When Should a Self Builder Book the Guttering, Fascia and Soffit?

Book the roofline while the roof is going up, not when the house is nearly finished. On a new house the soffit board is installed before the render goes on the walls, the guttering goes on once the fascia is in place, and both jobs are quickest and safest from a scaffold that is already standing.

We fit uPVC fascia and soffit and seamless aluminium guttering on new builds and self builds across Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh, and across the border into the neighbouring counties. This guide sets out when we need to hear from you, and why.

Why is the roofline not a finishing job?

Most self builders put the gutters near the bottom of the list, somewhere between the skirting boards and the driveway. It is an understandable instinct. The roofline is the last thing you see go on from the road, so it feels like a finishing trade.

On site, it works the other way round. The fascia sets the height of the whole eaves. It decides how the bottom row of tiles or slates sits, whether the membrane underneath has enough fall to carry water into the gutter, and whether the gutter itself can be hung on a true line. Once the final render is on, fitting the soffit can be a complicated process and one that is difficult to get watertight. It is much easier, cleaner and better to have the soffit installed prior to the finish plaster going on the walls. Get the fascia wrong and every trade above it inherits the mistake.

What order does the work go in at the eaves?

On a pitched roof the work runs from the bottom up. The tile or slate trim is installed first, before the final row of tiles is installed. This is made on site, bespoke to your roof and installed before the fascia board goes onto the rafter ends first, at a height checked against the tiles or slates that will sit above it. The trim is fitted in order to ensure that water does not run back in under the trim or tiles causing rot. We are normally called out for repair work on homes that the trim has been installed incorrectly and instead of stopping rot, it was in fact causing it!

The soffit closes the gap between the fascia and the wall. The guttering is hung on the fascia once the fascia is fixed and secure. Our job isn't done in one day on a new property, we would return at different stages to ensure that the job is done correctly, in and around the other tradespeople you have on site.

Does the scaffold need to still be up?

The scaffold is already on site for the roofer. While it is up, fascia, soffit and guttering can be fitted from a safe working platform along the full length of the house.

Once the scaffold is struck, the work can still be done. Towers and ladders are used for replacement work on existing houses every day. On a new house, if the scaffold is still up when we arrive, we will work from it. If it has already come down, the work can be done from towers or ladders. What matters more is booking early enough for the roofline to fit into the build.

When should I ring about the roofline on a self build?

Ring us when the roof trusses or rafters are going up. That gives us time to talk the job through with you and your builder or roofer, and to fit our work into the sequence rather than squeeze it in at the end.

Our lead time is typically around a month, depending on the type of job. That is an approximation, not a promise, and Stephen will give you a firmer date once he has seen what is involved. If your roofer is due on site in the next few weeks, the time to ring is now.

What should I decide before the fascia goes on?

Two decisions need to be made early: the colour, and the type of gutter.

Our uPVC fascia and soffit comes in anthracite grey, black ash, cream, white and an oak effect board with a finish that does not fade in sunlight. These tend to match most window finishes. The question worth asking before you pick is what you are matching the roofline to: the windows, the render or the roof. Screens do not show these finishes accurately, so see a sample in person before you decide.

For the gutter, we fit seamless aluminium guttering, formed on site from a coil so each run is made to the exact length of your roofline with no joints along it. Joints are one of the usual places a gutter starts to leak, so a run without them gives water fewer places to escape. Because it is formed to measure, it goes on after the fascia is fixed. For houses built in a period style, we also fit genuine cast iron guttering, and aluminium made to look like cast iron. We do not fit plastic guttering. In our experience the joints are where it starts to leak, and if it isn't something we would install on our own home, we would not install it on yours.

Do building regulations in Northern Ireland cover guttering?

Yes. Northern Ireland has its own building regulations, separate from those in England, Wales and Scotland. Rainwater drainage is covered by Regulation 82 of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, and the Department of Finance's Technical Booklet N gives the detailed guidance. Among other things, it says gutters should be laid with a slight fall towards the outlet, and that any overflow should discharge clear of the building. Obvious you would think, but make sure that the person fitting your gutters is also aware of this!

Common questions

Can the guttering go on after the scaffold comes down?

Yes, and it is done that way on existing houses all the time.

How far ahead do I need to book?

Our lead time is typically around a month, depending on the type of job. Ring when the roof structure is going up and we can plan around your roofer.

Do you work on self builds in the Republic of Ireland?

Yes. We cover Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh, and across the border into the neighbouring counties.

What colours of fascia and soffit do you fit?

Anthracite grey, black ash, cream, white and an oak effect board with a finish that does not fade in sunlight. These tend to match most window finishes.

Getting a price for your self build

Call Stephen on 07813 957568 for a free quote, with no obligation. If you have plans, elevations or a photograph of the roof going up, send them through and we will come back to you.

Further reading: Fascia, Soffit and Guttering Replacement in Tyrone and Fermanagh; Why Aluminium Guttering is the smart choice for Northern Ireland Homes; Why Corners Matter.