Offering a variety of roofline solutions for your home
Many houses in the UK are fitted with wooden roofing products, there are two main issues with this. The first being our wet and windy weather climate causing them to rot, warp and crack and the second that they become under attack from wood-boring insects.
UPVC fascias, soffits and guttering are a fantastic alternative, which can be fitted by our installers at the same time as your windows and doors or as a separate project.
Fascias
The fascia board is the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof. The fascia is fixed directly to the roof trusses and usually supports the bottom row of tiles and holding up the guttering.
Soffits
The soffit board is tucked away under the fascia board. The soffit can be ventilated to allow the flow of air into the roof area. Alternatively, ventilation can be provided over the top of the fascia board, many people prefer the latter solution. However, without adequate ventilation, condensation will form in the roof increasing the risk of timber decay.
Guttering
A gutter can be defined as a narrow trough or channel that runs around the perimeter of the roof. The purpose of the gutter is to collect and funnel away any water that lands on the roof. Gutters are important as they take water away from the building’s foundations, protect your exterior surfaces, and stop water from entering the home. Of course, gutters can also lead to your rainwater tank, funnelling water into the tank for later use in the home or garden. Guttering is commonly made from high quality, water resistant materials such as Colorbond, zincalume, aluminium, stainless steel, and PVC. It comes in a range of types and profiles (profile is how the gutter looks when you view it), and also in a range of colours so that you can choose the one that best suits your roof and the trims of your home.
Types of Guttering
You might be surprised to know that there is more than one type of guttering system to choose from, depending on the style of your home and your needs. The most common types of gutters include:
Box Gutters – as the name suggests, these gutters have been “boxed” into the roof so you can’t actually see the gutter at all. Box gutters are made from long lasting, high quality materials and have an emergency overflow so that water can be diverted in the case of heavy rainfall or blockages in the gutter.
Fascia Gutters – these are where the gutter and the fascia are combined, thus removing the need for a traditional fascia. These gutters are installed right on the rafters of the roof, and they come in different profiles. Fascia gutters are also called eaves gutters.
Square Gutters – are square in looks and can be lo-square or hi-square. They are great in areas of heavy rainfall as they are very high capacity, dealing with large amounts of water with few problems.
Round Gutters – also known as half round gutters, they look like a circle that has been halved. They are either completely semi circular in shape or have a square back. Round gutters cope with lots of water easily and they are also largely self -leaning.
Quad Gutters – these are also known as “D” gutters and they are available in a range of different widths and profiles. Quad gutters may be slotted or not – slotted quad gutters are better able to cope with heavy rain or lots of water.