As a homeowner, what you need to know is that it is important to properly maintain the fascias and soffits on your roof. If your soffits are rotting or ill-fitting, birds and other pests can get into your walls. We have seen soffits that are full of nesting materials from squirrels and pigeons. One job entailed removing two full wheelbarrows of nesting materials left by birds, squirrels, and other creatures from the soffits on a house.
Soffits can be made from a variety of materials. The most common today is aluminium, plastic, and vinyl, and these materials are generally more maintenance-free. They often are ventilated to provide airflow in the attic and eaves.
Soffits can be installed by both roofing contractors and gutter installation companies. They both frequently see problems with soffit, and so this is a service they regularly provide.
If you are working with a reputable gutter company, you should definitely expect an inspection of soffit and fascia boards. Any reputable cutter contractor will routinely take a look at the soffit when they are working on your gutters, and will inform you if any repair or replacement is necessary in order to keep your gutter system working properly. It is easier to do these repairs when the gutters are removed, so it will be most economical to have the additional work done right away.
Keep in mind that estimates are usually only going to be for the gutter system unless you specifically mention that you also need work on the fascia\’s or soffits. Companies will generally ask for enough information so that they will have the required materials on hand to deal with any soffit issues that they do find as they do their work.
If you suspect that you have soffit damage, be sure to ask your contractor what they\’ll charge per foot if any repairs are necessary. They should be able to give you an accurate estimate even if they have not done a visual inspection. If your initial conversation with them indicates that there may be problems with the soffit or other issues, the company will likely send out someone to do an inspection so that they can determine exactly what will be needed and what the costs will be.
It is important to choose a gutter contractor with a good reputation, like us Ashington Roofers. They should be able to provide accurate estimates and determine what they need for a job before they begin. Sometimes problems are only apparent once the old gutters have been taken down, but this is the exception rather than the rule, and you should expect to get a good idea of the work to be done in advance.