A major reason for choosing plastic cladding over wood is the Great British climate – namely the wind and rain. With modern uPVC fascias able to mimic oak, ash and other timbers, it offers a durable, attractive low-cost solution with no risk of warping or rotting. There are no expensive seasonal timber treatments to worry about either.
However, plastic cladding isn’t completely weatherproof. Embrittlement and dulling can occur, especially once it’s been buffeted by the wind and rain a few times. This, plus UV effects, can seriously shorten the life of the product, or at least make it look unsightly. People often paint white plastic cladding, either to improve its appearance or with the mistaken intention of preventing UV degradation. Don’t. Unless it’s a special UV-protective product designed specifically for plastic cladding, paint can cause embrittlement and even severe distortion, especially with darker colours.
Another area of risk is wind loading. People forget that plastic fascias and the like are a lot lighter than timber, and thus have to be held down with more fixings. This is because wind has a strong suction effect, and will lift cladding that is not fixed down securely with plenty of nails or screws. You also have to remember that while wood has a rough grained matrix which helps to keep nails in place, plastic cladding does not. So buy good quality, stainless steel annular or spiral fixings such as those we at Bliby Plastics sell on our site. These won’t rust, and have a ridged surface to give a tight grip.
Finally, plastic cladding reacts to temperature changes and trapped moisture. Thermal expansion gaps and drainage cavities must therefore be incorporated, and any timber battens fully weatherproofed.
It is quite likely that if the fascias you are replacing are made of wood, the building will be more than twenty years old. If this is the case then it is important that you check the roofing felt underneath the tiles, if any has been fitted. Examine the felt at the eaves because this is the place that roofing felt quite frequently deteriorates. Should the felt show signs of rotting, it is recommended that it is replaced as far up the roof as the first batten. Alternatively, replace at least 12 inches of the felt.
When you are fitting the new roofing felt, make sure that it extends roughly three inches over the fascias. Also make certain that you fit it underneath the felt already in place. The reason for doing this is that water running off the roof will run on to the new felt and into the guttering instead of under the newly replaced felt.
After deciding on and buying new fascias from plastic fabrication dealers such as ourselves at Bliby Plastics, your next job will be to remove all the guttering from the side of the building. Then affix a horizontal length of string along the building’s side. This will ensure that you can fit fascia boards at the same level. New fascias must be inserted under the tile ends then straightened before securing to the wall. When you are nailing the boards in place try to keep the nails’ positioning consistent to avoid making the line of nails look untidy.
At some point you may want to replace a fascia, bargeboard or soffit on the exterior of your house. Even the best quality fascias will eventually show signs of wear and tear due to their constant exposure to the elements. The best way of going about this is to first completely remove the existing fascias, soffit or bargeboards. The reason for this total stripping out is that there are some builders who might fit cladding over wood that is already there. The problem with this method is that there is the risk of trapping moisture and this, in turn, may cause quite serious rot to occur.
At Bliby Plastics, as a plastic fabrication company, we will be able to advise you on the best way to fit your new fascias or bargeboards as well as offering a range of different fascias from which to choose. There are different types of board available. The UPVC fascia board, for example, is meant to be used without needing any kind of backing surface. The cover board differs from the fascia board in that it is usually thinner and tends to be used as a cover for fascias. The fascia board also differs from the cover board because it has a slot on its inside corner which will accommodate the soffit. The cover board has no such recess.
There are now building regulations in place that necessitate ventilation of some kind in soffit in new buildings, this will take the form of a two and a half centimetre gap across the perimeter.
Frequently asked questions about plastic fascias, wall cladding and fascias in general are varied. At Bliby Plastics we hope we have the answers to all your questions. Some of the questions can also be quite interesting, especially the ones about improvements being made in the bathroom.
For example, whether or not it is possible to install fascias over tiles that are already there. As long as the existing tiles have been firmly fixed to the wall this should be perfectly feasible. It is best, however, to ensure that the panelling’s extra thickness does not impede the use of fixtures already in the bathroom, bath taps, for instance, or doors.
In some cases older bathrooms’ walls are half tiled. The tiles themselves are difficult to remove; therefore it is easier to batten out the top half of the bathroom level. The panels can then be installed by sticking them to the tiles and stapling the top half of them to the battens.
There are also special procedures to be followed when installing panels with toilets or basins that are wall hung. You should drill through the panelling, into the wall as you normally would. Insert the wall plugs and ensure they have gone completely through the panels and into the wall. It may be necessary to use longer screws allowing for the panels’ thickness. Do not over tighten the screws because you may crush the panelling. It is also possible to attach panels to the bathroom ceiling using adhesive and a staple gun. We can supply plastics and fascias as required.
It is said that one of the most stressful events in your life is moving house. This is quite easy to understand when you consider the sheer volume of work required. Making sure the domestic fuel suppliers know, council tax, water, television, telephone, household insurance and a variety of other tasks to be dealt with as well as the removal company, packing and throwing out things you did not know you had.
But once you are safely ensconced in your new home and the dust has settled, it is time to take stock. If, for example, a loft conversion has been carried out, you may want to consider the possibility of improving or at any rate changing it to suit your own particular needs.
