If you need new fascias, soffits or guttering in Soham, choosing the right contractor before you agree to anything will save you money, time and a great deal of frustration.
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Fascias are the horizontal boards fixed to the ends of your roof rafters. Gutters are bolted directly to them, so if the fascia is soft, rotten or pulling away, the whole gutter system becomes unstable. Soffits sit underneath the fascia, closing off the gap between the fascia board and the wall. Together, these three elements stop wind-driven rain from getting into your roof structure and keep birds and squirrels out of the loft space.
When they fail, the consequences are not cosmetic. Water tracking behind a rotten fascia saturates the wall plate and the ends of rafters. Repair bills for structural timber rot are far higher than replacing fascias and soffits while the problem is still on the surface. Catching it early is always cheaper.
Any one of these is worth investigating. Two or more together usually means the work needs doing sooner rather than later.
Most replacement fascias and soffits fitted today are uPVC. It does not rot, requires no painting and is available in a wide range of colours and woodgrain finishes. A standard white uPVC fascia board in good quality material should look presentable for many years without attention beyond an occasional wipe down.
Timber fascias and soffits are still available and some homeowners prefer them, particularly on older properties where matching the original look matters. They do require periodic painting and are more vulnerable to moisture if the paintwork is neglected. Hardwood is more durable than softwood, but both need maintenance.
Aluminium is less common for fascias and soffits on domestic properties but is increasingly used for guttering, particularly on larger houses or where a more premium finish is wanted. It is lighter than cast iron, does not rust and holds a powder-coated finish well. Cast iron guttering is still found on Victorian and Edwardian properties; it can be repaired and repainted, though replacement sections can be harder to source and heavier to handle.
This is the most important section on this page, because a poorly fitted fascia or gutter job can look fine for six months and then fail badly. The questions below will help you tell a careful tradesperson from one cutting corners.
A thorough contractor will inspect the rafter feet and the wall plate before quoting. Rotten rafter ends are a common finding when fascias are removed, and they must be cut back and repaired before new boards go on. If a contractor quotes without mentioning this possibility, ask them directly: what happens if we find rotten timber underneath? If they say they will deal with it at the time, ask how they price that work - by the hour or by the metre of timber replaced. Get the answer in writing.
You should also ask whether the existing fascia is nailed directly to the rafter feet or fixed to a continuous batten. This affects the method used and how long the job will take.
Roof ventilation is a building regulation requirement on most modern properties and an important practical concern on older ones. Soffits can be fitted as solid boards or as ventilated boards with a series of small holes or a continuous ventilation strip. Blocking ventilation when replacing soffits causes condensation in the loft, which in turn causes timber decay and mould. Ask the contractor what type of soffit they are quoting for and whether it will maintain the existing ventilation. If your loft currently has no ventilation, fitting ventilated soffits is an opportunity to add it.
The depth of the new fascia board determines how the gutter sits relative to the roof edge. If the board is too shallow, the gutter may be positioned too low for water to fall into it cleanly from the tiles or slates. A 150mm or 175mm fascia is typical on most houses; some Victorian roofs need deeper boards. Check that the contractor is matching the correct depth and not just fitting whatever they have on the van.
Gutters should be fixed with brackets at no more than one-metre intervals. In practice, a common shortcut is to space them further apart. Over time this causes the gutter to sag, water pools, joints leak and the fascia beneath gets wet. Ask the contractor what bracket spacing they use and whether they will fit a drip strip between the felt/underlay and the back of the gutter to protect the fascia from dripping water.
Guttering must be fitted with a slight fall toward the downpipe - typically around 1:600 (roughly 1mm drop per 600mm of run). A level gutter looks tidy but holds standing water, which breeds algae, adds weight and accelerates joint failure. Ask the contractor what fall they will use and how they set it out. A good contractor will have a clear answer.
A written quote for fascia, soffit and gutter work in Soham should set out the following as a minimum:
If a quote does not cover these points, ask for clarification before you sign anything. Vague quotes leave room for disputes about what was and was not included.
A full fascia, soffit and guttering replacement on a standard semi-detached house is typically completed in a single day. Larger detached properties or those with complex roof lines may take two days. Old boards and guttering should be bagged and removed, not left in your garden. New joints should be checked by running water through the guttering before the contractor leaves.
Cambridge Roofers work across Soham and the surrounding area. If you would like your fascias and soffits inspected and a clear, itemised quote, ask for a survey and have the contractor talk you through exactly what the job involves before any work begins.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
