Service
Gutters, Fascias andSoffits in BathWater Off the Building
Rainwater goods are the cheapest part of a roof to fix and the most expensive to ignore. We clear, repair, realign or replace so water reaches the drain instead of your walls.
22 years' experience · Fixed prices in writing · £1,000,000 public liability
22 years' experience
Established 2004
Fixed-price quotes
Agreed in writing, not a day rate
£1,000,000 public liability
Insured for your protection
Emergency call-out
Available when a roof cannot wait
Overview
What Rainwater Goods Work Involves
Gutters, fascias, soffits and downpipes are the system that collects everything the roof sheds and takes it to the ground. Fascias carry the gutter and close the ends of the rafters; soffits close the underside of the eaves and, on most roofs, provide ventilation into the roof space. When any part of that system fails, water goes somewhere it should not.
The work ranges from clearing and realigning existing guttering and repairing failed joints, through to full replacement of gutters, fascias and soffits including renewal of rotten timber behind them. On period property we also work with cast iron and traditional profiles rather than defaulting to plastic on every building.
Because access is already required, it is usually the right time to have the roof edge, verge and lower courses inspected at the same time.
Who this work is for
- Homeowners with water overflowing the gutter or running down the wall
- Properties with green algae staining or persistent damp on external walls
- Anyone with sagging gutters, dripping joints or blocked downpipes
- Buildings with rotten, peeling or bird-damaged fascias and soffits
- Owners wanting eaves ventilation restored as part of a roof upgrade
What's included
- Gutter clearing, realignment and joint repairs
- Full gutter, fascia and soffit replacement
- Rotten timber fascias and soffits renewed
- Downpipe repairs and re-routing
What happens if it is left
The Cost of Waiting Another Winter
Overflowing guttering pours concentrated water onto one strip of wall, every time it rains. Masonry saturates, frost breaks the face off it, internal walls turn damp, and pointing washes out. On Bath stone that damage is both visible and expensive to put right.
Behind the gutter, the effect is worse. Water running behind a fascia rots the fascia board, then the rafter feet, then the wall plate: the timbers that carry the bottom of the roof. Renewing rafter ends and a wall plate means stripping back the covering at the eaves and working with scaffolding, and it starts with a joint that could have been repaired for a fraction of the cost.
Blocked soffit ventilation causes a different failure: without air movement, moisture builds in the roof space, condensation forms on the underside of the covering and drips onto insulation. Homeowners then chase a 'roof leak' that only appears in cold weather and never in the rain.
Common mistakes we are called in to undo
- Clearing gutters but never checking the falls, so they overflow again
- Covering rotten fascia with new plastic capping instead of replacing the timber
- Blocking soffit vents with insulation pushed hard into the eaves
- Leaving a dripping joint above a wall through a whole winter
- Replacing gutters without checking whether the downpipe or gully is blocked
Our process
How the Job Runs, Start to Finish
The same sequence on every job, so you always know what happens next and what it costs before it happens.
-
Step 1
Inspection
We check gutters, joints, falls, downpipes, gullies, fascia and soffit condition and the timber behind them.
-
Step 2
Diagnosis
We identify whether the problem is blockage, fall, joint failure, damaged timber or an under-sized system.
-
Step 3
Fixed written price
Clearing, repair or replacement, timber renewal and access, all in one written price agreed before we start.
-
Step 4
Work carried out
Gutters cleared, realigned or replaced, rotten fascia and soffit renewed, downpipes repaired or re-routed and ventilation restored.
-
Step 5
Flow test and clear
We run water through the system to confirm it discharges properly, then clear away debris and old materials.
What you get
Why This Work Is Worth Doing Properly
Walls stay dry
Water reaching the drain instead of the elevation stops damp, staining and frost damage to masonry.
Roof timbers protected
Sound fascias and correctly falling gutters keep water off rafter feet and wall plate.
Cheap problem stays cheap
Rainwater goods are the lowest-cost part of a roof to maintain and the most costly to neglect.
Ventilation restored
Clear soffit ventilation reduces condensation in the roof space and the 'leak' that only happens in cold weather.
No repeat callouts
We correct the falls and outlets, not just the blockage that shows today.
Fixed written price
Agreed up front, including access.
In detail
Gutters, fascias & soffits: Materials, Methods and Variations
The specifics that decide whether the work lasts, written out so you can judge any quote you receive, including ours.
