A new roofline in Wymondham is a significant investment, and how you look after it in the years that follow determines how long it performs before it needs attention again.
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The fascia boards, soffits and guttering that run around the edge of your roof form a system. The fascias carry the guttering and close off the rafter ends. The soffits seal the underside of the eaves. The guttering collects rainwater and directs it away from your walls and foundations. When any part of this system is compromised, water finds its way into places it should not be.
A properly installed uPVC or aluminium roofline is low-maintenance compared to the painted timber it typically replaces - but low-maintenance does not mean no maintenance. A few simple checks each year, and prompt action when something does need attention, will keep the system working as it should and avoid the conditions that cause premature failure.
We replace fascia boards, soffits and all guttering components, including guttering runs, downpipes, gutter brackets and all joints and outlets. Most installations use uPVC, which is durable, weather-resistant and does not need painting. Aluminium is available for properties where a thinner profile or a different finish is preferred. Colour and finish choices have expanded considerably - white remains the most popular, but woodgrain and anthracite grey are common requests.
A detached house with a longer roofline will usually sit between £2,500 and £5,000. Scaffold for a two-storey job adds around £300 to £600, and this should always be included in any quote you receive for two-storey work rather than treated as an optional extra.
The length of the roofline and the number of storeys are the two biggest cost drivers. A good contractor will measure the run and itemise their quote by materials and labour so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Before the scaffold comes down and the contractor leaves, there are a couple of things worth checking while you still have easy access. Look along the gutter runs and confirm they have a slight fall towards the downpipe - standing water in a gutter is the single most common cause of premature joint failure. Ask the contractor to confirm what fall they have set, or if you can get eyes on it, pour a jug of water into the far end and watch it run clean to the downpipe.
Check that all joints are sealed and that downpipes are secured to the wall at the correct intervals. A downpipe that is only clipped at the top and bottom can flex in wind and eventually pull away from the wall bracket above the shoe. Two clips per storey is the minimum; three is better on a tall pipe run.
The most valuable thing you can do for your guttering is clear it twice a year - once in late spring after tree pollen and seeds have fallen, and once in late autumn after the leaves have come down. A blocked gutter does not just overflow at the joints. The standing water creates weight that stresses the brackets, causes the gutter to sag and pull away from the fascia, and in freezing weather expands and cracks joints or brackets. A gutter that overflows consistently will stain and eventually saturate the brickwork below it.
Clearing gutters is a job many homeowners do themselves on a single-storey section with a ladder, a gutter scoop and a hosepipe. On two-storey properties, access is more difficult and the risk of a fall from a ladder is real - this is a job where paying someone with the right access equipment is money well spent.
Downpipes block lower down than gutters, usually at the shoe (the angled section at the bottom) or at a junction. If a downpipe is running slowly or backing up, a drain rod or a pressure of water from a hosepipe inserted at the top will often clear it. If the blockage is solid and deep, a drain specialist or roofer with a longer rod is the safer option.
A dripping gutter joint is a common problem and often fixable without calling anyone. Dry the inside of the joint thoroughly, remove the old sealant if it has failed, and apply a fresh bead of silicone or gutter sealant (available from any builders' merchant). Clip the joint back together and leave it to cure. This works where the gutter profile itself is undamaged and the bracket is still fixed solidly to the fascia.
A gutter bracket that has pulled slightly away from the fascia can sometimes be refixed with a longer stainless steel screw into sound timber behind. If the fascia at that point feels soft, however, the fascia itself needs attention - the bracket will not hold long in rotten wood.
Some problems go beyond what a homeowner should attempt. Fascia boards that are soft, spongy or visibly rotting need replacing - there is no product that reverses rot in timber. Gutters that sag consistently along a run despite intact brackets suggest the fascia behind them is failing. Soffits that are bowing or have gaps at the edges need a roofer to assess whether the fixing is the problem or whether the board itself has failed.
A roofline that is showing multiple problems across the run - loose guttering, rotting timber, cracked soffits - is usually better replaced as a whole than repaired piecemeal. The cost of repeated call-outs over two or three years can exceed the cost of a full replacement, and a fresh installation on sound timber will perform far better than a series of patches.
Quality uPVC fascias and soffits, properly installed and maintained, carry manufacturer life expectations of 25 years or more. Guttering components - joints, brackets and outlets - are the parts most likely to need attention first, because they deal with the most movement and stress. A realistic expectation is that guttering will need a joint repair or bracket replacement somewhere along the run within ten to fifteen years, particularly on longer runs with more joints.
Keeping debris out of the system and checking it annually is the single most effective thing you can do to reach those life expectancies in practice rather than on paper.
Norwich Roofers installs and replaces fascias, soffits and guttering in Wymondham and across Norfolk, including Attleborough, Dereham, Watton, Swaffham and Norwich itself. If you have noticed a problem with your roofline or want a survey before it becomes a bigger issue, call us to arrange an inspection.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
