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I need to replace a total of 80 feet of facia boards on my 1908 house because the installation of the Leafguard gutters need the rafter tails to be cut at 90 degrees and mine are a bit wonkey from time and poor workmanship
The current wood is 1×4 and I think it is some kind of fir.
I’ve got 80 feet of 2×6 10′ Doug Fir. How well will this hold up to the weather if I prime and paint it all before it goes up?
The new gutters should cover most of the wood so I don’t think that it would see much rot or decay?
I’m I being stupid by trying to use Doug Fir?
Replies
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The right primer and paint would probably keep balsa wood from rotting. I have been using the best latex that I can get from Benjamin-Moore on my houses (and boat) for years.
*Plow onward. Properly prepped it will work just fine.
*I have to disagree. Here in the GREAT NORTHWEST folks have been using Doug Fir for everything for as long as they have been building and it does not, and will not, hold paint well or stand up to exposure to the elements. You would be much better served using Western Red Cedar for exterior trim. It will hold paint WAY better and will resist cracking and checking better once the paint fails too. Save that DFir for what it is best at, structural use. - jb
*Hello GP,Doug Fir does not hold paint as well as cedar but, if you prime it with a high quality latex primer like Zinser 123 and paint it with a high quality acrylic paint then it will be good enough. There is a helluva lot to be said for using what you have around as quickly as possible so that it doesn't go to hell. Also noticed that materials can accumulate to the point that you can't get at the boards you want. That's assuming you remember putting them at the bottom of the pile.Joe
*gpadden,I'd have to say that regular doug fir (standard and better) is not the best of choices for exterior facia. Redwood would be better. If your fir is vertical grain, that would be better than standard and better fir. If it's ulility grade fir, forget it. Check the lumber stamp.However, if you have it and it's free.........Paint the &%#* out of it.Ed. Williams
*I'd use the stuff you have on hand, prime, and wrap in alumnium (you know the stuff that's called coil stock - 200 sf is about 50 bucks)-- will last forever.
*The fascia is apt to get a lot of abuse from splashing in the gutters. I would sand, prime twice with oil Zinssner and paint with a high-quality glossy. If the wood is allowed to dry quickly even when it does get wet, it will have much better prospects.Is all this work worth a particular anti-leaf product? There are easier ones such a Waterfall.
*Dudleys' got my vote.Wrap that sucker and forget about it.Great advice.Ed. Williams
*Free wood is good wood. Down here in Tidewater Va. moisture is a big problem but properly prepared fir holds up well. I am surprised not to find more people using T&G fir in place of salt treated lumber for decks. A lot of the old porches around the area have T&G that has been in place for decades. Maybe todays paints don't provide enough protection. I think it should be fine for fascia. Were gutters in place originally? You mentioned that since most of the fascia will be behind the gutters You don't expect to see much rot. My opinion is that You are right You won't see it behind the gutters.
*Free wood is not good wood if it rots away and costs you twice as much in labor. I do not follow the "my time is cheep" rule. mine is precious. You should try synboard. It is made of pvc shavings. Like a plastic mdf. It comes white. If a gutter is covering it you may not have to paint it.-Rick Tuk
*If you're trying to keep the house as original as possible, replace with the same as the existing. Otherwise primed and painted doug fir is fine for the job. Remember if you wrap with coil you have to do the entire facia and rake boards to match. TC
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Here in Pennslyvania we use alot of DOUGLAS fIR FOR Fascia as well as hand rails and other exterior trim. The vertical grain does seem to help alot. All of the advice on prepping and painting is very soud. As far as capping, it sure is maintnance free . However sometimes it just doesnt work on a higher end project or a historic restoration.
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I need to replace a total of 80 feet of facia boards on my 1908 house because the installation of the Leafguard gutters need the rafter tails to be cut at 90 degrees and mine are a bit wonkey from time and poor workmanship
The current wood is 1x4 and I think it is some kind of fir.
I've got 80 feet of 2x6 10' Doug Fir. How well will this hold up to the weather if I prime and paint it all before it goes up?
The new gutters should cover most of the wood so I don't think that it would see much rot or decay?
I'm I being stupid by trying to use Doug Fir?