Windows and Fascia
Why is rotting soffit, windows and fascia a festering problem?
Contact Boyland Windows to experience the best in the business of home improvements.
One of the everyday home repair tasks we’re requested to perform is to repair rotted soffits, windows and fascia. We thought we’d share just how soffits and fascia can become rotted and ruined and illustrate some of the warning signs. These will help you diagnose whether you have a problem and forestall any expensive repairs. We may even delve into some simple steps that YOU can take to reduce your chance of experiencing any of these costly repairs in the first place.
Imagine a cross-section of the soffit, roof and gutter region.
This section features shingles, roof sheathing, and the fascia board – part of the structure of that soffit – and is what your gutter is attached to. Now, there’s something called drip edge, usually made of aluminium. The name implies what it does. Water comes down off your roof and what happens is it drips off the edge of the shingle and flows down that drip edge into the gutter.
Okay, but what happens if – for whatever reason – that drip edge were to break? Well, a couple of bad things can happen . . .
Now, let’s pretend that the drip edge is missing. This is a common thing we see in many homes – there just isn’t one as it was never installed. So, where is that water going to go? Well, some of it will fall into the gutter, but some will travel back up the shingle to where the fascia board lies and begin to soak into the fascia board. This is precisely how these fascia boards rot out, which isn’t great because the gutter is attached to the fascia board. So, when this gets soft and rots out, and this thing fills up with water and gets really heavy . . . or in the winter, fills up with ice . . . it’s what causes gutters to fall from houses! Now, if that water continues, and your fascia board rots out and becomes yucky, then that water will pool in the area underneath. If it soaks the wood underneath the soffit, that’s not great. After all, the soffit is supposedly protected from the elements beneath the roof. Should your entire fascia board be rotted, the water can just come straight in. This is how soffits can be ruined and why proper maintenance and construction techniques are necessary.
Simple things like . . .
🟧 | How far the shingle is off the roof
🟧 | Whether the drip edge is installed
🟧 | Whether it was installed correctly
🟧 | What shape or condition it is in
🟧 | How the gutters are sloped
🟧 | If the gutters are backing up
In the latter cases, water can start to travel back up into the roof. When that ice melts into water, it gets in here and destroys the soffits and fascia. There are several different ways this can occur, but we’re going to discuss what you can do to maintain this system and avoid an expensive mess. If water gets behind a fascia board, it either rots the fascia board or begins to soften the wood it’s attached to. When that gutter fills up with rainwater, it will become so heavy that it’ll simply detach from the house. In such cases, the gutter may come away from the house, still attached to the fascia board!
We want to convince you that this is a problem YOU need to ensure does not happen to your home!
Two things could quickly alert you to problems developing before they become too expensive. If something happens to the fascia board but the rest of the soffit still looks in good shape and is in tact, we can still act. We would step in and assess whether water was coming in and how.
So, is it a . . .
🟧 | A drip edge problem?
🟧 | Or a sloping gutter problem?
Both are relatively inexpensive to repair, and we may even be able to save that fascia board. If not, that will not nearly be as expensive as fixing all those soffits. We can correct this before any nasty rot, mould and water damage occurs.
Another thing you can look for – and this doesn’t necessarily mean you have – a problem is if you see black streaks coming down from your gutters.
This is a lot easier to see if you have a white or tan gutter. This might be an indication that your gutters are overflowing. So, the next time you have a heavy rain storm, take a peek out your window and see whether your gutters are overflowing. If they are, water can be backing up behind the gutter, getting into the fascia, soaking the board and then running down into the soffit. Yet, preventing the problem altogether is even better than knowing how to spot a problem before it gets too expensive.
Here are three things you can do:
1.Keep those gutters clean and flowing
This includes downspouts and drains, which are often overlooked. You might need to clean your gutters reasonably often, but this will depend on what types of trees you have in your garden. Now, gutter guards aren’t perfect. We’ve spoken to people who believe that gutter guards installed three or four years ago means they don’t need to clean their gutters anymore. This is a great way to cause many problems as debris can sometimes still get in there. Gutter guards lend many a false sense of security as they believe they can avoid periodical cleans or inspections.
2.Keep wood fascia and soffits caulked and painted
Nice and simple. If you follow this step and get a little water on them, the wood will be protected. We recommend this for an assortment of soffits, windows and fascias.
3.Keep animals and insects away
Wasps and birds . . . for some reason, they love using your soffits as a safe place to build their nests. Well, this can also damage the wood and material in there. Similarly, squirrels and woodpeckers also love to destroy those parts of your home. So, if you can, keep the animals and insects away; this will bode well for the longevity of that soffit.
