Guttering, fascias and soffits

The roofline does far more than finish the eaves neatly. Fascia boards carry the weight of the gutters, soffits close off the gap beneath so birds and draughts stay out, and the gutters themselves collect every drop that runs off the roof. When any part of that system fails, water ends up where it should not be: down the face of the wall, into the brickwork or roughcast, and sometimes back into the roof space.

In a climate as wet as the west of Scotland, gutters work hard all year. Leaves, moss washed off the slates and silt build up steadily, joints dry out and brackets loosen. A small problem at gutter level can quietly cause damp patches inside or stain the outside walls long before anyone notices the cause.

Plenty of guttering problems can be fixed without replacing the whole run. Leaking joints can be resealed or the union clips swapped, a cracked length can be cut out and replaced, and sagging sections can be rehung on new brackets so they fall correctly towards the outlet again.

Downpipes are checked too, because a blocked or undersized pipe will make even a perfectly sound gutter overflow. The aim is to find the actual reason water is escaping, rather than simply adding more sealant.

Outlets and stop ends deserve attention as well. A missing stop end lets water pour off the end of a run onto the path below, and a running outlet that has slipped out of its socket can quietly soak the wall for months. Where a gutter has simply been overwhelmed by debris, clearing it and checking the fall may be all that is required, and you will be told if that is the case rather than being sold a new system you do not need.

Old cast-iron or brittle early plastic systems often reach a point where repairs no longer hold. Replacing the full run with a modern PVC system gives a clean, consistent line with fewer joints to worry about. Profiles and colours are chosen to suit the house; the black gutter shown at the top of this page is one of Richard's own installations.

Timber fascias and soffits need regular painting, and once paint fails the wood starts to rot, especially behind the gutter where it stays damp. PVC replacements remove that maintenance cycle. They will not rot, they hold their colour, and they need little more than an occasional wipe.

Replacing the roofline is also a chance to check the ends of the rafters and the bottom course of the roof for hidden decay. Where ventilation is needed at the eaves, vented soffits or over-fascia vents can be included so the loft can breathe properly.

Roofline and guttering work fits naturally alongside re-roofing or larger repairs, since the scaffolding is already in place. Swift Roofing handles both, for homeowners and for business premises, generally within about 30 miles of Glasgow. Richard is your direct contact throughout, and the business carries public liability insurance.