What are Fascias and Soffits?

Fascias and soffits play an extremely important role within the roof area, not only for aesthetic aspect but they will also keep the roof area dry and prevent pests from entering your property. Old fascias and soffits will make your home look extremely old and run down. Replacement fascia, soffits and drainpipes will make your home look much more attractive and appealing providing a fresh charm to any home.

If you are ever thinking of selling your home old fascias and soffits can be very off putting. The last thing someone would like to purchase as a property which looks run down. So replacing your fascia’s, soffits and drainpipes will be a very good investment. By replacing your fascias and soffits will also aid to protect your roof and walls. They are designed to prevent damp and water damage to your property. New clean gutters which are crack free are also extremely important. Old damaged guttering allows water to drip down the walls which over time can cause serious damp to the building.

What are Soffits?

Soffits are the wood or uPVC material which sits between the edge of the roof and the adjacent wall of the property. The soffit board sits underneath the fascia board. The soffits are normally the board that is seen when you are standing in the street looking up towards the roof. Ventilation to roof can be easily installed within the soffit boards. This allows an increased air flow throughout the roof area. Ventilation can also be installed within the fascia board, however most people opt for the soffit boards. Without adequate ventilation to the roof will cause condensation and possible risk of timber decay.

Soffits are available in various different materials, however modern properties usually have uPVC soffits. Wooden soffits are also popular however this is usually in period properties. Wooden soffits require to be yearly treated to prevent rot and decay which will eventually lead to rotten roof structures.

What are Fascia’s?

Traditionally fascia’s were made from softwood and would be installed over the roof rafter’s edges. However, fascia boards are made from high quality uPVC boards that will not rot like the previous fascia material. So you may be wondering what the purpose of fascia boards is. Well they are designed to seal the roof and protect the roof and walls from harsh elements. Fascia’s also support the roof tiles from falling and offer a stable attachment for guttering. Fascia’s complement the soffit boards proposing a stunning roof finish whilst protecting roof rafters at the same time.

What is Guttering?

The sole purpose of the guttering system is to collect rainwater that has fallen onto your roof then guide the flow of rain to the drains. Gutters were traditionally made from lead which was replaced by cast iron way back in the 18th century. As replacement guttering was so expensive due to the cost of materials, this was soon replaced by cast aluminium and plastic. This allowed guttering systems to be mass reproduced allowing homeowners to replace their gutters at an affordable price.

When the water fall is collected by the gutters, this is then redirected down the downpipes to the drainage system. The gutters are fitted with the appropriate ‘fall’ which prevents the water pooling. When water pools in particular areas, then the gutters will eventually overflow which will lead to many significant problems.

Types of Gutters

There are five many types of gutters:

Box gutters – Rectangular in shape and ‘boxed’ into the roof. Box guttering will not be visible as they are hidden away.
Fascia / Eaves gutters – The gutters are attached to the fascia boards which offers an appearance that the gutters are built into the eaves
Square gutters – These are fixed to the outside of the face of the fascia board. They are squared in appearance and extremely good for catching heavy rain fall.
Round gutters – These are the most common type of gutters. They are fixed to the outside face of the fascia board. They are half-circled in appearance.
Quad / D gutters – These are fitted to the outside face of the fascia, these are also available in a huge range of widths.

Roof Overview

To help you understand a little more about your roofing system, we will underline the main parts explaining their purpose too.

What is a Bargeboard?

Bargeboards are located at the gable-end or side of the roof. Bargeboards are installed to protect the roof timbers. They also offer an outstanding decorative finish to the able-end of the property, whilst sealing the end rafters and the edge.

Bargeboards are manufactured with various materials such as: metal, timber, plastic and uPVC.

What is the box-end?

Within the gable-ends the box end creates the link and finish between the fascia and the bargeboards. Any rough edges will be covered up by the box end, allowing the job to look neat and professional whilst maintaining security and moisture resistance.

What are drain downpipes?

.Downpipes carry the rainfall vertically from the gutters into the drains below. Downpipes otherwise known as drainpipes, are fixed into the brickwork providing a secure solid platform to take heavy rainfall away from the roof.

What are sprockets?

Sprockets are made on site using uPVC then levelled and fitted to the rafter feet. Sprockets provide a fixing point to mount fascia and soffit boards. Once the sprockets are aligned and levelled, then this guarantees a level platform for the fascia to be attached.

Why have ventilation?

Vents are often manufactured within the soffits however can be installed manually to the upper surface of the fascia boards during installation. Installing into the fascia’s is a cheaper option and often looks much neater. It is essential to have ventilation otherwise moisture will build up which will eventually damage the roof timbers.

