When is the best time to replace fascia boards and soffits?

Once fitted, PVC-U roofline products such as fascia boards and soffits need no maintenance, giving them a huge advantage over timber.

At Securahome, a costly mistake we see homeowners make is to leave it too late to install PVC fascias and soffits.

If your timber roofline is basically in good shape, you can save money by opting for an over cap. This involves fitting a 9mm fascia board on top of the original timbers.

Once the PVC overlays the wood, the existing timbers are shielded from the elements. As the board is only over capped on the front and bottom, any damp can still escape through the top and back.

However, if you’ve left it a little longer and the timbers are rotten, then the only option is a full replacement. This involves removing all of the old fascia boards and soffits and replacing them with PVC-U ones that are usually 16-25mm thick.

Replacement is also likely to mean taking the bottom few layers of tiles or slates off in order to fit the boards, as the fascias butt the roof under the eaves.

As you can imagine replacement is more time consuming and, as a consequence, the costs of labour and materials increase. The advantage of a full installation is that it is thorough. The simple act of lifting the tiles, for example, can help uncover rotten batons or roofing felt.

Before carrying out any installation, a Securahome estimator will carry out a full inspection of the existing timbers and assess the best option to offer lasting value for you and your home.

As Kestrel Registered Installers, at Securahome we can offer extended guarantees of up to 35 years on roofline products.