Want to know about how to best measure for installing new facia board / trim on house.?

Question

I have one story house where the facia board was removed and distroyed. According to City Code it has to be replaced. I want to know of easy way if possible to measure around house from the ground. Is there a way to measure walls from the ground and then add on to get number of feet of Facia Board needed and should I add length to allow for loss due to cutting? I want to be able to price various widths and doing measuring by myself. Minus someone to hold other end of tape on top of a ladder at the roof line in winter weather.

Wonder if there is some neat calculation that can be used. Then I can do a measure of walls and do some arm chair shopping during bad weather for estimates. Ideally, I will then be able to order and have wood delivered and get it painted and then only have to hire someone to cut and nail it up.

Answer 1

Measure the spacing of the rafter tails. It is probably either 16" or 24". Then count the number of spaces on each side of the house and multiply by the rafter tail spacing. You may have a few spaces that are smaller than the others, but for this calculation, assume that they are all the same.

Now plan how you can cut standard lengths of lumber, such as 16 foot, so that you have enough material for 45 ° splices in the middle and for miter cuts on the ends of the fascia boards. Don't try to be exact, but allow about another 10% in length. If you hire someone to cut and nail it up, don't assume that he will follow the same layout that you did. Just make sure you have enough material that you won't have to send the workman home before the job is done.

You could also do the job yourself. I replaced our fascia board by myself about five years ago. The biggest challenge was supporting the fascia board in position prior to nailing. I solved this by clamping some scrap lumber on the bottom of the rafter tails using 3/4" pipe clamps.

Answer 2

Is there any possibility of taping one end of your tape measure to the underside of the roof, in place of having someone hold it there? Other than that, I have no idea.

You also may be able to simple measure the overhang of your roof and then add that on to the length of your walls at ground level.

I would definitely buy more wood than you need. It's better to be safe than sorry, and you can store any leftover wood for later projects.

Answer 3

Get a measuring wheel from a garden or home center store, they're not very expensive. Walk the perimeter of your house and add 10-15% for your trim. This will compensate for mis-measuring and defective sections of wood from the factory.

Answer 4

They can rot if the weather gets at them. Often caused by bad workmanship from the outset..... or you have let it sit there unpainted for an extensive period. A carpenter is skilled appropriately for this work. A poorly skilled handy-dude probably did the job last time. There are probably plenty of handyman service providers around that are trained and skilled carpenters. There are a few painters that also have trained carpentry skills. You need to ask questions.