Why fascias and soffits matter
They are easy to ignore until something goes wrong, but the boards along your roofline do real work:
- Fascias carry the gutters and protect the ends of the rafters from the weather.
- Soffits close the gap under the eaves, keeping out birds, wasps and rain while letting the roof breathe.
- Bargeboards do the same job along the sloping edge of a gable.
When old timber boards rot, the gutters start to sag and overflow, water runs down the walls, and birds find their way into the roof space.
Signs they need replacing
- paint flaking and timber that is soft when you press it
- gutters that sag, drip at the joints or overflow onto the wall
- gaps under the eaves where birds are getting in
- damp patches high up on outside walls or inside bedroom ceilings near the eaves
- boards that have split, warped or come away from the wall
What the job involves
- Access. A scaffold or tower goes up so the work can be done safely along the whole run.
- Old boards and gutters off. The old fascias, soffits and gutters are removed, so the rafter ends can be checked.
- Repairs underneath. Any rotten rafter ends or damaged bottom row tiles are dealt with.
- New boards fitted. Low maintenance fascias, soffits and bargeboards go on, with ventilation where the roof needs it.
- New guttering. New gutters and downpipes are fitted with the right fall to the outlets. See guttering.
- Clear up. All the old boards and waste are taken away.
A good time to do it
If you are thinking about a new roof, do the fascias and soffits at the same time while the scaffold is up. The bungalow in the photos had both.
Nesting birds are protected by law, so if birds are nesting in your eaves, the work may need to wait until they have finished.
What affects the price
- the length of the roofline and the height of the house
- whether access needs a full scaffold or a tower
- how much timber repair is needed behind the old boards
- whether guttering and downpipes are replaced too
- the type and colour of the boards
Quotes are free. Send Jon a photo of the front and back of the house on WhatsApp to get started.
