Guttering, fascias and soffits in Kent

Where the rainwater should go

Building regulations require that rainwater is carried away from a roof (Approved Document H, part H3). A gutter that is blocked, sagging or leaking at a joint tips that water down the face of the wall instead, which is how damp gets into brickwork, render and window frames.

Signs your gutters need attention

• Water spilling over the edge in heavy rain
• Green or dark staining on the wall below a gutter
• Plants growing out of the gutter
• A run that sags between brackets, or drips at the joints
• Fascia boards that flake, feel soft or have come away at the ends

Fascias and soffits

The fascia is the board along the eaves that carries the gutter, and the soffit closes off the underside of the overhang. When timber fascias rot, the gutter brackets work loose and the bottom edge of the roof can let in water and birds, so the boards and the gutter are usually best renewed together.