How often do you look up at the fascia boards and soffits around your home? How often do you check the condition of your guttering? If the answer to either of these questions is “never” or “what are fascias and soffits?” you won’t be alone!
Few people realise the importance of fascia boards and soffits, assuming they are a simply a decorative finish to a property. But don’t be fooled! Soffits and fascias are your home’s defence against wet weather, offering protection from the elements and keeping costly repair bills at bay.
Cheltenham Glass and Glazing is here to ensure that the residents of Gloucestershire are ahead of the pack and keep their homes in prime condition with this handy fascia, soffit and guttering guide.
Forming a protective barrier between the elements and the edge of a roof, the fascia serves to shield the edges of a roof and therefore the inside of a property from wet weather. Fascia boards are typically installed vertically below the edge of a tiled roof.
Guttering systems are usually attached to fascia boards. Fascia boards must therefore be kept in good condition so that they can cope with the weight of water that runs off a roof in a storm. They also add support for the bottom row of tiles.
Fascias are traditionally made using wooden boards, but UPVC fascia boards are increasingly being used in modern construction and for replacement projects in Gloucestershire and across the UK.
In short, fascia boards provide both structural support and wet weather defence for your most valuable asset – your home.
Most residential roofs in Gloucestershire will have a section that overhangs the walls. The underside of this section is called the soffit, which is traditionally constructed from wood, but are also made using UPVC. Soffits protect the rafters of your roof from getting wet and therefore prevent dampness and rot setting in. Rotten rafters would need to be replaced, which would be extremely costly.
Soffits are also designed to allow ventilation within abuilding. Small holes let air circulate around the roof structure which helps to prevent roof spaces from overheating in warm weather and also prevents moisture building up during cold weather.
Guttering systems have the crucial job of protecting your home from large volumes of water and reducing the potential for water damage. If your guttering is broken and water is not carried away from a property it will leak and overflow, getting in to areas that are vulnerable to the effects of water damage.
This can cause flooding, damage to foundations and can also lead to damp in the walls of your home. This can, in turn, cause structural damage and also cause mould to grow, which is harmful for occupants.
If your guttering is damaged it is essential that it is repaired or replaced to ensure that your home is protected from the many problems that water ingress can cause.
Our team of skilled fitters install UPVC and aluminium glazing systems across Cheltenham and the wider Gloucestershire area and frequently visit homes with fascias and soffits that have been neglected.
Many people tell us that they don’t know what to look out for when determining whether their properties are in good condition or not. Read on to discover the signs that your fascia and soffits (and therefore your home) are suffering:
If you look up at the fascia boards and soffits around your Gloucestershire home you may notice that the paint on the surface of the boards is damaged. This usually comes with age, as paints do degrade over time when exposed to the elements.
Where paint is damaged there is a route for rain water, snow or condensation to seep in to the wooden boards, which will lead to water getting in to the internal structure of your roof and the potential for a lot of costly repairs to joists and rafters.
If you can only see one localised area with damaged paint, you should investigate and if necessary, repair the guttering in that area as this is the most likely the cause.
Is the guttering loose around your home? If so it’s a useful sign that the guttering, the soffits and fascias are at the end of their life and would benefit from being replaced.
It’s likely that rotten fascia boards will cause guttering to become loose and misaligned and therefore less efficient. This, in turn, will cause water that should be carried away by the guttering to gain access to the soffits and house walls, which needs to be avoided at all costs as this will lead to damp and mould issues at your Gloucestershire property.
A sure sign that your fascia, soffits and guttering are in poor condition will be the evidence of damp within your home, both within the roof space or attic, and in upstairs rooms near the soffits.
If you notice patches of damp, maybe with mould growing too, it is important that you investigate and call in the experts. Adam and his team at Cheltenham Glass and Glazing cover all of Cheltenham and Gloucestershire and are widely experienced in fascia, soffit and guttering repairs and replacement work.
As mentioned above, one of the roles of fascias and soffits is to maintain a healthy environment in the roof space of your home through the circulation of fresh air. A healthy loft will be free from moisture as the movement of air keeps the environment cool and dry.
It is essential that soffits do not become blocked and that they work effectively to circulate air around the roof space to prevent damp and mould issues.
If you spot any issues with mould or damp within your loft space give Cheltenham Glass and Glazing a call so that we can assess the situation and advise you on the best course of action.
If the soffits and fascia boards have become damaged at your Gloucestershire home you may find that you have a few uninvited guests. Squirrels, rats and other rodents are quick to find new homes and they love nothing more than a cosy loft space to call their own.
If you think you can hear signs of life in your loft or walls, such as scratching or the skittering of tiny feet you may well find that your rotten fascias or soffits have been discovered by pests.
Cheltenham Glass and Glazing can repair your fascia boards and soffits but you will need to call a pest control service to deal with the pest infestation.
The cost of replacing the fascia boards and soffits at a property will depend on a number of factors:
Depending on the scale of the project it will usually take between 1-2 days to complete a fascia and soffit replacement project.
Adam, Director at Cheltenham Glass and Glazing will visit your home and provide a personalised quote for your project. He will be able to indicate the time that the project will take when he has assessed the extent of the job and any issues that he might encounter at your property.
If you would like to discuss a quote for the replacement of fascia boards, soffits or guttering at your home please call Cheltenham Glass and Glazing on 01242 238887 or fill in our enquiry form here.
Providing fast, friendly advice and fitting, based on over 10 years experience in the glass fitting industry, our staff take pride in delivering the best possible service to all our customers. So, if you are looking for the best aluminium and UPVC windows & doors Cheltenham has to offer, contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing today.
01242 238 887
Brookwell, Shurdington Road Cheltenham, GL51 4UA