Rotted Fascia on a Roof Claim: How to Document It at Tear-Off

Fascia, sub-fascia and rafter tails sit behind the gutters, so their condition is often unknown until the gutters come off during a replacement. When the crew finds rot there, the job has gained work that was not in the first estimate. The way to handle it is to stop, photograph and measure while it is exposed, describe it plainly without guessing at the cause, and send it to the office the same day. The carrier decides whether it is covered.

Disclosure: we make Supplement Snap, which helps roofing crews document damage found at tear-off and export a report. It does not decide coverage, negotiate claims or guarantee approval. This page is general guidance, not legal or claims advice.

Gutters and drip edge cover the fascia, and the sub-fascia and rafter tails are behind it. Water that runs down the back of a gutter or sits against the eave can soften wood out of sight. An adjuster inspecting from the ground or from aerial images usually cannot see it. The table lists what to capture the moment the board is exposed.

Take a photo of the whole eave or rake first, so a reviewer can see where the damage is. Then move in: photograph the rotted board with a tape against it. If it is soft, press a screwdriver or a probe into it and photograph that, because it shows condition better than a description.

Write the linear feet of fascia that is affected, and how many rafter tails look soft. Note which side of the house and which part of the eave. Our findings log has a row for each, with photo numbers.

A short factual note works: Front eave, left side. About 14 linear feet of fascia is soft and discolored when probed. Three rafter tails show deterioration at the end. Found after gutters were removed. Photos 18 to 23.

Avoid words like neglected, old or storm damage unless you can show the evidence. Leave the cause to the reviewer.

Do not replace the board before the office has the photos. If the work cannot wait because of weather or safety, photograph it thoroughly first and tell the office what you did. If you need the carrier's approval before replacing it, send the photos right away and follow up. Building codes, manufacturer instructions, policy wording and carrier practice vary, so confirm the details for your job with the building department and the claim documents.

On a full replacement, the crew removes the gutters on the front eave and finds that a length of fascia crumbles at the lower edge. The lead photographs the eave, then the board with a tape, then a screwdriver sinking into the wood. He counts three rafter tails with the same condition, writes it in the log, and calls the office.

The office builds a numbered finding for fascia and another for the rafter tails, attaches the photos and asks the carrier to review the added work. The numbers and details are invented to show the process, and the carrier may decide differently.

Fascia and rafter tails, front eave: 14 linear feet of fascia and 3 rafter tails soft and deteriorated, found after gutter removal. Photos 18 to 23 show the condition with a tape and probe. Replacement requested for the affected sections.

Keep fascia and rafter tails as separate findings so the reviewer can answer each on its own.

Use the same words in your photos and notes so a reviewer knows exactly which board you mean.

Dropping gutters and working at the eave puts crews at the edge of the roof. Follow your fall protection rules and do not lean out to get a photograph. If a rafter tail is badly deteriorated, treat the edge as unsafe until it is braced or replaced. A good photo is not worth an injury.

Not every soft spot is a finding. If the board is sound and only stained, say so honestly. If a section is soft but small, record the length and let the reviewer decide. Overstating a minor spot weakens the rest of your package. Our supplement mistakes guide covers how that happens.