Facias Replacement in Caterham

Fascias and gutters on the Hill and in the Valley

Caterham is really two places. Caterham on the Hill is the older part, around St Lawrence’s church, and Caterham Valley is the main centre in the dry valley below, with steep roads linking them. The valley carries on north towards Whyteleafe, and Warlingham stands on the high ground to the north east. The boards and gutters along the edge of a roof wear out in both parts of town, but not for the same reason.

On the Hill: wind and driven rain

Houses on the high ground stand open to the weather. Wind drives rain in behind the paint on fascias and bargeboards, works gutter joints loose and pulls at the end caps and brackets on gable ends. Painted timber up here needs attention more often, and once the paint has cracked, the board behind soaks up water with every shower.

In the Valley: the amount of water

Lower down, the trouble is how much water arrives at once. Rain heads downhill, some plots are cut into the slope, and where trees overhang a roof the gutters fill with leaves. A gutter that overflows soaks the fascia from behind and wets the wall beneath it. In the Valley, the size of the gutter, its fall and the number of downpipes count for more than the look of the boards.

New Roof in Caterham

Worn fascias are sometimes a sign that the whole roof is near the end of its life. If tiles are slipping across several slopes, or the felt beneath them has broken down, renewing the roofline alone will not keep the house dry for long.

We build new roofs in slate and tile, including pitched roof installations, roof extensions and full reconstructions. Scaffolding on a new roof is our own and you are not charged for it. The fascias, soffits and gutters are renewed while it is standing, so the house only has to be scaffolded once.

Flat Roofing in Caterham

Garages, rear extensions and outbuildings often have flat roofs, and many of them take the water coming off the main roof as well as the rain that lands on them. Drainage is the first thing we check: the fall of the deck, the outlets and the gutter it empties into.

Our flat roofing takes in new roofs and repairs, with a choice of EPDM rubber, felt, torch on and GRP fibreglass coverings for houses and business premises alike. On an existing roof, leaks are found and sealed, blisters and tears are cut out and patched, and weak joints and edges are strengthened.

Damp Proofing in Caterham

Where a house is built into a hillside, soil often lies against the lower part of a wall and moisture finds its way through. That is penetrating damp, and it is treated differently from rising damp at the base of a wall or condensation on cold surfaces indoors. Overflowing gutters are another common cause, which is why we look at the roofline before recommending any treatment.

Our damp proofing starts with a survey and inspection. Depending on the cause, we may inject a damp proof course, tank a wall or line it with a waterproof membrane, treat the outside face or upgrade the ventilation.

Property Refurbishment in Caterham

Water that has been getting in at the roof edge usually leaves its mark indoors: stained ceilings, blown plaster, flaking paint. Once the source is fixed, we can put the inside right as well. Our property refurbishment work runs from plastering and decorating to tiling, flooring and kitchen and bathroom updates.

Roof Repairs in Caterham after wind and rain

On the Hill, strong winds lift ridge tiles and shift slates. Our roof repairs put back slipped slates and tiles, stop leaks and renew flashing or leadwork that the weather has damaged. When a storm has left a roof open, ask us about an emergency repair.

Chimney Repairs on Caterham roofs

A chimney stack catches more weather than any other part of the house. Stacks can be repointed or rebuilt, pots and flues capped, a redundant chimney taken down, and the lead flashing round the base repaired. See chimneys and leadwork for the full list.

Brick Repointing in Caterham

Open mortar joints let rain into a wall in the same way a failed gutter does. We remove the worn mortar and repoint in a matching colour, on house walls, chimney stacks, parapets and garden boundaries, with traditional methods for older buildings that call for them. Read more about brick repointing.

Your questions about fascias and gutters in Caterham

Should I choose uPVC or timber?

For most houses we recommend uPVC. It does not need painting and it copes well with the exposed conditions on the Hill. Timber keeps the original look of an older house and can be the right answer on a listed building or in a conservation area. The former Caterham Barracks on the Hill is a conservation area, so check with the council before changing materials there.

Do the gutters need replacing with the fascias?

The gutters have to come off for the fascia to be changed. Gutters in good condition can sometimes be refitted, but old brackets and brittle joints rarely go back well, and a new board with a leaking gutter on it will not last. In most cases it is better to renew both together. We will tell you if yours are worth keeping.

What do rotten soffits tell you about the roof edge?

Soffits are tucked under the eaves, out of the rain, so they should stay dry. If they are rotten, water is reaching them from above or behind. The usual causes are a gutter that overflows at the back, a bottom row of tiles that stops short of the gutter, or felt at the eaves that has perished and lets water run down behind the fascia. We check all three before fitting new boards, because new soffits over an old leak will fail again.

Free quotations in Caterham

A site visit and a quotation from CRB Roofing Building Ltd are both free. Public liability insurance is in place on every job, the work carries our guarantee, and Trustatrader lists us as an approved firm. To have your roofline looked at, contact us.