What fascias, soffits and bargeboards actually do
The roofline is the band of boards running along the edges of your roof. Fascias are the upright boards at the eaves. They carry the gutters and support the bottom row of tiles. Soffits sit underneath, closing the gap between the fascia and the wall, and often include ventilation for the loft. Bargeboards run up the sloping gable ends.
Together they keep birds, insects and weather out of the roof space and give rainwater a clean path into the gutters. When they fail, the damage tends to show up first inside the loft or on the walls below.
Signs of rot, sagging or leaking gutters
Timber roofline boards were the norm for decades, and many are now well past their best. Look out for:
- Flaking paint, soft patches or crumbling wood on fascias and bargeboards
- Gutters that sag, pull away from the boards or overflow in heavy rain
- Drips from joints, or green streaks running down the brickwork
- Gaps where birds or wasps are getting into the eaves
- Damp patches on walls just below the roof line
Replacing timber with uPVC
We replace worn timber with uPVC fascias, soffits and bargeboards. uPVC does not rot, never needs painting and only wants an occasional wipe down. Where the old boards are sound enough, capping over them can be an option, but in most cases we prefer to remove rotten timber so the new boards are fixed to something solid. Lee will explain which approach suits your house.
Getting the detail right at the eaves matters. The bottom of the roof membrane needs to sit correctly into the gutter so water runs off the roof and not behind the fascia. We check this while the boards are off.
Roofline work at the same time as a re-roof or repair
Fascias and soffits are often reached from a scaffold, which is a cost in its own right. If you are planning a new roof or re-roof, doing the roofline at the same time means the scaffold only goes up once and the new roof edge finishes neatly onto new boards.
The same goes for larger roof repairs along the eaves. If we spot rotten fascias while repairing tiles, we will point it out so you can decide whether to tackle both together. More on our other services is on the main roofing page.
Gutters and downpipes
A gutter is only as good as the downpipe it drains into. We fit new uPVC gutters with the correct fall towards the outlets and replace downpipes, brackets and joints as needed, so water is carried down to the drain rather than spilling against the walls.
If your gutters overflow because they are blocked rather than broken, we will tell you that too. A clear-out may be all that is required.
Why roofline problems are worth fixing early
It is tempting to leave a dripping gutter or a peeling fascia until it gets worse, but the roofline does a quiet, important job. Water that overflows a blocked or sagging gutter runs straight down the face of the wall, soaking brickwork and mortar and eventually showing up as damp inside. Rotten fascias can no longer hold gutter brackets firmly, and the bottom row of tiles relies on them for support.
Gaps in old soffits are an open invitation to birds, squirrels and wasps, all of which can make themselves at home in the loft. Blocked ventilation can also lead to condensation in the roof space.
Replacing the roofline before these knock-on problems take hold is usually far simpler than dealing with damp walls, rotten rafter ends or an infestation later on. If you are unsure whether yours needs attention, a free visit from Lee will give you a straight answer.
Book a free site visit
Lee will come and look at your roofline, explain what needs replacing and put it in writing in a clear quote. The visit is free and there is no obligation. We are based in Witham and cover Essex and the Essex side of London's outskirts. Contact us or call 07947 758052 to arrange a time.
Roofing guides
Doing the roofline as part of bigger roof work? These may help.