The roof is a crucial part of any building and a lot of things can go wrong if the roof is not in good shape. It is the most exposed part of any building and yet protects you from the elements of weather. The roof is always up and out there in the rain, wind, under the scorching sun, and occasionally burdened with snow. No wonder it gets a lot of wear and tear, unfortunately only a few homeowners take out time to organize periodic inspections that could have exposed impending damages.
Soffit and fascia are vital parts of any roof building, giving the roof a positive curb appeal. These boards cover the ends of the roof rafters where they sit on top of the outer wall of a house, giving it a perfect touch of architecture. Fascia is an architectural term used to describe the band under a roof edge, forming the outer surface of a cornice and visible to any observer. Fascia commonly consists of a uPVC, wooden board or metal. Sometimes non-domestic fascias are made of stone to form a pieced-together cornice or an ornately carved cornice however, the term fascia is not commonly used in this case.
Basically, the horizontal fascia board caps the end of rafters on the outside of a building and is often used to hold the rain gutter. The soffit is the finished surface below the fascia and rafters, the underside of eaves connecting a retaining wall to projecting edges of the roof of a building. When describing roof construction, the soffit is the underside of any construction element or that part seen as the exposed undersurface of a section of a roof eave that overhangs on the exterior of any building. Ideally, fascia and soffit stand as a perfect mounting surface for a great guttering installation and provide your eaves with a professional finish.
The underside of your roof could have been compromised once it cannot protect and direct rainwater from your house. This implies that the fascia and soffit must have been damaged and as a result, exposing the structural integrity of your home to more damages. Wooden fascias and soffits can be rotted and their paint defected but can also be restored with a little bit of refurbishment and repainting. Regardless of what material they are made from, sometimes the damage done might be beyond repair, leaving homeowners with no other options than to have them replaced.
The cost to replace fascias and soffits vary widely from place to place. These wide variations show the importance of comparing several quotes when planning for a replacement. At Home Improvement Dublin, the price you are quoted is the same price you will pay (there isn’t any hidden extra) and in the end, high-quality fascias and soffits replacement is what you stand to get from the wide range of styles and colours available for you to choose from.
The cost of replacing fascia and soffit depends on many variables; the size of the property, the material chosen by the property owner, the labour cost, the size/width/height of the specific boards (large fascias and wide soffits would cost more), and the location. The procedure might look like a simple one but as a matter of fact, it is a delicate procedure that requires professional hands which result is to keep damp and water damage inside your building away.
Types of Fascias & Soffits And Cost to Replace Them
We will discuss in more detail the different materials from which soffits and fascias are made by carefully looking at the cost of each material coupled with their pros and cons. In each case, the labour cost will be about €20 to €30 per hour while a minimum charge of about two hours is likely to be incurred.
Timber Fascias And Soffits Cost
The main choice of fascia and soffit that was once available for homeowners was timber. It used to be a great choice due to the visual benefits it adds to the home, although it creates a rustic appeal that other variants cannot beat but unfortunately there is always an issue commonly associated with the wooden material which seems to be difficult to resolve.
Constantly faced with the issue of decay or rot which makes homeowners have to replace them frequently. However, their performances are greater in regions with less rain and humidity. For a timber fascia board, the cost will be around €5 to €10 per metre and a timber soffit will probably cost you around €5 to €8.
Pros
- Cheaper than metallic material
- Can be easily found in a variety of colour
- Aesthetically appealing to the observer
- Ecologically friendly
- Can be repainted thereby increasing its resiliency
Cons
- High cost of maintenance
- Vulnerable to decay
- More expensive than most uPVC
Aluminium Fascias And Soffits Cost
The aluminium fascia board is probably going to set you back somewhere in the range of €15 to €50 per metre while aluminium soffits will come with a charge of around €10 to €40 per metre. In recent years, aluminium along with uPVC fascias has become one of the most popular alternatives to timber and a preferable option to most property owners. If you would like to go for a tough and ductile metal, aluminium fascia and soffit is great option. Aluminium fascias and soffits are perfect for regions with plenty of rainfall.
Pros
- Highly versatile
- Require low maintenance
- Can withstand water
- The installation process is very easy
- Very tough and ductile
Cons
- Not a good choice for houses that require strong insulation as they are poor insulators.
- More expensive than timber and uPVC fascias and soffits
Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) Fascias And Soffits Cost
uPVC fascias and soffits are the most cost-effective material available around today. The fascia board of this product will cost around €4 to €12 per metre with the soffit board cost ranging between €2 to €8 per metre.
Because they are low maintenance, available at an affordable price and highly durable, uPVC is found on far more houses than any other type of material. The material is growing at a faster pace on any property and could be found everywhere you look within the home, from doors, windows to roofing and much more.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Can be found in a different type of colour
- The installation process is not complicated
- Highly durable and easy to maintain
Cons
- Tends to fade or discolour
- Might be a bad choice for any aged building
Steel Fascias And Soffits Cost
Steel fascias and soffits are cheaper metallic alternatives to aluminium. Steel fascia will cost you around €8 to €35 per metre while steel soffits may cost you about €18 to €35 per metre. This metallic form of fascia and soffit has high thermal conductivity and are highly durable. When compared to wood, steel is seen as more preferable.
Pros
- High durability
- Can withstand seasonal weather variation
- You can choose from the range of colours to suit any property style
- Extremely water resistance
Cons
- Can be quite expensive when compared to some of the other common materials.
The essence of this article is to serve as a guide to anyone planning for fascia and soffit replacement now or probably, in the future. Home Improvements Dublin is committed to value quality and customer service. The price you are quoted is the same price you will have to pay (no hidden extras). Do you want to protect your roofing space or replace fascias and soffits that will be a lifelong asset to your home? Please contact us.