howtodosite

by: Chris Coxon

The roof of your house plays a key role in keeping your home warm and dry. Not only does it keep the rain out, it also works to collect rainwater and channel it away from the building to a place where it can’t cause damage. To achieve these ends, it employs a system of guttering, soffit and fascia boards.

Like many items in your home, uPVC is now the material of choice for all these components. Here’s how to get your soffit right with a uPVC soffit board.

The word soffit is actually derived from the Latin verb suffigere meaning to fix underneath, and in architecture refers to the underside of any construction element. Here we’ll focus on its most common meaning in the building trade – the exposed undersurface of any exterior overhanging section of a roof eave.

The main item for collecting rainwater from roofs is the guttering. This comprises a long channel into which the rainwater collects as it flows off the roof. At the ends of the guttering, downpipes to send the water down to ground level and from there away from the house.

Your guttering is attached to an item known as the fascia board. This caps the end of rafters outside a building. Modern uPVC fascia boards can attach directly to the rafters in your roof making the use of a timber substrate unnecessary.

Fascia can also add to the style of your roof. Other than standard styles, fascia boards also come in ogee sculpted styles.

The area beneath the fascia is known as the soffit or eave. A soffit board closes the area protecting it from the elements. Soffits come in many types and can be ventilated or non-ventilated. Ventilated soffits work to keep your loft well-ventilated and so reduce damp and protect your rafters from rot. One option is a hollow soffit board, a lightweight, cost-effective solution which can be fitted with ventilators.

Guttering, fascia and soffits were once made from a wide range of materials including steel, copper and aluminium. However, nowadays items made from uPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride, also known as PVC-U) are the most popular. PVC-U is the perfect low-maintenance material. Known in the United States as vinyl or vinyl siding, it has many qualities that make it ideal for rainwater systems.

Its major quality is its extreme durability. After making your investment, you won’t need to worry about your uPVC fascia and soffits for a very long time.

It can handle anything the elements can throw at it and it won’t warp, crack, peel, rust, corrode or tarnish. In short it can withstand rain, sun, snow and frost and come up looking good every time.

uPVC is also the ultimate low maintenance material. This is especially important when it comes to items located on the roof which are hard to clean and take care of. uPVC just needs a wipe down with soap and water every so often to keep on looking good.

Good looks are another feature of these soffits. uPVC fascias give your roofline an attractive, clean-edged finish and are available in a range of colours and styles to suit your home. Available colours include white, cream, golden oak, rosewood, mahogany, black and brown. If you’re installing uPVC doors, windows or conservatories you can select your soffits to match them.

On the safety front, uPVC is self-extinguishing which means it will help limit the spread of fires.

When it comes to helping make your home energy efficient, uPVC wins hands down. Its thermal insulation is superior to brick, concrete or timber.

If you’re putting a roof on your new home or replacing the roof on an existing residence, look at uPVC for your soffit board and fascia boards. They’re easy to fit and you’ll get hardy items that are easy to install, look good and will keep your home safe and dry for decades to come.

For the best deals in uPVC fascia and soffit boards, check the web sites of online vendors. You can also order a full range of complementary trims, nails, vents and silicone sealants to go with them. You’ll find wide range of quality items at the keenest prices in the UK. Just place your order online for prompt delivery.

About The Author: Chris Coxon writes articles for Eurocell, a PVC profile manufacturer providing a wide range of PVC systems in the UK. Explore their soffit and UPVC fascia boards, designed for direct fixing to rafters thereby helping to reduce costs on fascia replacements. http://www.eurocell.co.uk/buildingplastics/soffit.html The author invites you to visit: http://www.eurocell.co.uk

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