When it comes to the exterior of a home, functionality and sustainability should trump or at least be as equally prioritized as visual appeal.
Otherwise, high maintenance costs and low durability are problems you’d constantly face.
Fascia boards are one of the many materials used on your home’s exterior that you should ensure abide by this principle.
These architectural trims come in many types and can be modified and substituted if the right materials or products are employed.
In this article, we will be taking a look at whether fascia boards are treated, why this information is of any significance and possible substitutes for these building materials.
Here’s if Fascia Board Are Pressure Treated:
Not all fascia boards are treated. As you may know, fascia boards come in a wide range of materials, wood being one of them. Given the external conditions fascia boards are exposed to, you’d think all wooden designs of this product are pressure treated, but only a few are, and there’s a reasonable explanation for this.
What is Pressure-treated Lumber?
Pressure-treated lumber is an improvised type of wood that has been infused with a special type of chemical to repel insects or pests and better resist rot and moisture.
So, these types of wood can withstand the harshest of weather conditions. In other words, they are super durable.
It is a known fact that woods are quite degradable, which makes them not so easy to maintain. Pressure-treated lumber was devised as a result of the shortcomings or flaws of natural wood.
Chemical preservatives are injected into regular wood under high pressure to make the material pressure-treated.
These chemicals are not safe to inhale or consume, so you should use hand gloves when handling pressure-treated wood.
If you have lots of sawdust left after working on the lumber, do not get rid of it by burning it. Rather, dump the waste in a landfill.
Pressure-treated woods are often used for outdoor projects or on the exterior of a building.
States’ building codes usually recommend using pressure-treated lumbers for outdoor decks and landscaping projects.
We do not recommend that you use pressure-treated lumber for indoor projects. These wood products emit VOCs that can have harmful effects on you if inhaled, especially in an enclosed area.
There are different types of pressure-treated lumber, and each serves unique purposes.
The type of pressure-treated lumber you use on your home depends on the type of chemical used to treat the wood and the moisture level the lumber will be exposed to.
Here’s a breakdown of the three main types of pressure-treated lumber,
- Borate: This lumber is treated with mineral salt solutions under high pressure. They are considered weak and should not be used in areas with high humidity. Borate can protect the wood against insects, rot, and fungi, but it isn’t so resistant to moisture.
- Non-Combustible: non-combustible pressure-treated woods are rarely used for residential constructions. They are best suited for heavy-duty constructions like Bridges and huge laboratories. These wood types are highly durable and considerably resistant to fire.
- Alkaline Copper Quaternary: pressure treated lumbers of this type are pretty standard. The treatment tends to change the wood’s color, but it is environmentally friendly. Do not use this wood in kitchens or animal barns, as it can contaminate food or animal feed. Alkaline copper quaternary can withstand high humidity and pest.
What Kind of Wood is Used for Fascia Boards?
As you already know, fascia boards are usually placed at the lower part of a roof.
They are meant to support the roof gutters and ensure the water runoff goes smoothly without affecting the roof decking.
Fascia boards can be constructed from several materials. You can use either wood, aluminum, composite materials, or vinyl to make them.
When considering wood as a construction material for your fascia board, it is important that you know that not all types of wood can be used to make a fascia board.
This is because the exterior part of the house where the fascia board is used is often exposed to water and other external elements.
Hence the type of wood you would need to use should be water-resistant to some extent and must be sturdy enough to bear the weight of the roof gutter they are to support.
Contractors’ most common types of wood for fascia boards are cedars, cypress, and redwood.
It makes sense to use these woods because they are resistant to water damage even when left unsealed.
However, these woods are expensive. You can use spruce, fir, pine, or less expensive materials if the previously mentioned options exceed your budget.
Sealant is a must if you plan on using woods that are inferior.
Pressure-treated or Regular Lumber for Fascia?
Oftentimes, homeowners that want their fascia boards made out of wood tend to look for options that require little to no maintenance and can hold up well when exposed to the elements.
So, when considering pressure-treated lumber and regular wood for fascia board materials, don’t be so quick to see pressure-treated lumber as a better pick.
In all honesty, pressure-treated lumber does hold up well when used as or made into a fascia board, but they’re not as visually appealing as other wooden options.
Curling and cracking are pretty common issues with pressure-treated lumber. Plus, you might not get the desired outcome if you decide to paint these materials without paying any mind to their moisture level.
Apart from visual appeal issues, pressure-treated woods will fare well if used as or made into a fascia board. However, contractors and builders seldom use these materials for this purpose.
Regular lumber can also be used or made into fascia boards, but they’re not as resistant to moisture and pest attacks as pressure-treated lumber.
The good thing is, with some sealant, regular lumber can be just as strong as pressure-treated lumber.
So, if you’re caught between using regular lumber or pressure-treated lumber for your home’s fascia, the above pieces of information should help you make a well-informed decision.
Summary
Pressure-treated lumbers are special types of wood. They are infused with certain chemicals under pressure to better preserve them from rot and pest attacks.
You can use pressure treated lumber for your fascia boards but it isn’t necessarily the best option.
Regular lumber is also a great material for fascia boards but you’ll need to apply sealant on it to make it more durable.
Fascia boards are meant to support the horizontal gutters in front of your house, so the material they’re made out of or substituted with must be considerably water resistant.
bobvila.com/articles/7-important-things-to-know-about-pressure-treated-wood/
hunker.com/12003577/what-type-of-material-to-use-for-fascia-board
theknowledgeburrow.com/can-you-use-pressure-treated-wood-for-fascia/
