To replace our wooden fascias and soffits with upvc

[catinapickle]

Just moved into a 1930s semi, and all the fascias an soffits need to be painted. It's been suggested that we replace them with upvc so we don't need to keep painting them in future. We already have upvc windows, so it seems to make sense, and it will then match their adjoining side of the semi too. But if there's any reason not to go ahead, I'm sure you guys will let me know ...

JFDI?

Well, I suppose it's personal preference, but I wouldn't ever have UPVC put up. Terrible for the environment (those huge sheets of plastic will be lurking in landfill long long after you are gone) and - in my opinion - looks tacky. Yes, wood needs looking after and doesn't last forever, but worth it for the reasons above. You might even find there are other solutions that are environmentally friendly but hard-wearing?

I hate upvc windows and doors but I must admit to finding the fascias and soffits are a good thing. I have had to replace them in a couple of houses because they seem to rot so easily compared to any other external wood. If they are not rotten though I would keep them until they are.

Also, ours housed the outside lights and let water in so they stopped working. Replacing it all when the gutter needed sorting out was a good thing. Bear in mind that it will last and last and last so won't be sitting in landfill as it will be on your house.

Pros: more waterproof and will never rot, keeps the heat in better

Cons: ugly as sin

Guess it depends what’s most important to you.

But ToadOfSadness PVC can take over 1000 years to decompose - leeching dangerous chemicals (phthalates, dioxins etc.) as it does so - and it never actually biodegrades, just gradually breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, which then enter the food chain.

Rest assured, the UPVC panels will be there long after OP's house has fallen down. Not to mention the likelihood of someone new moving in and deciding to rip it all off because they don't like it!

Does it really look ugly? I barely notice the difference when I look at other houses.

Oh god you lot are going to shoot me but I think UPVC windows, fascias and soffits look perfectly fine on normal houses... And what with all my other plastic use, car use, battery use, flying etc abstaining from getting UPVC windows once ever 20(?) years isn't going to add much to my environmental footprint.

Having spoken with a second roofer, and clarified with the first, they're actually both talking about capping the wood with UPVC, rather than fully replacing it, so that is less plastic than first thought.

Be careful, especially if they're leaving the wood in place and 'capping', this will encourage to wood to rot as it will prevent air circulating and you'll be replacing the rotten wood pretty soon.
We had a '70s house so the aesthetics weren't such an issue, almost everyone had them replaced. However, when we came to do it the quote was a bit more than we'd expected but he was also replacing roofing felt for about a metre from the edge of the roof. Within a short space of time, the others were having to get theirs done again.

We've just been advised to have ours clad instead of replaced. Is that not a good idea then? Ours is a modern house, so don't know if that makes a difference. The chap said it can be tricky replacing fascias as they hold up the first row of roof tiles

I've been reading this: www.fixmyroof.co.uk/videos-and-guides/new-fascias-soffits/cap-over-or-replace-fascia/

Apparently the wood can still breathe behind the fascia perfectly well - though fascia sales-people do tell horror stories to encourage people to go down the more expensive route.

Sorry to jump in but our fascia are wood and rotten, I thought they were cosmetic? Do we need to replace?

Just literally had ours done. They were wooden and paint peeling, looked horrible. Replaced with uPVC and it is so much neater and tidier. I had a bit of guilt about whether it was environmentally terrible. But so much easier than trying to find the time to sort out repainting etc. and knowing it'll need doing again before too long.

As long as you have a strong backboard, you might be able to just get a capping fascia board rather than replace the whole lot. You can get heaps of colours and finishes nowadays, don't need to stick to boring anthracite grey or white. I think there are even some places that colourmatch to dulux or f&B paint. Fascia and soffit are important for roof air circulation so as someone else said, you have to let it breathe. Speak to a couple of people and see what they say. I never trust just one person in case they are pulling my leg.

Dont pay thousands for it, it really is quite esy to do yourself - well if you are DIY minded and have the tools

Oh god you lot are going to shoot me but I think UPVC windows, fascias and soffits look perfectly fine on normal houses

We had a wooden front door when we moved in and it was hideous - you could see daylight through the actual door. When we had the new composite door fitted it looked so much better. We've also got UPVC windows and French doors which look fine - I want the place to be as low upkeep as possible!