Alexei Volkov
Fascias and soffits are important for enhancing the appearance of your home and keeping your roof tiles in place. They also prevent damp, which protects the air quality in your home and its structural integrity. Installing plastic fascias and soffits can be done by following these steps: First, ensure you are working with the appropriate safety measures in place, such as a full scaffold platform. Next, decide whether you are refurbishing or replacing your fascia, as the installation instructions differ. If you are replacing, remove the old fascia and gutter system, and check the rafters for any signs of deterioration. Install the soffit boards, nailing them to each soffit bearer with nails or capped screws. Allow the soffit board to overhang the rafter foot by 10mm. Finally, fix the fascia board to each rafter end with nails or screws.
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the area by removing old fascias and gutters
When preparing the area, it is important to work with caution at height. First, remove the existing gutter system. Then, carefully pry away the old fascias and soffits with a pry bar. If the timber fascia boards are damaged, they may not come off cleanly, so be sure to remove any remnants and accumulated dirt. Next, take out the nails in the rafter with a claw hammer. Alternatively, you can use uPVC capping board, which is designed to cover old timber fascias. However, this can only be fitted to sound, rot-free timber.
Before beginning the installation of your new plastic fascias and soffits, check the existing rafters, fascias, bargeboards, and soffit boards and bearers for any signs of rot. Any rotten sections should be cut out and replaced with treated timber. If completely rotten, install a new backboard of not less than 12mm marine plywood. New timbers should be preservative-treated and provide support equal to or greater than that required for new-build work.
The first two courses of tiles or slates should be taken up and set aside with a view to renewing the sarking felt. This will also allow for a full inspection of the roof rafters for signs of deterioration. Any rotten ends must be cut out, repaired, or replaced with treated timber to provide a suitable substructure. Rafters must be at a maximum of 600mm centres, and centres should not exceed 400mm for foiled and coloured profiles.
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Check rafters are level and spaced correctly
Before installing plastic fascias and soffits, it is important to check that the rafters are level and spaced correctly. This is a crucial step to ensure that your new fascias and soffits are installed securely and evenly.
First, use a spirit level to check that the rafters are level. Place the spirit level on top of each rafter and adjust its position until the air bubble inside the level falls between the two marked lines, indicating a level surface. If a rafter is not level, you may need to adjust its position or add suitable packers to achieve a level surface.
Next, ensure that the rafters are spaced correctly. Rafters should be spaced at a maximum of 600mm centres. This means that the distance between the centres of two adjacent rafters should not exceed 600mm. It is important to note that if you are using foiled or laminated boards, or if you have coloured profiles, the spacing requirements may differ. For foiled, laminated, or coloured installations, the rafters should be spaced at centres not exceeding 400mm to allow for expansion.
By taking the time to carefully check and adjust the level and spacing of your rafters, you can ensure that your plastic fascias and soffits installation is carried out correctly and will last for years to come. Remember, safety should always come first when working at heights, so ensure you have a stable work platform or scaffold system in place before beginning any installation work.
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Install soffit boards
Before installing soffit boards, it is important to ensure that you have the right tools and safety equipment. You will need a sturdy ladder or platform, a hammer, a saw, a tape measure, a spirit level, and protective clothing like gloves, a face mask, and a hard hat. It is also important to never attempt to access the work area with an unsupported ladder or without a stable deck. Always use a full scaffold platform or a purpose-made cantilevered decking system with guard rails.
Soffit boards are panels installed beneath the roof's overhang to hold pieces of the roof together using siding. They improve the ventilation of the home, preventing exterior swelling and contraction, as well as protecting the air quality and structural integrity of the home. Soffit boards can be made from different materials such as wood or uPVC.
To install soffit boards, you will need to follow these steps:
- Prepare the area by securing any loose boards and trim. Remove any downspouts or lighting fixtures that may be in the way. Tie back any trees or shrubbery to provide easy access to the eaves.
