Fascia Installation & Safety Notes

How do you measure fascia?

Once you have ascertained the size of the fascia board, you need to work out how much you will need.

To do this you measure around the perimeter of the eaves (you can do this from ground level if there is no scaffold), but make sure you allow for the overhang of the eaves at each end. Once you have the total measurement, it is prudent to allow an extra 10% for cuts and waste.

You should allow for one fascia joint trim every five metres, and corner trims as necessary. If you have barge boards or gables you will need to order box end sections, allowing two additional corner trims for each box end. Corner and joint trims should be fixed with PVC glue on one side and silicon sealant on the other, to allow for expansion.

Finally, don’t forget to order the plastic headed nails for fixing the fascia with (20 nails for every 5 metres of fascia is a good rule of thumb).

How do I replace fascia boards?

It can be a fairly simple process, just follow the steps below:

Remove the guttering from the fascia board and strip back the bottom two or three courses of slates or tiles.
Remove the existing fascia boards and check the rafter feet for any signs of rot. Replace any rotten timbers as required.
If you are also replacing the soffit, install the new soffit boards by fixing them to the underside of the rafter feet.
Fix the new fascia boards in place using two nails or screws fixed to the rafter end. Use corner and joint trims as required always remembering to leave a 10mm expansion gap between fascia boards.
Finally, replace the bottom course of felt with new felt or use a PVC eaves protection system and re-fix the tiles or slates in place.
Install new guttering to complete the installation.

How much does it cost to replace fascia boards?

PVC fascia boards are relatively inexpensive – usually between £4 and £7 per metre including VAT. The labour cost is usually the highest element of the overall price of the project, due to the time that it takes to carry out a full fascia replacement job. If your existing timber fascia boards are sound and free from rot, consider using cover boards to clad over the top of the old timber fascias. Cover boards are cheaper than full replacement boards and the process is simpler and quicker, reducing labour costs.