Clearing, Realignment and Joint Repair
Most overflowing gutters have one of three causes: debris, a lost fall, or a failed joint. Clearing alone only fixes the first. We check the fall along the whole run with the gutter clear, because a gutter that has sagged between brackets will hold water and overflow at the low point no matter how clean it is.
Joint failure on plastic systems is usually a perished seal or a bracket that has released the gutter; on cast iron it is more often a failed putty-and-bolt joint. Both are repairable where the rest of the run is sound.
Full Replacement: Fascias, Soffits and Bargeboards
Replacement involves removing the existing gutter and boards, inspecting rafter feet and wall plate, renewing any rotten timber, then fitting new fascia, soffit, bargeboards and guttering with brackets at correct centres and a consistent fall to the outlet.
Ventilation is designed in: continuous or circular soffit vents where the roof space needs airflow, particularly on roofs with bitumen felt rather than modern breathable membrane.
- uPVC fascia, soffit and bargeboard, low maintenance, wide colour range
- Timber fascia and soffit, appropriate on period and conservation-sensitive property
- Half-round and ogee gutter profiles in plastic or aluminium
- Cast iron repair and replacement where the building calls for it
- Downpipes, shoes, hoppers and re-routing to gully
Downpipes, Gullies and Discharge
A perfect gutter still fails if the water cannot get away. Blocked gullies back up and flood the base of the wall; a downpipe discharging onto a path rather than into a drain undermines the ground beside the foundation. We check the whole route, not just the part on the roof.
Where downpipes have been added over the years without thought, we re-route them so the discharge points are sensible and accessible.
Period Property and Terraced Housing
Georgian and Victorian property in Bath frequently has parapet gutters, hopper heads and cast iron downpipes rather than simple eaves gutters. These systems work well when maintained and fail dramatically when not, because a blocked parapet gutter discharges inside the building line.
On terraces, guttering typically runs continuously across several properties, so a blockage two doors away can flood your elevation. We will tell you where the actual fault sits, even when it is not on your section.
Questions
Cost, Timescales and Guarantees
The questions we are asked most often, answered straight.
Do you clear gutters as a standalone job?
Yes. It is often worth combining it with a roof inspection while access is already in place.
How much does replacing gutters, fascias and soffits cost?
It depends on the length of run, the material, whether timber behind needs renewing and the access required. We inspect and give one fixed written price.
How often should gutters be cleared?
Once a year is a sensible baseline, and twice where trees overhang. Moss shedding from a roof after cleaning also fills gutters quickly.
How long does a full replacement take?
Most domestic properties are completed in a small number of days depending on the length of run and access. We confirm a timescale with the quote.
Can you replace just the fascia and keep the gutter?
Sometimes, if the gutter is in good condition and the profile matches. We will tell you when it is worth it and when it is a false economy.
My wall is damp under the gutter, is that the guttering?
Very often, yes. A leaking joint or overflowing run soaks the same strip of wall every rainfall. It is one of the quickest causes of damp to confirm and to fix.
Do you work with cast iron guttering?
Yes. Period property in Bath frequently has cast iron and it is often better repaired or replaced like-for-like than swapped for plastic.
Do new soffits include ventilation?
Where the roof space needs airflow, yes: soffit ventilation is specified as part of the work rather than left out.
Which areas do you cover?
Bath, Bristol, Keynsham, Saltford, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Frome, Radstock and Midsomer Norton.
Related roofing services
- Roof repairsLeaks traced, slipped tiles reset and weak areas made watertight, repaired properly rather than patched.
- Moss removalMoss cleared carefully by hand so it stops holding water and blocking gutters.
- Flat roofsExtensions, garages and dormers made watertight with correctly detailed flat roof coverings.
- All roofing servicesEvery service we carry out across Bath and Bristol.
Where we carry out this work
Gutters, fascias & soffits carried out across Bath and the surrounding towns and villages. Not listed? Ask us : we may still cover you.
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Bath
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Bristol
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Keynsham
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Saltford
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Bradford-on-Avon
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Trowbridge
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Frome
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Radstock
- Gutters, fascias & soffits in Midsomer Norton
Get a Fixed Price for Gutters, fascias & soffits in Bath
Inspection first, written fixed price second, no work started until you have agreed it. 22 years' experience, £1,000,000 public liability. Call Luke Watts on 07735 894962 or send the details and we will arrange a look at the roof.