PVC/Alu Fascia/Soffit/Gutter

GreeBo

Hey all,
I was busy painting my house for the winter when I noticed that the ends of the fascia are totally rotten (we only moved in about 6 months ago)
Most of the wood is fine, but all the ends and any end grain is totally rotten.
It needs to be replaced really but Im not going to get that done this year.
However, Im thinking of of just getting PVC or Alu put in so I dont have to worry about this crap ever again.
a few questions:
- Is it expensive? Im in a 3 bed semi
- What are the pros/cons regarding pvc or alu?
- Does it need any maintenance?
- Do I need to be worried about what is going on in behind it?
- How do they manage the join to my neighbours?
Thx!

rooferPete

Hi GreeBo,

The price depends on the contractor as does the quality of the work, the rotten wood should be cut out and replaced with pre-treated timber, if the rot is left hidden it will most likely continue to travel leaving a bigger problem for the future.

PVC can depend on the manufacturer as well as the installer, some of the cheaper quality will change colour because of UV, I have seen houses two years old where the facia had turned a shade of pink.

Aluminium is very dependant on the installer the last thing you want is a lot of joints, corners etc depending on silicone.
Also Aluminium can fit very tight to the facia which could cause enough condensation at the back to cause the rot to spread.

Joining to the neighbours is usually either an L type fitting but most likely sealed with silicone, the same goes for the new gutters, there is a profile to half round adaptor available but seldom used.

The PVC gutters require standard maintenance cleaning and washing the gutters and facia, very similar with aluminium but the fixings are usually spikes (long nails) that can split the facia board behind the new facia, they also make the cleaning more difficult.

There is no such thing as a gutter with no joints, the aluminium has end caps that must be fitted and the aluminium down pipe is prone to clogging up.

.

GreeBo

Hye, thx for reply...

rooferPete wrote:

The price depends on the contractor as does the quality of the work, the rotten wood should be cut out and replaced with pre-treated timber, if the rot is left hidden it will most likely continue to travel leaving a bigger problem for the future.

Hmm ok, so does the PVC/Alu just sit on top of the existing fascia/soffit?
I assumed that it would replace it entirely...
Is it possible to have all the wood removed and replaced with PVC to remove the possibility of rotting altogether?

rooferPete

Hi GreeBo,

Yes the ideal solution is to remove the existing facia if there is any rot, however both systems require a timber backing for the replacement facia.

The section most prone to rot is the ends / side box on the facia which unless it has been let go very bad cutting back about three or four feet depending on the rafter spacing should be enough.

There is a PVC facia that was designed thicker and stronger to be fitted directly to the rafter ends, I think the combined question of the strength and durability especially on tiled roofs where the angle fillet at the ends is usually left out is the reason why most prefer the timber backing.

.

GreeBo

rooferPete wrote:

Hi GreeBo,
Yes the ideal solution is to remove the existing facia if there is any rot, however both systems require a timber backing for the replacement facia.
.

Hmmm yeah would have to replace a couple of feet around the corner (damn that prevailing wind!)
The rear of the house seems ok though.
So we would have to replace that with (pressure?) treated wood and then clad the whole thing in PVC.
Hmm, would you be able to give a ballpark estimate on the job, at least then I will have a figure in mind when I go ringing people!

Paddy James

Hello

Thread a few years old but:

Doing a new build and need gutters, fascia and down pipes to match Munster Joinerys "black" wood grain windows.
What's best option as looking at
Fascia PVC, gutters and downpipes Alu?

Also 9 inches on from to allow for stone and to put downpipes behind stone?

Thanks

David