- Measure the area and cut the soffit boards to the required length, allowing for a small amount of expansion and contraction. The soffit boards should be slightly narrower than the channel they will slide into.
- Slide the soffit board into place under the lip of the siding strip, ensuring it is flush with the fascia. You may need to adjust the boards to line up with the channel's groove.
- Use a hammer and nails to secure the soffit board in place. Allow the soffit board to overhang the rafter foot slightly to locate into the soffit groove at the rear of the fascia board.
- Continue cutting and installing the panels, locking them together as you go.
- If you are installing vinyl soffits, you may need to first install a fascia cap or coil stock to support the outer edge of the soffit.
- For open eave installations, use F-channel or J-channel stripping below the fascia to secure the soffit boards.
- If you are using uPVC capping board, ensure that it is fitted to sound, rot-free timber.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your soffit boards are installed correctly and securely.
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Fix fascia board
Fixing a fascia board is a relatively straightforward task, but it requires careful work at height, so it is important to prioritise safety. Before starting, ensure you have the necessary tools, such as a sturdy ladder or platform, a hammer, saw, tape measure, spirit level, and protective clothing, including gloves, a face mask, and a hard hat.
Begin by removing the gutter assembly and any roof tiles or slates that may obstruct your access to the fascia board. Use a cat's paw to remove the drip edge nails and gently pry away the drip edge. If the drip edge is resistant, you may need to remove the tiles to replace it. The fascia board can then be removed using a pry bar, nail puller, or saw. If there are stubborn nails, use a hammer to create enough space to slip a flat bar behind the board.
Once the old fascia board is removed, inspect the rafters for any signs of deterioration or rot. Cut out and repair or replace rotten sections with treated timber to provide a solid base for the new fascia board. Ensure the rafters are level and spaced correctly, with a maximum spacing of 600mm centres.
Now you can install the new fascia board. Select the appropriate height for the profile, allowing for an 8mm gap between plank lengths. Secure the fascia board to each rafter end using at least two fixing nails or capped screws. For a seamless finish, colour-match the head of the fixing nail to your fascia board.
Finally, dress the sarking felt back over the new fascia, replacing any damaged areas, and re-fix the tiles or slates. You can then replace the gutter assembly.
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Finish with ventilation and guttering
Once you've installed your fascia and soffit boards, there are a few more steps to finish the job. Firstly, you need to ensure that your roof voids are properly ventilated to prevent condensation, which can cause rot and mould growth. Eaves ventilation trays may be required to ensure airflow past the roof insulation material.
Next, you'll need to install your gutter system. Undress the existing felt and cover with dpc material or eaves protectors (EP1500). New material must dress into the gutter. Fit gutter brackets directly to the fascias.
When it comes to the guttering, you have a choice between plastic and metal. Plastic guttering is easy to fit, affordable, and durable. Metal guttering, on the other hand, is stronger and more durable but may be more expensive and challenging to install.
Finally, fix corners and joints using a flexible adhesive like Fixall, and pre-drill each corner/joint, fixing with at least one plastic-headed pin. Do not fix with a non-flexible adhesive or pin both sides of the corners and joints, as this will cause cracking.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but it is important to follow the instructions to the letter, otherwise, your boards might not protect your home and you could invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty. You should also be careful working at height.
You will need a sturdy ladder or platform, a hammer, saw, tape measure, spirit level, and protective clothing like gloves, a face mask, and a hard hat.
Use a pry bar to remove the fascias and soffits, and a claw hammer to take out nails in the rafter. Alternatively, you can use uPVC capping board which is designed to go over old timber fascias.
First, install a pre-measured length of uPVC soffit board using 40mm A4 Marine-grade stainless steel plastic-headed pins. Then, install the fascia board using 2 x 65mm A4 Marine-grade stainless steel plastic-headed nails.
You should check that your rafters are level to avoid any misalignment. You should also ensure that your roof voids are adequately ventilated to prevent rot and mould growth.