The benefits of windows and fascia repairs
✔ Protect your home from harsh weather conditions
✔ Prevent animals from nesting in your roof
✔ Help your home’s energy efficiency
✔ Avoid further damage being caused to your home
✔ And more!
How exactly are soffit, windows and fascia overlooked elements?
Our team can supply, fit and provide durable, reliable support for your guttering.
So, you’re interested in a soffit, windows and fascia installation for a whole house – front and back? Fascia, soffit and gutters are essential aspects that homeowners often overlook. These elements take heavy rain through the gutters and off the system. The soffit is the timber underneath your roofline, and the fascia is the vertical board. Water trickles down your roof and runs into the gutter, which takes the water away.
To give you an idea of how your fascia, soffit and eaves intersect, we’ll explore . . .
🟧 | Where the fascia boards go
🟧 | Where the soffit boards go
🟧 | What is a barge board
🟧 | Corner and joints usage
🟧 | Plus various building trade terms
Fascia boards
There are two distinct types of PVC fascia. One is a standard fascia board, sometimes called jumbo or mammoth. Various trade terms are associated with it, but the board’s thickness is essential. It’s usually between 16-25 mil, which means it’s strong enough to fix directly onto the rafter ends. It’s nailed straight onto the rafters and is strong enough to support your guttering – even if that guttering is full of rain and snow.
So that’s an important distinction.
The other fascia board type is a cover board or a cap. This board is only 9 mil thick and isn’t strong enough to go directly onto the rafters and support your gutter as it needs a timber backing board. This is often used in a refurbishment situation when a board requires painting, and perhaps it’s showing some signs of rot. In this case, the decay is removed, the timber is made good, and then the cover board is put over the top. So these are the two types of fascia boards.
Soffit board
The board underneath connecting the front of the fascia to the back is called a soffit board. This is non-structural and closes off the gap. These are usually 10 mils thick and can be plain or vented depending on how the architect or builder chooses to ventilate your roof.
The barge board
The board that comes down the gable end is called the barge board, and it’s usually the same as the fascia board. However, the actual size can be different.
The box end
The name given to the intersection between the fascia and the barge board coming down is a box end. The box end is probably the most technical detail on the eaves.
The other sections that make up the eave section join this to cover the gap where two fascia boards connect. Recognising corners on the corner joints is essential. This way, you never put two boards directly up together. We always leave a 10 mil gap for expansion because PVC does expand slightly along its length in warmer conditions. So, fascia boards will probably move about 5 mils on a lovely summer’s day. Therefore, you should always leave a 10 mil gap; the corner join will cover that gap. All in all, these are the basic terms that you’ll need to find your way around the roof line system.
However, this process can go wrong should the original installation be poorly executed.
If your windows, fascia and soffit have eroded, the felt on the tiles will likely have deteriorated too. This means water will get in through cracked tiles, and people don’t realise it’s even happening until it’s too late. They’ll notice a leak inside the house, which might be due to a build-up of grass and moss growing in the gutters. Such blockages cause leaks through the gutters and downpipes because there’s a build-up of water, and the water is not draining away.
The team at Boyland Windows will never cover over rotten timber.
If anything, we’ll replace all that. We’ll begin a survey and see if anything is rotten. If it is, we’ll replace it. What we generally do, is we lift the first row of tiles because the felt that’s there is sometimes – and most times – damaged. Having assessed the situation, we’ll fit a PVC eaves protector. Conceptually, this slips underneath the tiles, and the front part of this fits into the gutter. This way, any driving wind and rain your property encounters will not go up through the tiles; it will actually hit off this and run into the gutter. Once our fitters finish, we’ll fit a filter brush into the gutters. This prevents any leaves, grass and debris from growing and building up over the autumn period. In addition to this, windows and fascia, soffit and gutters come in various colours. Most of our customers prefer a neutral colour, particularly at the roof line, to show off their tiles and the paintwork at the front of their house. However, we can tailor any package to suit any customer.
Sound Familiar?
❌ Installing windows, doors, or conservatories aren’t typical DIY kinds of projects. It’s essential that these products offer your household optimal aesthetics and security.
⚠ Fortunately, Boyland-trained installers are here to help. Get in touch if you need the most appropriate solutions for your lifestyle or want a bespoke uPVC windows quote.
✅ We’ll assess your home and install windows and fascia that suit your home. Together, with our friendly advice and tailor-made solutions – we’re by your side for life.
What’s involved in getting our high-quality windows and fascia
Much like approaching any supplier and installer of goods, you pursue the following steps.
