Gutter facia board separating from wall

Hello,

I’m looking for advice on whether I can fix this myself or should hire a pro. My initial thought is to hop on a ladder and fill the gap with caulk, but I’m worried the issue may require more than caulk. We’ve had some moisture intrusion in heavy rain, I believe entering through that gap. Any ideas welcome.

Thanks! [D2FE34AA-1B3F-4EEC-BF4D-DF8C5F20E35C](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:kIeT:d2fe34aa1b3f4eecbf4ddf8c5f20e35c.jpeg.jpg)

jabennett1993

in General Discussion 2 years and 6 months ago

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justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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a customer just bought me a thermal imaging device and i was able to use it to locate a leak on their house. if you wish to talk to me about your leak, feel free to reach out.

Steve
brownstonehomeinspection.com

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 6 months ago

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Op and others: generally speaking, with leaks, it is a good idea to know where it is coming from before calling a specialized trade. You need to know if you need a mason, roofer, window person, or plumber. If you call a roofer for a plumbing issue, the roofer may very well arrive and see what he thinks the problem is and “fix” it and it was not the problem at all.

When i was less experienced, i made the mistake of letting trades tell me what had to be done. They often misdiagnosed. Almost 30 years ago, i took a job with a facilities manger who diagnosed everything and he called the trades and told them WHAT had to be done and they would arrive and tell us HOW it was going to be done. No more problems.

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 6 months ago

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i have looked at the photo.

first, if this has only happen recently or once, consider the direction of any wind when it was raining. it could push water back at the house as it drips off the roof. or cold could have caused ice to form in the gutter, clogging it. by the look of the separation between the facia though, i think this is on going.

If it is behind the facia as you seem to think, because of the gap between the facia and the gutter, i am doubtful that the water is overflowing the gutter (it can if the gutter is clogged) and running back over the top of the facia and between the roof and down between the brick and back side of the facia (that is what happen in my house;, except it went to the inside wall, appearing in my kitchen a floor below). read on:

In your case, i think the water is coming down from above under the finished roofing (and above the sheathing) and behind the facia. that is what happen on the house i mentioned on long island and they had a pitched roof with a drywall ceiling inside and hadn’t known there had been a leak for mon ths or even a year. the water did not run out on the face of the facia but behind it. (i noticed it running down the side of the house 4 hours after the rain had subsided and there was no gutter to clog and overflow)

this is how to check it. if water is running down around that dog house or from any place else up above, it will continue to run slowly after the rain stops as it all seeps out from beneath the roofing membrane. this is what i would do (if you can not stick your head out the window): get a pair of binoculars and make good friends with the neighbor across the street. go across the street after the next rain and see if you can get positioned across from it (and a little lower than it) and look under the lip under the roofing material and see if water is coming down. if you do not see any water coming down on top of the roof and over the facia or setting on the facia and it is still running, it more likely is coming from under the roof. it could run for hours, depending on how high up the actual leak in the finish roofing is.

by the look of where the facia has pushed away, my guess is the leak has something to do with the left (when facing) side of that dog house. it could be up high or down low on the pitch and may be related to the flashing around the dog house.

If this were me, i would cut a hole in the plaster inside and look at the sheathing. it may not be dripping water but it might be wet. i would also be poking the wood on the outside of that dog house.

you will need a roofer. if you have slate, you will need a real good roofer.

Do not caulk anything at this point. you will only make the problem worse.

steve
www.brownstonehomeinspection.com

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 6 months ago

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Where is the gap? I am inclined to agree with maggie and will tell you the first rule of exterior maintenance that a now dead person told me a long time ago: never run caulk in a horizontal fashion on the exterior of a structure. There are a few exceptions.

I have replaced many facia boards and gutters and repaired roofs and even in this house we had an issue with water getting over the facia and into the house (under the roof membrane).

Usually it is what maggie says. But i repaired a roof on long island where i saw water running under the facia where there was no gutter and knew right away it was a roof problem.

Call a roofer. Even if this is something that a homeowner can manage, the height vs length of facia and combination of potential roof issue means that it is not only a job for a roofer but might also require two peoole to safely do.

I just looked at the photo on my phone. When i get to my desktop, i will look again and if i see anythi ng different will advise.

I am a contractor and run a company besides this one: www.brownstonehomeinspection.com

I do not repair roofs.

Steve

Guest User | 2 years and 6 months ago

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before you start caulking that gap take a look at the top of the fascia board. It’s far more likely that water is getting in on top and coming out via the gap you’re seeing so if you seal that gap you’ll just get MORE water inside when it can’t find an easy way out.

Guest User | 2 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "3"
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before you start caulking that gap take a look at the top of the fascia board. It’s far more likely that water is getting in on top and coming out via the gap you’re seeing so if you seal that gap you’ll just get MORE water inside when it can’t find an easy way out.