Fascia
The term 'fascia' derives from Latin and means ‘band’ or ‘ribbon’. In classical architecture, a fascia was typically a plain, wide band that ran directly above the columns, across the bottom of the entablature. These fascias were often ornately-carved stone and formed part of a cornice.
In more modern buildings, a fascia, sometimes referred to as a fascia board, is a horizontal band which runs along the lower edge of a roof where it overhangs the building’s outer walls, helping close the gap between the roof and the wall.
Fascia boards are typically fixed to the vertical faces of the rafters that form the roof, while soffit boards will typically be fixed to the underside of the rafters to form a 'soffit'. In combination, these elements help to ‘seal’ the roof at its edges. The fascia may also be used to support gutters, and often supports the lower edge of the bottom row of roof tiles.
Fascia boards are often made of timber boards, uPVC or a non-corrosive sheet metal. They can be manufactured in a range of shapes and colours to suit the style of the building in question.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terms, histories, theories and practices.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration and everything else before demolition.
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.
Starting pistol Statement for an election campaign?
Rates freeze, NI cuts, full expensing; early election?
Positive pressure or positive input ventilation
Could this be a remedy for condensation, damp or mould?
Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow
Report on Social housing retrofit in Scotland 2023
Call for ministerial group and National Retrofit Delivery Plan.
The Great Transformation 1860–1920. Book review.
2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions
Including the devolved governments, CIOB, ECA, APM and IHBC.
Irish Life Sciences HQ, an exemplar of adaptive reuse
AT awards small to medium size project category winner.
Formal and informal adaptive re-use or new use of buildings.
Broken Record. Emissions Gap Report 2023
Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).
Environment Agency cuts waste red tape
No longer enforcing certain waste transfer documentation.
APM Project Management Awards 2023
Winners reactions during the event at the Park Plaza Hotel.
BSRIA Living Laboratory Innovation Challenge
An exciting opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate.
Discussing issues related to inside and outside air quality
Report from the BSRIA Briefing 2023, Cleaner Air, Better Tomorrow.