New fascia and guttering - to cap or replace?

[Lacan07]

Hi all

I seem to recall a conversation on here, probably within a thread entirely unrelated, about the woes of capping old wooden fascia. I'm currently getting quotes to renew the guttering at the rear of my house and was wondering if anyone would like to share their thoughts on the merits (or not) of capping? I seem to remember it wasn't a much loved option. I get the obvious disadvantages, I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with it?

The roofers I've spoken to seem very keen on it despite the fact it cost less but thats obviously because its way easier to install.

FWIW, my inclination is to rip out the old wooden fascia and full replace with low maintenance UPVC. Its the rear of the house that nobody gets to look at.

Cheers

 

[Kearn]

Capping? As in overlaying more fascia on top of the existing? Seems an odd one to me, if the old stuff is falling, attaching to it and hiding it seems like a cowboys approach…plus you have the obvious depth changes from tile overhang for gutters.

What’s up with the existing fascia’s?

 

[a twig]

Would agree, just hiding the old damaged fascia with a sheet of uPVC isn’t really a good long term solution.

 

[stuart45]

People get them capped if the fascia is in good condition, because they want something cheap that they don't have to paint. It works out cheaper because it's less labour and the capping boards are cheaper.

 

[Lacan07]

Capping? As in overlaying more fascia on top of the existing? Seems an odd one to me, if the old stuff is falling, attaching to it and hiding it seems like a cowboys approach…plus you have the obvious depth changes from tile overhang for gutters.

What’s up with the existing fascia’s?

Yes, that's the stuff. Roofers seem to like it, I'd be worried about the wood rotting behind if it got wet.

The wooden fascia isn't terrible but its seen better days unfortunately, both ends in particular. The main reason for doing it is the guttering has been poorly implemented - its 9 meter with one down pipe - and unbeknown to me the short centre piece that had been coupled together was spilling water in heavy rain. Restoring or repairing the current wooden fascia just seems like a waste of time and my head for heights isn't getting any better.

 

[Lacan07]

Would agree, just hiding the old damaged fascia with a sheet of uPVC isn’t really a good long term solution.

Yes I agree, I'm not sure I'd trust it. the potential for rot is too risky.

 

[stuart45]

It depends on the condition of the fascia. You should only cap it if the board is in good condition.

 

[a twig]

Fair point @stuart45, I’d somewhat assumed that it was damaged but rereading the original post that isn’t actually mentioned

 

[stuart45]

There's a difference of opinion on the trade. Some tradesmen won't cap, seeing it a bodge, others think it's a reasonable alternative if the timbers are in good condition.

 

[Lacan07]

There's a difference of opinion on the trade. Some tradesmen won't cap, seeing it a bodge, others think it's a reasonable alternative if the timbers are in good condition.

Yes, interesting you say this as I've now had 4 quotes and they've all come up with a different interpretation of what to do.

The most recent quote felt one of the ends was too far gone to cap. I guess one of the advantages of replacement is you can easily assess the condition of the rafter ends and repair as necessary to get a decent fixing. This might also help my other issue with this side of my roof which is the bottom of the end rafter is completely rotten (and now removed) and I'm guessing with it all exposed we could run a new bit up and I could get in the loft and bolt / sister it. Not ideal but better than having nothing there.

 

[stuart45]

How much difference is there with capping to replacement in the quotes? The cost is the only advantage with capping.

 

[alexander]

capping is cheaper & quicker to fit will last a few years providing the original boards are in good condition, the old boards will sweat behind the capping causing it to rot, it will decrees the overhang of the roof tiles by approx. 10mm which may cause water to run down behind the capping causing rot, the chances are most of the rot will be hidden causing damage to both the wall plate & the ends of the trusses before being discovered, short term savings for a long term cost

 

[Flyfisher]

As a slight digression, am I the only one who thinks the majority of roof designs are not very efficient, in the sense of basically finishing more or less level with the walls?

Lacan07's dilemma is typical of what I mean; any degradation of the tile-gutter junction, for a variety of reasons, gives rise to rain water spilling onto or even into the wall with all the subsequent inevitability of damage to the wall/roof plate or worse.

If there are good reasons for this arrangement then I must be misunderstanding something, but why not simply extend rafters by a foot or so to create enough of an overhang so that any problems with the tile-gutter junction can only result in rainwater falling to the ground well away from the wall of the building and causing no actual harm other than being mildly annoying perhaps?

Obviously such an overhang would only be practical during construction as it would be a major job to retrofit to an existing building, so I suppose it's really a design issue. Or perhaps it's a cost issue, though it would surely be minimal if implemented during construction?

Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest so my apologies for the grumble. Carry on.

 

[Lacan07]

How much difference is there with capping to replacement in the quotes? The cost is the only advantage with capping.

One guy told me just a couple of hundred so not that much more.

I've not actually had any quotes in yet.