The use of wall cladding or fascias would be one, relatively, quick way of achieving the required alterations. At Bliby Plastics you will find that we will be able to supply you with a great range of these items in various colours. Fascias are durable and easily cleaned. This can be a terrific bonus if your loft room has been turned into a play room. You might even consider the possible advantage of making one wall plain white and letting your off-spring display their creativity.
Making the loft into a guest room could be enhanced by making it en-suite as well. A sink and toilet could be plumbed in and the addition of a shower cubicle would be perfect. However, you will need to install an extractor fan. We can supply any kinds of fascias or plastic sheets you may need.
The chances are that you might not even be aware that you have a fascia, but it’s only a matter of time before your fascias will begin to suffer the ravages of time, and will need either repairing or full replacement. This process isn’t as difficult as it may first seem, however, and with some common sense and a little bit of elbow grease, you may find that installing fascias is really quite simple.
In order to be able to repair a problem, you first need to identify a problem, which is why it is essential that you inspect you fascias and guttering on a regular basis. This way, any damage that does occur can be repaired long before it gets so serious that a full on replacement is in order.
As the essential purpose of fascias is to hold the gutters in place (along with an aesthetic purpose), to get access to a damaged fascia you will first need to remove your gutters. This in itself is a serious job, and especially if you have heavy cast iron guttering you will definitely need someone to help you, or perhaps even a professional.
Once you have access to the fascia the process of repair should be fairly easy, provided the fitting hasn’t rusted into place (if so these can be removed with a padsaw), and will simply involve removal of the old fascia and replacement with a new piece. A word of warning, though – in some areas and for some houses, the use of plastic fascia boards may not be permitted, so always do your research before investing in anything.
Fascias aren’t just an interesting external design feature, and they actually perform an important structural feature, which means that proper fascia maintenance is not only a question of aesthetics, but is an important aspect of the functionality of your home.
Fascia boards essentially are essentially holding your gutters in place, which means that if you allow your fascias to degrade, either through rotting or weather activity for example, then it is only a matter of time before your entire guttering comes down.
Like any external feature of your home, fascias have got to endure whatever the great outdoors can throw at them, which means that they are highly susceptible to weather damage over time. This is one of the reasons that fascias are often constructed from highly durable composite materials.
Even the most durable fascias are vulnerable to damage, and therefore you should make regular checks on your fascisa to ensure that its not suffering from any significant damage. If they are, then you could either repair the affected piece or go for a complete replacement, which is often the solution nowadays considering the relative affordability of fascias – particularly at companies like Bliby Plastics.
When installing a new fascia board you might want to seek some professional advice, as there are some complicated procedure involved, including the removal of the guttering which is attached to the fascia – beyond this, installing a new fascia shouldn’t be too difficult for a competent DIY enthusiast.
Fascias are a bit like the finishing touch to the exterior of your house. Taking care of them means that your house looks the best it can, but it also means that your roof and walls are protected from leaks and damage caused by dampness. Unfortunately, over time, fascias can become worn and mouldy, rendering them ineffective and ugly.
If you have decided to replace your fascias you might be confused about what materials to go for, thanks to the wide range of options available to you.
We’ve put together some of the basic differences between the different types of materials available for fascia boards, in order that you can choose the most appropriate one for yourself and your home.
1. Wood: this is a lovely traditional material and is often found in character homes or homes of a certain period. Wood requires regular maintenance – cleaning and painting – or the wood can dry out, split, warp and rot.
2. Aluminium: most often found in fascias of houses built in the mid-1900s. The benefits of aluminium are that it does not rust and is easily moulded to fit any shape – be it an eve or a window frame. Does not require painting and easy to replace.
3. Plastic: growing in popularity thanks to its durability and price. Plastic is very cost-effective and easy to manipulate, so perfect for DIYers who are worried about making expensive mistakes. The other benefits of plastic fascias are that they are easily cleaned with soap and water, unlike wood, which requires lengthy maintenance. Like aluminium, plastic fascias never need to be painted.
Fascia is a broad term which covers all and any horizontal surfaces that span across the top of a wall or columns. When it is used with the latter we get a clue of the origins of the word. Fascia comes from the Latin word meaning doorframe, and it was commonly used in classical architecture to describe the wide band which sat directly above a column.
In modern day building terms, the image of a fascia is less romantic but just as vital. The fascia refers to the UPVC board nailed to the ends of a roof rafter, frequently supporting guttering in steep-slope roofing. In lower slope roofing, fascia refers to the horizontal trim located at the perimeter of a building. Fascias provide the finishing touches to the exterior of your house in much the same way that window frames do. Taking care of them keeps your house looking good – and protects it, too.
Depending on what material your fascias are made of, you may find that they need maintenance. You may even find that they need replacing altogether. If you decide that your fascias need replacing, ensure that you have the right skills, tools and experience to take on the job, otherwise you may be better off enlisting the services of a professional.
If you are replacing the fascias yourself, take care not to damage the guttering if it is in good condition because it can be reused. Clear and remove any damaged or rotting wood before attaching the new fascias with screws or nails.
Give the new fascias a new coat of paint if any damage done to them is minimal, but if it is more long-lasting, it can be much more productive to replace them by sourcing new UPVC fascia boards at Bliby Plastics.
