The whole eaves put right
Boards, rafter ends, membrane and gutter all dealt with together, rather than a cosmetic cover over a rotten detail.
Serving West Sussex & Brighton
Fascias and soffitsthat seal the eavesand tidy the elevation
The roofline is where the roof, the gutter and the wall all meet, and where rot, wasps and wind-driven rain all get in when it fails. Renewed properly, with ventilation designed in, at a fixed price agreed first.
Ventilation built in · rafter ends checked before boarding · 25-year workmanship guarantee
Book a free quote
Tell us the postcode and the problem. We'll do the rest.
- 25 yrs
- Workmanship guarantee
- £2m
- Public liability insurance
- Fixed
- One price agreed before work starts
- Free
- No-obligation quote visits
The service
The eaves detail, done as a system
Fascias are the boards along the eaves that the guttering hangs from. Soffits are the boards that close the gap underneath, between the wall and the edge of the roof. Together with the bargeboards at the gable ends, they seal the roof at its most vulnerable edge, carry the guttering, and, when detailed correctly, let air into the loft so the roof can breathe.
Renewal is needed when timber boards have rotted, when boards are sound but the guttering keeps pulling away, when wasps and birds are getting into the loft through failed soffits, or when a roof is being re-covered and the roofline is due at the same time.
It matters that a roofer does it rather than a general fitter, because what happens behind the board is what counts: rafter ends need checking for rot, the membrane needs dressing properly into the gutter, and ventilation has to be provided so warm air escapes at the ridge and dry air enters at the eaves. Board over the top of all that and you get a tidy elevation with a condensation problem behind it.
Who it's for
Owners of properties with tired timber roofline, failed boards, or a re-roof coming up where the eaves are due at the same time.
When it's needed
Peeling or flaking boards, soft or crumbling timber, gaps at the soffit, birds or wasps in the eaves, gutters pulling away, or condensation in the loft.
What you get
Rafter ends checked and repaired, new fascias, soffits and bargeboards, ventilation provided at the eaves, and the guttering fixed to something solid.
What it costs to leave it
Rot at the eaves spreads inwards
The roofline is the one part of the building where the roof structure is exposed to the weather. Once water gets past it, it is already inside the timbers that hold the roof up.
Rotten rafter ends
Water behind a failed fascia soaks the ends of the rafters. Replacing rafter feet is structural work and costs far more than the boards ever would.
Guttering that won't stay up
Brackets screwed into soft timber pull out. The gutter sags, ponds and overflows, which soaks the fascia further, which loosens the brackets again.
Birds, wasps and squirrels
An open soffit is an invitation into the loft. Nesting causes mess, damage to insulation and wiring, and is expensive to remove properly.
Condensation and loft damp
Sealing the eaves with no ventilation traps moist air in the loft, which condenses on the underside of the roof and wets the insulation from above.
Common mistakes
- Capping over rotten timber with uPVC instead of removing it and checking the rafter ends.
- Boarding the eaves fully closed with no vents, creating a condensation problem in the loft.
- Fitting a new fascia and re-using the old, sagging guttering on it.
- Painting failing timber boards year after year rather than replacing them.
- Leaving the membrane short so it drops behind the gutter instead of into it.
Our process
How the job runs, step by step
01
Free inspection
We check the boards, the guttering, the state of the rafter ends where we can see them, and whether the loft is getting any ventilation at all.
02
Diagnosis
You get told what's rotten, what's sound, whether capping over would be a bodge on your property, and what ventilation the roof needs.
03
Fixed price agreed
One written figure covering access, removal, new boards, guttering if it's being renewed, and disposal. No day rates.
04
Strip and inspect
Old boards and guttering removed, rafter ends exposed and checked, and any rotten timber cut out and replaced before anything new goes on.
05
Fit and ventilate
New fascias, soffits and bargeboards fitted, eaves ventilation provided, membrane dressed correctly into the gutter line, and new guttering hung true.
06
Clear and guarantee
Site cleared, the run checked with water where guttering is new, and 25 years of workmanship guarantee on the job.
What you get
The difference it makes
A loft that breathes
Eaves ventilation designed in, so moist air leaves the roof space instead of condensing on the underside of the covering.
Guttering that stays put
New brackets fixed into new, solid board, no more sagging runs and pulled fixings.
Nothing getting in
Closed, properly detailed soffits keep birds, wasps and squirrels out of the roof space.
A sharper elevation
New roofline transforms how the whole front of the property reads, and it does it in a day or two rather than weeks.
Low maintenance from here
uPVC roofline needs washing down, not painting every few years, and it's guaranteed 25 years on our workmanship.
