Northampton 
WhatsApp 
We all know how important it is to keep a watertight roof over our heads. The gutters, soffits and fascias which form the frontage of your home provide the first defence against rain, snow and sleet.
To keep your home free from damp and protected against the elements, it’s wise to routinely check the roofline and eaves of your house for any signs of damage that could cause costly maintenance bills further down the line. Here are five tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your gutters, fascia and soffits.
Rotting fascia boards
If you can see space between your gutters and your roof, then it could be a sign that the fascia boards are rotten. Fascia boards provide the mounting for your guttering system and are usually made of wood.
Rotting fascia boards can happen for a variety of reasons. If your gutters are clogged with leaves or debris then water will overflow and run down the fascias and cause issues over time. We’ve seen poorly designed roofs that don’t channel the water away effectively, causing damage to fascias.
Rotten fascia boards must be replaced so that water doesn’t get into your home and cause damp problems. To prevent the issue reoccurring, we recommend replacing timber boards with durable PVCu alternatives, which include concealed ventilation to keep your roof space dry.
Bird and insect infestation
If you can hear the pitter-patter of bird feet in your roof space, you may be sharing your home with some feathered friends. Gaps in your soffits (the boards that run under the fascias) provide a welcome door for birds and insects.
If you see birds disappearing under your soffits or notice bird droppings in the roof space or loft of your home, it’s a sure sign that your soffits have failed and need replacing.
It’s raining nails and screws!
If you’ve been puzzled to find a number of screws or nails on the ground outside your home, it may be that the fasteners that attach your gutter to the fascia boards have worked loose.
One or two loose screws can be replaced (if you have a ladder and a head for heights) but if more fasteners fail, then it could indicate that it’s time to invest in new guttering, soffits and fascias.
Your gutter is not pitch-perfect
If you can see a sag in your gutters, it’s a sign that the pitch along the guttering system is not properly aligned. This will cause water to gather in the lower sections and spill over.
Not only could you end up with an impromptu shower—but over time the overflow of water could cause damage to the walls of your home. Discolouration of the outside walls are another sign that your gutters are spilling over and not pitched correctly. Consider replacing your guttering system to fix the issue.
Cracks, splits and pooling water
Even the smallest of cracks or splits in gutters will prevent them from doing their job effectively. Large cracks should be visible from ground level, but smaller ones might only become apparent when it rains.
Keep a watchful eye during wet weather and be mindful of water pooling at the foundation of your home, which is an indication that your gutters may have cracked and need replacement.
Gutter replacement specialists
After reading this, if you feel it’s time to replace your tired timber fascias and cracked guttering, speak to our friendly team to discuss long-lasting PVCu alternatives.
Our expert installers will fit new fascias and soffits and renew all your guttering and down-pipes. For added kerb appeal, choose from half round, square or ogee profiles and a range of colours to suit your property. Contact MO Windows for a free quotation or call 01536 213690 to enquire about a replacement roofline system.