Every home has a roofline and getting it right can make all the difference to the look of your home, as well as how easy it is to maintain. A range of specialist building products will be used to create the edge of your roof. Here at CheckaRoof, we can help you to find the right roofing products for you to keep your home looking at its best for longer.
The roofline is a general term for the range of different specialist building products that make up the bottom edge of your roof. The roofing is important for protecting the roofing system and structure from the elements and from invading animals. Let's take a look at some of the pieces you would expect to see on your roofline.
The fascia boards lie at the point where the lower edge of the roof meets the walls. They are long, straight boards that are fixed to the lower ends of the roof trusses.
1) They hold the bottom row of the roof tiles in place. Roof tiles are heavy and without fascia boards to hold them in place, they would be at risk of sliding.
2) They hold the guttering. The fascias create a solid base on which guttering can be affixed, which can help to ensure that they are held securely in place.
3) Protect the roof's rafters. Without fascias, the exposed ends of the rafters would absorb water whenever it would rain. This could lead to rot and damage, so fascias provide an important role in protecting this important part of the roof structure.
Soffit boards lie between the fascia and the wall, underneath the fascia. They tend to be a little less visible than the fascias.
1) Provide a seal for the roof space. Soffit boards seal the roof space so that it doesn't have an open part that birds or rodents could crawl into.
2) Protect rafter feet. The soffits/fascias work together to protect the roof's rafters from moisture, which is a vital part of preventing rot in the roof's timber.
3) Ventilation. Soffit boards can be ventilated in two different ways. They can be ventilated to allow air to flow into the roof space or this air ventilation can be provided over the top of the fascia boards. Either way, the ventilation works to prevent condensation and rot from building up.
Hollow soffit boards are a cheaper alternative to a full soffit board. It is easy to install and gives an attractive panelled look.
Bargeboards are essentially the same as fascias but they are located at the gable of the house and are usually attractive in appearance. The bargeboards are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive at your house, so making sure that they look good is often a priority.
The boxends are the part of the roofline that is located at each corner of the house. While boxends make up a small part of the roofline, they are specialist building products that need to be very precisely installed, while taking into account the angles of the roofing structure.
The guttering is located at the lower edge of the roof and is fixed directly to the facias. Gutters consist of a small, thin trough that is used to collect run-off water from the roof and direct it away from the property via a downspout. The gutters complete the roof protection system, along with the fascias, soffits, bargeboards, and boxends.
Traditionally, the roofline fixings, including the fascias, soffits, bargeboards, and boxends were made out of wooden timber. And many people will retain their timber because they give a warm and classic look, especially for an older style home. For many people, however, wood isn't the best option.
Wooden detailing can give a nice, traditional look to your house. But, as with anything made out of wood, they do require a lot of maintenance. This can include a range of tasks including regular painting, sealing, and cleaning. Wood is also prone to rot, especially in areas like the UK where there is a lot of rainfall in the winter (and often the summer!).
U-PVC is now the most common choice for roofing detailing in England because it doesn't suffer from many of these problems.
U-PVC stands for Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride and it is an excellent substitute for painted wood. You may already have French doors or windows/trims made out of U-PVC vinyl. Conservatories are often also made out of the same material.
And this is because it is incredibly durable and low maintenance, especially when compared with wood. It is waterproof and will not rot. It is also cheaper than hardwood timber and aluminium, so it is a more cost-effective job to install.
U-PVC will never need painting, manufacturers produce it in a range of colours and textures (even styles that look just like wood), and the only real maintenance it will require is the occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth.
In terms of the gutters, these would have traditionally been made out of cast iron but nowadays they are most often also made out of U-PVC. These are lighter, cheaper, and easier to fix if they have any problems.
If you already have a timber fascia board, soffits, bargeboards, and boxends, you may not want to replace the entire house with U-PVC. There is another option, however: capping boards. Capping boards cover the existing fascias, soffits, and the rest of the roofing fixings with U-PVC.
This gives your home the protection and low maintenance you would expect from U-PVC fixings but without the cost it would take to install the entire thing from scratch.
UPVC soffits, fascias, and other elements of the roofline look great but it is important to consider whether they fit with the rest of the property. If the joint trims on your windows and your doors are also made of UPVC then the exterior of your house will look clean and modern with the addition of a UPVC fascia board and soffits.
If, on the other hand, your windows, trims, architrave, or doors are made from wood, then you might need to give the situation a little more thought. If you want the whole property to match, then you could stick with timber for your fascia board and soffit board, even with the maintenance issues that could arise.
Alternatively, you could install a fascia board and soffit boards that are made from UPVC but in a wood colour. There is a range of wood colours available which should make it possible to supply a wood-look to your fascia board and soffit board.
Wooden doors in a range of colours are in fashion in England at the moment, however, and many people are happy to have wooden doors but UPVC elements to the rest of their home. What you decide in terms of colour and material is all about personal preference and what fits with your home.
Yes, fascias and soffits aren't just needed on the pitched roofs of your house. You will also need these products on any flat roof structure you own. And they will fulfill the same role on a flat roof that they would on a pitched one: holding the roof structure in place and providing exterior protection for the interior materials.
All conservatories will need some form of a drainage system, gutters, and fascias. How this looks will depend on the materials your conservatory is made from and how the pitched roof is constructed and mounted.
Getting the edging of your roof right can be key to your home's final look as well as to protecting the roofing structure from damage. Get in touch with us today for more information and we can help to find a long-lasting roofing solution that is perfect for your needs.
