How long does it take to replace fascias and soffits?

1What happens on site, in order

The sequence is much the same on every house. The scaffold goes up first, because a ladder alone is no safe way to work along a whole length of eaves. The gutters and downpipes come off, followed by the old fascia and soffit boards. The crew then looks at the rafter ends and the wall plate behind, repairs or replaces any damaged timber, fixes the new soffit with its vents, hangs the fascia and finally fits the gutters and downpipes.

Every stage rests on the one before it, so the job cannot be rushed by adding people. A small semi-detached house may take a couple of days of working time. A detached house, a long terrace run or a three-storey frontage takes longer, and a bay or a complicated gable end adds cutting and fitting time.

At the end the site is cleared, the old boards are taken away, and the scaffold comes down once the last fitting is checked.

2The lead-in: survey, quote, materials and scaffold

Before any of that, there is a survey. We photograph the roofline, check the timber behind accessible boards and note the number of corners, the storeys and any access problems. A written quote follows, and the programme is agreed once you accept it.

Scaffold is often the longest wait. When it has to stand over a public pavement, the scaffold firm applies for a licence. West Sussex County Council licenses scaffold on highways across Worthing and Adur and asks for a minimum of 10 working days from the date of application to the date the scaffold goes up. Brighton and Hove is separate: its city authority runs its own licensing, with its own fees and notice rules.

Boards in standard colours are usually quick to get. Special colours, curved profiles or longer lengths can add a wait. Ask any roofer whether scaffold and VAT are included in the price you are given.

3What can stretch the job

Hidden rot is the main surprise. A leaking gutter that has been dripping behind the old fascia for years can soften the rafter ends and the wall plate, and those repairs take time. We look for the signs in the survey, such as soft boards and old stains, but the full extent only shows when the boards come off. Our page on mouldy soffits describes the early signs.

Ventilation work adds a little time, since a vented soffit needs the correct openings cut and clear of insulation. See soffit ventilation for what is involved.

Height and access matter too: a house behind a bank, a conservatory roof directly under the eaves or a neighbour's wall close to the gable all slow the work down. If asbestos board turns up in an older soffit, the job pauses while it is dealt with properly, which is why suspect board should never be disturbed in advance.

4Weather on the coast

Gales off the Channel and driving rain stop work above ground. Boards and gutters are long and catch the wind like sails, and nobody should be on a scaffold in those conditions. A job planned for three days can become five spread over a week when the weather turns, so allow for that in your own diary, especially if you need access through a side gate or a garage.

Wet weather also matters for fixing. Silicone and sealant need dry surfaces to hold, and timber that has just been soaked should not be boxed in. The crew will usually pause the closing-up stage rather than seal moisture in, and a short delay costs less than rot returning behind a new board.

If the roof is leaking while you wait, we make it safe first, then trace the cause.

5Gutters and downpipes, and what to do in the wait

Because the gutters hang from the fascia, they are almost always renewed or taken down and refitted in the same visit. If you are putting off the work, keep the run as clear as you can. A gutter that spills while you wait does more damage to the boards, so check the overflowing gutter causes and clear a blocked downpipe if one is the culprit, from a safe position.

Move cars, garden furniture and bins from under the eaves before the scaffold date, and tell neighbours who share a boundary or a driveway. It is worth mentioning anything fragile near the walls, such as a greenhouse or a climbing plant. The wider gutters, soffits and fascias hub lists the other roofline jobs that can be done in the same visit.