In detail
Boards, ventilation and how the eaves is built
The roofline looks like trim and behaves like structure. What goes behind the board decides whether the roof stays dry, and what goes into the soffit decides whether the loft does.
What we fit
Most renewals are in uPVC, which does not rot, does not need painting and holds fixings well when fitted to a sound sub-fascia. Where a property calls for it, timber can be renewed in timber instead; it just carries a maintenance commitment.
- Fascia boards and sub-fascia repair
- Soffit boards, vented and solid
- Bargeboards to gable ends
- Cladding to dormer cheeks and box ends
- Over-fascia and soffit ventilation
- New guttering fitted at the same time
Capping over versus full replacement
Capping means fixing new uPVC over the existing timber. It is quicker and cheaper, and it is only acceptable when the timber underneath is genuinely sound and dry, otherwise it seals rot in and hides it until the fixings let go.
Full replacement removes the old boards, exposes the rafter ends, and puts everything back new. On any roofline where the boards are soft, stained or crumbling, that is the only honest option, and we will say so at the quote rather than after.
Ventilation
Roofs need air moving through them. Air enters low, at the eaves, and leaves high, at the ridge. Without that path, warm moist air from the house collects in the loft and condenses on the cold underside of the roof, which looks exactly like a leak and gets misdiagnosed as one constantly.
We provide eaves ventilation as part of every roofline job, either through vented soffit board or over-fascia vents where the soffit detail does not allow it.
Rafter ends and structural repair
The moment old boards come off, the rafter ends are visible, often for the first time in decades. Soft or rotten feet get cut back to sound timber and repaired before new board goes on.
This is the part of the job that never appears in a cheap quote, because it cannot be seen from the ground. We check it, show you anything we find, and agree it before doing the work.
Working with the covering and gutter
The roofing membrane should carry water past the fascia and into the gutter. Where it has been cut short or has perished at the eaves, water drops behind the gutter and straight onto the new board.
We fit eaves protection where needed so the new roofline is not being fed water from above on the day it goes up.
Domestic and commercial
Most roofline work is domestic and takes a day or two per property, with the biggest visual improvement of any job we do relative to its cost.
On commercial and multi-occupancy buildings, runs are longer, access is more involved and ventilation requirements are larger, but the sequence is the same: strip, check the structure, ventilate, fit.
Where we work
Fascias & soffits across West Sussex & Brighton
If your town isn't listed, call anyway; we're usually nearby.
Related services
Often done at the same time
See all roofing services, go back to the homepage, or contact us for a free quote.
Straight answers
Fascias & soffits questions
How much do new fascias and soffits cost?
It depends on the length of roofline, the number of gables and box ends, and the access. We measure it on a free visit and give one fixed written price covering everything, including disposal.
How long does the work take?
A typical semi-detached or terraced property is one to two days. Larger detached houses and commercial buildings take longer, and we'll tell you the programme when we quote.
Can you just cap over the existing timber?
Only where the timber is genuinely sound and dry. If it's soft or rotten, capping seals the problem in and the fixings fail later; we'll tell you honestly which applies to your property.
Will you check the rafter ends?
Yes. Once the old boards are off, the rafter feet are exposed and inspected. Anything rotten is cut back and repaired, and we show you before it's covered up.
Do new soffits need vents?
Yes. Sealing the eaves without ventilation causes condensation in the loft. We build ventilation in as standard, either through vented soffit or over-fascia vents.
Should the guttering be replaced at the same time?
Usually it makes sense. Access is already in place, and hanging old, sagging gutter on new board undoes half the benefit. We'll price it both ways.
How long does uPVC roofline last?
It doesn't rot and doesn't need painting, an occasional wash down is the maintenance. What limits its life is poor fixing into unsound timber, which is why the strip-out stage matters.
Do I need scaffolding?
It depends on the height and the access around the property. Whatever's needed is included in the fixed price rather than added later.
Can you match a particular colour or woodgrain?
Yes: white, black, anthracite and woodgrain finishes are all available. Tell us at quote stage so the price reflects it.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes: 25 years on our workmanship. Storm damage, third-party damage and material failure are excluded; material failure sits with the manufacturer.
Free, no-obligation quote
Renew the roofline, seal the eaves
Flaking boards, sagging gutters or something living in the eaves; we'll come out free, check what's behind the boards and give you one fixed price for the whole roofline.
07766 878193Or email bwroofing1@icloud.com · Serving West Sussex & Brighton
- 25-year workmanship guarantee
- £2m public liability
- Fixed price, never day rates