What are roofguard eaves protectors?

The roofguard protectors are inserted under the roof tiles protecting the bottom of the felt within the roof. If this felt is damaged then rainwater will run behind the fascia board or guttering.

What is a bird comb?

Bird combs can be installed anywhere on the roof where required. Bird-combs prevent birds from nesting within the roof by blocking any space between the top edge of the fascia and the roof.

What is a dry verge?

Dry verges can be installed on the area of the gable above the bargeboards. They are designed to protect the verge above the bargeboards. By replacing the verge will save you re-pointing this area again.

So what are the common problems with fascia and soffits?

If fascias and soffits are old and worn out or if you they have been incorrectly fitted then they must be replaced to protect the reliability of the roof. If you notice any of these relevant signs of damage then the fascias and soffits must be replaced:

Flaking and peeling paint

If you notice that either the fascia or soffits begin to flake or peel, then we would recommend to repaint immediately. This can be repeated yearly however if the fascia and soffits continue to flake then we recommend replacing these. Otherwise poor weather conditions will find themselves into these fascias and soffits causing them to rot. This will eventually lead to further complications if not treated.

Rot and damp

If you notice any form of rot or damp sections within your fascias and soffits then this section must be cut out and replaced immediately. Rot and dampness will easily spread through one section to another which will eventually mean that all of the fascia and soffits boards will need to be replaced.

Leaking Gutters

Gutters can be easily blocked, especially if they are over hung by branches from tall trees. Often small items such as tennis balls make their way along the guttering and block the downpipes. If these gutters are not often cleaned out, then this will also lead to blockages. Then when the winter weather arrives, the water freezes which will result in broken gutters and downpipes.

Replacement Fascias and Soffits

In addition to the previous problems with fascia and soffits, there are other reasons why these may require replacing:

Infections

When the fascias and soffits become damp, this provides the perfect home for various insects and rodents. If these rotten fascias and soffits are left too long, then eventually your home could be infected with these insects which will be difficult to get rid of.

Birds’ Nests

Birds will often find small holes then tunnel their way through to the rafters. As many birds are now protected, this will result in serious issues as they may not be allowed to be moved. If you experience small birds nesting then we recommend seeking professional advice. We therefore recommend that you replace any damaged fascia and soffits immediately to prevent this problem from occurring.

Installing Fascia and Soffits

We recommend using a professional installer for replacement fascias and soffits as it is an extremely complex procedure. Firstly the roof tiles and felt must be inspected for damage. The felt can be cut back if possible otherwise it must be replaced. Working at heights is extremely dangerous so we recommend using a scaffolding platform. Our roofline professionals are qualified to work at heights and wear the correct safety equipment.

If the tiles and felt are in good condition, then we fix sprockets to the rafter feet. The sprockets allow the fascias and soffits to be installed correctly offering a perfect touch and appearance to the roofline.

Once the new fascia and soffits are installed then the guttering can be fitted. If you have profiled tiles on your roof then it would be advisable to have bird combs to be installed with the small spaces to prevent small birds from nesting.

After the complete installation of the soffits and bargeboards to the gable-ends, the box ends can be fabricated on site to the correct dimensions required. This must be done to the exact measurements to ensure that there is no additional gaps that may allow water to enter or even small pests.

Installing fascia and soffits should only be done by qualified technicians and must not be attempted as a DIY job! Working at heights installing fascia and soffits can be extremely dangerous. If fascia and soffits are not installed correctly this could lead to several other problems which could be quite costly in the future.

Fascia and Soffits Designs

Traditionally all household would have timber fascia and soffits installed, however this creates an endless maintenance route which must be completed yearly. Timber fascia and soffits must be repainted which involves climbing a high ladder and treating repairs.

However, over the recent years uPVC roof-line (fascia, soffits, barge-boards) have become extremely popular. All new buildings tend to have uPVC fascia and soffits installed. UPVC roof-line is far more favorable than timber as it is available in a wide range of colours and styles. UPVC fascia and soffits

UPVC fascia and soffits are practically maintenance free not like the timber counterpart. UPVC roofline is also available in various shapes and moulds. They are also available in a wood grain effect for a more authentic look.

As mentioned earlier guttering and downpipes are also available in various shapes, sizes and colours.

Guttering also comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes, so be sure to find out all your options rather than just square or round gutter in white or black.

Fascia, soffits and guttering cost Peterborough

The total for replacement fascia and soffits for your Peterborough home, purely depends on the size of the overall property. Fascia and soffits are designed to protect your property while offering an appealing appearance

What are Fascia’s and Soffits?