Soffits, fascias and gutters

It's probably quite timely to talk about rain-management. With many parts of the country recently receiving their entire rainfall for the month in just one day, thoughts might turn towards how your home - or the one you're planning to buy - deals with the amount of water that the clouds pour down on it.

There are many problems that inadequate rain-management can create for a building. For example, if rain is forced out of the gutters and runs down the external walls, it is quite likely that the water will transfer through the wall, creating damp patches internally, if the problem is not rectified. 

And, if that is left untreated, it's quite likely that other problems will surface, such as damaged plasterwork, peeling wallpaper or even black mould.

So, it is vitally important to ensure that everything is in order when it comes to everything from the roof itself, the gutters, soffits, fascias and drainpipes.

But there may already be an issue in the use of some jargon-like terminology: what is a soffit? And how does a fascia board impact the effectiveness of protecting the home from water damage?

Soffit - this is a horizontal board that fits underneath the eaves from the wall to the edge of the roofline, protecting the building from damp arising from any splashback in the gutters.

Fascia - the fascia is the vertical board that runs from the apex of the wall and the roof (meeting up with the edge of the soffit) and fits behind the guttering, which is usually affixed to it.

Gutter - the gutter is the most important part of the rain-management process. It is the channel that is fixed underneath the roofline in such a position as to catch the rainwater running down the slope of the roof, carrying it away to the drainpipe. The gutter will be fixed with a slight incline from the edge of the roof to the entry point of the downpipe to allow efficient progress of the running water within it.

Drainpipe - (also known as a downpipe) carries the water (enclosed in a pipe) from the gutters to the drain at ground-level - or sometimes on complicated structures to the next level of guttering.

It's easy to see that, should there be any problems with any part, there will possibly be damp and other issues arising from it. It is therefore an important part of the general maintenance to ensure that all parts are still effective. The chief issue will be blockages from detritus like leaves and other plant-life, such as moss.

It's also worth monitoring the state of any roof-tiles, especially after storms have passed, to ensure that none has been displaced or broken in the high winds.

Because of the issues that might arise with any part of the rain-management systems in a building, the adverse weather can show up any significant problems that might exist in sharp relief. 

Whether you're concerned about the state of the guttering, roof-tiles, soffits, fascias or any other part of the roofing at your own home, or you want peace of mind at the property you are keen to buy, it's worth getting a professional assessment of the status.

At Surveyor Local, we only work with chartered surveyors who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, ensuring the survey you get is always professionally delivered.

We already know many buyers don't bother commissioning any kind of survey when they are buying a new property.

Equally we already know that failing to find out exactly what condition the property is in can leave buyers out of pocket and often facing extensive repairs that could have been identified before a purchase is completed.

Where a survey does reveal any issues with a property, the buyer is then armed with knowledge that can allow them either to renegotiate the price, have the seller carry out the repairs or pull out of the purchase altogether.

That's where it is really worth contacting Surveyor Local! 

Call  to get your no-obligation survey quote started, or to discuss your concerns with the acquisition of your planned property.

Or you can get a quick quote, using Surveyor Local's easy-to-use quote generator. Simply input your name, postcode, email address, phone number and an approximate value of the property (usually the agreed price), and we'll give you an instant quote for the work (with an email copy). 

We'll do the rest once you confirm your acceptance of the quote.