Cracked gutters, rotting fascias or sagging soffits left untreated let water into your roof and walls. We replace or repair the full roofline - fascias, soffits and guttering - on homes across Haverhill and the surrounding villages, using uPVC and other materials to suit your property.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
The roofline - the fascias, soffits and guttering that run around the edge of your roof - does a job most homeowners only notice when something goes wrong. Fascias carry the guttering and seal the gap at the foot of the roof. Soffits close the underside of that overhang. Together they stop water, birds and cold air getting into the roof void. When they fail, the problems spread quickly and repairs become more expensive.
We carry out roofline work on all types of property in Haverhill and the surrounding area - terraced town houses, semi-detached homes, detached properties, bungalows and older buildings. Whether you have a single run of guttering that has pulled away from the wall or a full roofline that needs stripping and replacing, we can help.
The fascia is the vertical board fixed directly to the rafter feet at the edge of the roof. The gutter clips or brackets fix to it. The soffit is the horizontal board that fills the gap between the fascia and the wall, closing off the roof void. On many older homes these boards are timber, which rots over time, especially if the guttering above them has been leaking for a while.
A damaged fascia board cannot hold guttering brackets securely, so the gutter sags, water overflows and the problem compounds. A rotted soffit leaves the roof void open to damp, birds and vermin. Neither problem fixes itself, and both tend to get worse over time.
A full replacement means stripping off the old boards and guttering, checking the rafter feet underneath, and fitting new boards and guttering from scratch. This is the right approach when the existing timber is soft, split or heavily painted over many times, or when the roofline is sagging and misaligned.
Before any boards go on we check every rafter foot. Rafter feet are the ends of the roof timbers that the fascia sits against. On older properties, rafter feet are often found to be damp or partially rotted because the old guttering has been leaking at the back of the channel for years without being noticed. Any damaged timber is cut back and repaired before the new boards are fitted. Skipping that step means the new fascia will sit against soft wood and the problem will return.
New uPVC fascias, soffits and guttering are the most common choice because uPVC does not rot, does not need painting and holds up well in the damp climate of East Anglia. It is available in white, black, brown, grey and a range of woodgrain finishes, so it can be matched to the look of the property.
Capping over, sometimes called cladding or over-boarding, means fitting uPVC boards directly over the existing timber fascias without removing them. It is quicker and costs less than a full replacement. However, it is only suitable when the timber underneath is structurally sound - dry, firm and not showing signs of rot. Capping over soft or damp timber traps moisture and accelerates decay behind the new boards.
Before recommending this option we check the condition of the existing boards. If the timber is sound, capping is a reasonable choice. If there is any softness, we will say so and explain why a full replacement will serve you better in the long run. A decision made with full information will always result in a better outcome than one made on cost alone.
Guttering can be replaced independently of the fascias if the boards behind it are in good condition. The most common gutter profiles used on domestic properties are half-round and square (also called ogee). Square-section guttering is often seen on newer builds; half-round is more typical on older properties and period homes.
Standard domestic guttering in uPVC is available in 112mm and 150mm widths. The larger 150mm systems handle higher volumes of water and are useful on properties with a steep pitch or a large roof area. We fit the correct size for the roof rather than defaulting to whichever is cheaper or quickest to source.
Gutter joints, stop ends and downpipe connections are the points most likely to fail over time. A properly fitted system uses the right sealant at every joint and positions brackets at the correct spacing - typically no more than one metre apart - to prevent the gutter bowing under the weight of water or debris.
Not every job needs a full replacement. A leaking joint, a cracked section or a gutter that has dropped away from the fascia can often be repaired without stripping the whole system. A leaking joint is usually caused by sealant that has dried out and cracked over time, or by a union clip that has worked loose. In most cases the joint can be cleaned back and resealed or the clip replaced.
Gutters also drop out of alignment when brackets pull away from a fascia that has begun to soften, or when brackets were spaced too far apart in the first place. A gutter that pools water in the middle rather than draining to the downpipe will overflow in heavy rain and soak the wall below. Realigning the run and refixing or replacing the brackets solves this without the cost of new guttering.
A common problem on properties that have not been maintained for several years is a downpipe that has become blocked with compacted leaf debris. Water backs up in the gutter, overflows at the nearest joint and runs down the face of the building. Clearing the blockage and checking the rest of the run usually resolves the overflow quickly.
The majority of roofline work today uses uPVC because it is durable, low-maintenance and available in a wide range of colours and finishes. For period or listed properties where appearance is important, timber boards are still an option, but they require regular repainting to stay in good condition and will need replacing sooner than uPVC.
For guttering, cast iron is still used on older or listed buildings where the original appearance must be retained. Cast iron guttering is heavier, requires painting and costs more than uPVC, but it is more rigid and can last many decades when properly maintained. We can advise on which material is appropriate once we have seen the property.
For most homes in Haverhill and the surrounding area, uPVC is the practical choice. It does not absorb moisture, does not rot, and does not need painting - once fitted it can be left alone. Timber fascias on a typical semi-detached house will need repainting every four to six years to keep water out of the grain, and once rot takes hold in a section the whole board usually needs replacing.
The exception is where appearance or planning restrictions matter. On older cottages in villages such as Steeple Bumpstead, Kedington or Withersfield, a white uPVC fascia can look out of place against period brickwork. In those situations a woodgrain uPVC or a properly maintained timber board is worth the extra consideration. If the property is listed or in a conservation area, check with the local planning authority before fitting uPVC.
Typical UK prices for uPVC fascia and soffit replacement on a semi-detached house run from around £800 to £1,500 depending on the size of the property, the number of runs and the condition of the rafter feet. A full replacement on a larger detached house can run from £1,500 to £3,000 or more. Gutter-only replacement on a semi-detached property typically costs £300 to £600. These are guide figures only - the actual price depends on what we find when we look at the job.
Capping over existing timber fascias costs less than a full strip-out and replacement, but it is only appropriate when the timber underneath is dry and firm. If it turns out the timber is soft once work begins, we will tell you before we go further rather than board over a problem.
Gutters on most properties in this part of Suffolk benefit from being cleared at least once a year. Properties surrounded by deciduous trees may need clearing twice, once in late autumn after leaf fall and once in spring to remove any debris that has blown in over winter. A blocked gutter overflows at the nearest weak joint and water runs down the wall, which can cause damp internally if the problem is left for a season or more.
Gutters with a moss problem are also worth checking. Moss washed off a roof by rainfall collects in the gutter channel and compresses into a mat that holds moisture against the back of the fascia. Clearing the gutter and treating the roof moss stops the cycle.
We carry out fascia, soffit and guttering work in Haverhill and the nearby towns and villages. If you are in this part of Suffolk or the neighbouring parts of Essex, get in touch to arrange a visit.
Fascias, soffits and guttering on a typical semi-detached house in Haverhill cost roughly £800 to £1,500 for a full uPVC replacement, with gutter-only work typically coming in at £300 to £600.
If your gutters are overflowing, your fascias look tired or you have noticed signs of damp near the roofline, call us to arrange a roofline survey. We will check the condition of the boards, the rafter feet and the guttering and give you a clear price before any work begins.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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