the quote
- Materials beyond the board itself, such as caulk and paint, are billed at cost plus 20%
- Florida's handyman exemption only covers jobs under $2,500 total, so a large run of fascia gets referred out instead
What we don't do
Our work stops at the trim. We do not touch the roof, drip edge or shingles. If rot has reached rafters, rafter tails, roof sheathing, wall framing or anything structural, we'll point you to a licensed contractor to repair it. The same goes for roof leaks that caused the rot in the first place.
Questions we get about wood rot and fascia repair
How much does fascia board replacement cost?
Fascia replacement runs $22 per linear foot in primed wood or $28 per linear foot in PVC, with a $249 minimum per job. Height, access and painting can add to that.
How do I know if my fascia is rotted?
Look for peeling paint, dark stains, soft spots, gaps at the joints or wood that crumbles when you press it with a screwdriver. Fascia behind gutters and near roof valleys usually goes first.
Should I use PVC or wood for replacement trim?
PVC does not absorb water, so it will not rot, which makes it a good choice for fascia and the bottom of door trim. Primed wood costs less and works well if it is kept painted and caulked. We can explain the tradeoffs for your house.
What if the rot goes into the rafters?
We stop and show you. Rafters, rafter tails, sheathing and framing are structural, and we do not repair them. You will need a licensed contractor for that part, and we can finish the trim after they are done.
Can you paint the new boards to match my house?
Yes. We prime every new board and can paint it to match. If you have leftover exterior paint, we use it. Otherwise we can get a color match.
Where we do this most
We do wood rot and fascia repair across Palm Beach and Broward. These are some of the cities where we get asked for it most.