Before continuing, we should make clear that YOU are ultimately in charge of the price of whatever high-quality windows and fascia you want. This is your own home, after all – so NEVER kowtow to ANY cold callers! If you do, research before agreeing to anything. Explore the following avenues:
🟨 | Which? Trusted Traders
🟨 | Check a Trade
🟨 | Trustpilot
🟨 | Facebook
🟨 | Go in person
Boyland Windows avoid disruptive sales tactics like cold calling, and we implore you to reject such services. Failure to do so encourages it. Now all that is said and done, let’s look into the first step of acquiring your high-quality windows and fascia . . .
1. Call & Book a Survey
The visiting surveyor should find out what you want – not sell you something you don’t need. They will measure the windows in question and produce a windows and fascia quote. Boyland Windows price every job on its own merits and get actual live prices from manufacturers. This approach takes longer than using a price matrix or standard price list, but it’s far more accurate and has better value for money. So prepare yourself for the high-quality windows and fascia you want rather than settling for the ones that make do.
2. The Windows and Fascia Quote
A written windows and fascia quote provides full specification of the product, along with images showing what you can expect of the finished product. Your windows and fascia quote can be emailed or posted, either of which saves you from having to print it out at home. You should be able to read and take in the quote without any pressure or anyone standing over you.
Boyland Windows will call you AFTER we send the quote to ensure it’s received and see if you have any questions.
There is no selling at any stage – you decide on the brand of your high-quality windows and fascia. We should note that we do not take a deposit on standard uPVC. Therefore, all you need to do is sign the acceptance form, and our team will organise the materials. In most instances, we won’t need to return for another survey as it would already be done.
3. Ordering, Suppling & Installing
We will order your preferred high-quality windows and fascia and – when it arrives – call you to book a convenient time to carry out the installation. Once installed, you will be shown how to use your new high-quality windows and fascia. You will also have the opportunity to check through our sign-off sheet to ensure you are happy with our service and your product.
Only then do you part with your money and pay.
To keep costs minimal, we take online banking payments or cheques. Once paid, you will receive a follow-up call. We do this to ensure everything went well and give you the opportunity to provide any feedback – good or bad (though we aim for the former!) You will also receive a validated invoice.
Boyland Windows process may take a little longer than our competitors – but it’s not without reason. We put YOU in charge and ensure you receive the best rates available. The whole process is controlled, and you get the product and service you deserve.
For more information on our ethical policy, click here.
For more information on our ethical policy, click here.
Windows
The best views are through our windows.
Featuring the highest quality standards, our range is made of wood, aluminium, UPVC, steel and composite materials.
✅ | Aluminium “Smart” Horizontal Sliding Windows
✅ | Wooden Traditional Flush Casement Windows
✅ | And much more!
Doors
Open your homes with the best doors.
Available in wood, aluminium, UPVC and composite materials, we only supply the most attractive and secure doors.
✅ | UPVC “Veka” Patio Sliding Doors
✅ | Wooden Bi-Fold Doors
✅ | And much more!
Conservatories
Spacious, energy-efficient and uniquely designed.
Open your home up to your garden with Boyland Windows. Take control of the elements with our expertly designed conservatories.
✅ | Bespoke “Boyland” Conservatories
✅ | Conservatory “Leka” Solid Roof System
✅ | Get in touch!
Get in touch to learn more about our windows and fascia services
First impressions are everything. Make yours count with Boyland Windows.
Boyland Windows are the solution provider for all your home improvement needs. We work with many product partners to supply you with the best possible option to use with your GOV Double Glazing Grant. Our experienced installers operate in . . .
Ashley – Barton on Sea – Boscombe – Bournemouth – Brockenhurst – Burley – Burton – Christchurch – Dorset – Ferndown – Hampshire – Highcliffe – Hurn – Lymington – Lyndhurst – Milford on Sea – Mudeford – The New Forest – New Milton – Poole – Ringwood – Southbourne – West Parley – Wimborne – Winton
Have any further questions about our windows and fascia services? Our friendly advisors can point you in the right direction – just get in touch.
Our Lifetime Guarantee . . .
✔ Boyland Windows – Guarantees UPVC and Aluminium Products
✔ Boyland Windows – Guarantees Wood Products
✔ Boyland Windows – Guarantees Care & Maintenance of your Conservatory or Orangery
✔ We purchase quality products with certifications of approval from governing bodies
✔ We are also checked, monitored and regularly scored by independent bodies
Please feel free to get in touch by calling 01202 499499 or use our contact form.
