What these parts do
The fascia is the board that runs along the edge of the roof, where gutters attach. The soffit is the panel that closes in the underside of the overhang, usually vented so the attic can breathe. The drip edge is the metal strip at the very edge of the roofing that throws water clear of the fascia. When any of the three fails, water and animals find the gap.
Why fascia rots here
On most older Cape Coral homes the fascia is wood, painted. Rain hits it every afternoon for half the year, the paint cracks in the sun, and water wicks into the end grain. A bent or missing drip edge makes it far worse, because roof runoff then flows straight down the face of the board. Gutters that overflow or sit tight against the fascia hold water against it for days.
By the time you see it from the ground, soft corners, peeling paint, a gutter pulling away, the rot is usually further along than it looks. We probe the boards with an awl along the whole run, not just the obvious spot.
Signs it's time to call
- Paint bubbling or peeling along the roof edge
- A gutter sagging or pulling away from the house
- Soffit panels hanging down, cracked or missing
- Wasps, bees or birds going in and out of the eave
- Scratching in the attic at night, or droppings near the overhang
- Water stains on the stucco just below the roof edge
How the repair goes
We take the gutter down where it's attached to the bad section, cut the rotted fascia back to sound wood, and check the rafter tails and sub-fascia behind it. Rotten rafter tails get sistered or repaired; there's no point hanging new trim on soft framing. The new board goes up primed on all sides, joints are scarfed rather than butted, and the drip edge is reset or replaced so it overlaps the fascia properly.
Soffit gets replaced in matching material: vented aluminum or vinyl panel on most homes, sometimes painted plywood or stucco on older ones. If an animal was using the gap, we make sure it's out before we close it in. Then the new work is painted to match and the gutter goes back on with fresh hangers.
Wood, PVC or aluminum wrap?
Replacing like for like is the cheapest. Cellular PVC fascia costs more but doesn't rot, which is worth considering on the sides of the house that take the most weather. Aluminum wrap over wood looks clean but can trap water if the wood beneath wasn't sound. We'll give you the options with prices side by side.
Cost
Most single sections, 10 to 30 feet of fascia or a run of soffit panels, cost $400 to $1,400 including paint. Whole-house work is usually priced by the linear foot, and national guides put combined soffit and fascia work at roughly $9 to $34 per foot depending on material and access. Hidden rot behind the board is the main thing that moves the number, and we'll show you before we charge for it. All of these prices are estimates; the written quote after your free inspection is the one that counts. See the roof repair price guide for the full table. If water is getting into the house rather than just the trim, start with roof leak repair.
Questions we get about soffit and fascia repair
Do I need a roofer or a handyman for fascia?
For a cosmetic patch, either. When the rot is caused by a bad drip edge or roof runoff, a roofer fixes the cause along with the board, so it doesn't rot again in two years.
Can you replace just the bad section?
Yes, and that's the usual job. We cut back to sound wood, scarf the new board in and paint it to match the rest.
Why is there a gap where the roof meets the soffit?
Often the soffit has sagged, or the drip edge has lifted. Both leave a gap that rats and wasps find quickly, so it's worth closing even if no water is getting in.
Last updated October 9, 2026