Fascias and soffits very rarely have any attention paid to them after they have been installed. However, this can often become an issue as certain materials can easily become damaged over time, leaving them not only ineffectual but also unattractive.
Damaged fascias and soffits can very easily lead to weather damage on a building and in other cases can simply lead to excessive noise becoming extremely intrusive, whether that be from people, traffic or even weather. In extreme cases, people often find that they are completely unable to sleep and will often not know the reason for this sudden growth in noise pollution.
When it comes to fascia replacement there are many things to consider. First of all, material is going to be extremely important. Plastic is almost always going to be the best bet as it is extremely resilient and will not need anywhere near the same kind of maintenance that other materials would need, removing the need for repainting almost completely.
There is also the decision of whether fascia replacement is needed at all or whether overcladding would work. In the majority of cases, replacement will be by far the best option since overcladding will, by its very nature, simply hide a problem from view rather than solving it. The thin material used will rarely help reduce any intrusive noise and the chances of it improving safety or the health of your building are very slim indeed.
Without the correct fascia boards, wet rot and dry rot are likely to be greatly exacerbated. The slight extra cost of buying the right fascia boards compared to overcladding will be more than adequately recouped in the long run, whilst ensuring that your house is safe, healthier and even quieter at the same time. So make sure you get the right boards from the right company rather than cutting corners for the sake of a few pence.