Wavy aluminum fascia not installed correctly
WAVY ALUMINUM FASCIA
Q How can I get my aluminum roof fascia fixed so it's flat like it's supposed to be, not wavy? I just had a new house built and the dark metal trim along the edge of the roof looks terrible, especially when it gets hot outside.
A From the photos you sent I can see you've been having some fun lately! There are several reasons why your fascia goes wavy when it gets hot and sunny. I'm constantly disappointed at how many supposedly professional builders fail to understand basic concepts such as how to install aluminum fascia properly.
Whoever installed your fascia did a very neat job, but they also broke every rule for installing it properly. Your installation could never be anything more than badly wavy the way it was put in. The top edge of fascia should never be fastened to the underlying wood, nor should there be any face nailing of the aluminum. I can see lots of nails driven in the face of your installation so trouble was inevitable.
One part of the problem is that the fascia is a dark colour and it has no ribbed texture on the face. It looks like the fascia was custom-bent for your house. Is this correct? The reason manufactured fascia has ribs on the face is to help resist waviness and to distract the eye if small amounts of waviness set in.
Aluminum fascia (especially dark colours like you have) must be installed on a hot day with the sun shining on the fascia. This ensures it has expanded as much as possible before it goes on. Restricted expansion that happens after installation is why waviness occurs. Install fascia when it's hot, couple this procedure with oversized nail holes that allow the metal to expand and contract unhindered and you won't have any trouble, guaranteed.
All this said, I don't think the non-ribbed fascia you've got will ever remain perfectly flat because of the lack of face ribs. There's no salvaging this stuff.
The only way forward that I can see (other than turning a blind eye to the issue) is to take the existing stuff down and proceed with manufactured fascia that has the anti-wave ribbing and proper nailing that allows for unhindered movement. Visit baileylineroad.com/how-to-installfascia for a detailed tutorial on how to install aluminum fascia properly.
DECK FINISHING DILEMMA
Q How can I make my twoyear-old pressure-treated deck look new again? The brown colour of the wood is fading and some boards are turning grey.
A I've run tests on deck finishing products since 1990 and there's nothing in the world that can keep exterior wood looking new for more than a few years without also requiring stripping and/or sanding before reapplication. Essentially you need to decide where you want to sit on the deck maintenance spectrum. To maintain the look of bright, new wood it requires a high level of ongoing maintenance. At the other end of the spectrum there's the do-nothing option that will have your deck looking like grey barn board in a few more years, but with no work on your part. Many people are surprised to learn that exterior wood finishes don't prevent rot, they just make the wood look more refined. If you do decide to go the easy route, I recommend Ecowood Treatment. It's a non-toxic powder that you mix with water and spray or brush on. It creates an even weathered appearance that looks like natural weathering but is consistent over the whole surface. I've used this for years on my own projects and it's great where an easygoing appearance is fine.