Roofline · Exeter & East Devon
Fascias and soffits in Exeter
Rotten fascia is almost always a symptom. Something has been putting water where it should not be for a long time — and replacing the board without fixing that just restarts the clock.
The roofline is the fascia board, the soffit beneath it, the bargeboards on the gable ends, and the guttering fixed to them. On most Exeter housing it is timber, painted, and on properties built before the 1980s it is often still the original.
Why it rots
Timber at the eaves gets wet from two directions. From above, if the roof covering has slipped at the eaves course or the felt has perished and no longer drains into the gutter. From in front, if the gutter has blocked and water has been sitting against the board or running down its face. Neither is fixed by a new fascia, which is why we look at both before quoting.
Blocked gutters
The most common cause. Wet leaf litter held against the board through every winter for years. Clearing the gutter is the cheap fix that never happened.
Perished eaves felt
The felt should carry water off the roof and into the gutter. Once it has perished at the eaves, water runs behind the gutter and down the fascia instead.
Slipped eaves course
Slates or tiles that have moved at the bottom of the slope discharge water behind the gutter line rather than into it. Fixing the fascia without fixing this guarantees a repeat.
What we do
- Strip the existing fascia, soffit and bargeboards back to the rafter feet
- Inspect the rafter ends — rot here is common and is priced as an agreed variation, not hidden
- New fascia, soffit and bargeboards in uPVC or timber to suit the property
- New eaves protection and felt support tray where the existing felt has perished
- New guttering and downpipes fitted at the same time
- Ventilation provision at the eaves, which is a building regulations requirement and frequently missing on older properties
What you get
- The rafter ends checked and photographed while they are exposed
- Scaffold itemised in the quote, covering both the roofline and the guttering
- Eaves ventilation provided properly rather than sealed up
- Written workmanship guarantee, plus manufacturer warranty on uPVC passed to you
Guttering · Roof repairs · Conservation area roofing · Full roof replacement
Frequently asked
How do I know my fascias need replacing?
Flaking or blown paint, timber that gives when pressed, visible sagging along the gutter line, and gutter brackets pulling away from the board. On the inside, daylight visible at the eaves from within the loft is a clear sign.
uPVC or timber?
uPVC is maintenance-free and the standard answer on most properties. Timber is the right choice on listed buildings and often the expected one in conservation areas, where uPVC can be a consent issue and changes the building's character. We will tell you which applies to your property.
Can you cap over the existing timber instead of replacing it?
Capping — cladding over the old boards — is cheaper and is sometimes fine where the timber behind is genuinely sound. Where it is not, capping seals rot in and hides it. We check what is behind before recommending it, and we will not cap over wet timber.
Do you need scaffolding?
For a full roofline replacement, yes. Working along an entire eaves line safely needs a platform, and the scaffold is in the quote. It is also why doing guttering and fascias together makes sense — one lot of access rather than two.
What does a roofline job cost in Exeter?
A full fascia, soffit and guttering replacement on a typical semi is usually £1,200–£2,500 in uPVC including scaffold. Terraces vary widely with access. Timber replacement on a period property costs more and needs painting afterwards.
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