Barge board

A barge board (a vergeboard or gable trim) is a decorative or protective board that runs along the sloped edges of a roof at the gable end. This finishing trim piece covers and protects the exposed edges of roof decking and rafters while providing a clean, finished appearance to your home’s roofline.

Barge boards serve both functional and aesthetic purposes in residential construction. Technically, they’re fascia boards on the gable ends of a roof, typically measuring 1-2 inches thick and 6-12 inches wide. These boards protect the structural elements of your roof from weather exposure, preventing moisture infiltration that could lead to rot in roof decking or rafter tails. In traditional architecture, barge boards often feature ornately carved designs (particularly in Victorian homes), while modern applications focus on clean lines and weather resistance. They’re installed after the roof decking but before the final roofing material, creating a critical seal at one of the most vulnerable points of your roofing system.

For example, You might see barge boards when looking at the triangular section of your house where two roof slopes meet. If you stand at the corner of your home and look up at the gable end, the board running along the diagonal edge from the peak to the eaves is the barge board. On older homes, you might notice decorative scrollwork or “gingerbread” trim. This term refers to the intricate, often whimsical, woodwork that was popular in Victorian architecture, particularly in the gables and eaves of homes. While newer homes typically feature simple, straight boards painted to match the trim, understanding the historical and aesthetic significance of these boards can help homeowners appreciate their role in the overall design of their home.