New Soffixes(replace or cover up)

annie1975_2

Hi.
Was thinking of getting new soffixes,been told we can either have the old ones ripped off and new ones put in, or the old ones can be covered up..Is there any Advantages/disadvantages to having them covered up.(Apart from the price that is)

Thanks.

ian103

yes if rotten they MUST be rmoved (but you can just remove the rotten bits and patch with 18mm wbp plywood) overcladding is fine if the exiting timbers are sound

annie1975_2

The old ones are in good condition,just wanted to get plastic ones so we dont have to keep painting them. Its a thinner one they put on if they are covering up,and a thicker one if they are replacing..
thanks

ian103

your call, not sure what benefit you could gain by removing the existing if they are in good condition, sounds like overclad, save a few quid. And no more painting.

tlh858

If the existing are in good condition, you will be wasting your money covering them up or replacing them.

Properly prepared and painted, they should only need repainting every 5 years at the most - a task which will cost a fraction of cladding or replacement.

annie1975_2

I was just concerned about some things I had read, about the wood underneath eventually rotting, and that you shouldnt cover wood up always replace it.
Spoke to the builder he absolutley assures me if I want it capping he will make sure non of the wood is rotting.And it is just as good as replacing, but about £500 cheaper.
Ive done a bit of research on internet and getting mixed feedback and didnt know weather people just say to replace it as opposed to capping just to get more money out of you.


tlh858. i know what you mean about the painting but my OH is not one for climbing ladders and dont want to keep forking out to have them painting.

Just need reassuring really... Thanks for the replies .

keystone

Presumably if you are doing the soffits then you will also be doing the fascias and perhaps barge boards if you have them? If you don't the fascias will still need painting every five years or so so the whole exercise would seem to carry a certain degree of futility around only doing the soffits.

Two reasons you replace rather than cover up:

1. Whether the wood underneath is rotten or not now it will be at some time in the future, the perfect envoronment has now been created for it to start and will continue rotting underneath and out of sight.

If you cover fascia boards then when you come to put the guttering back it won't fit properly.

A £ 500.00 difference??? How big is the house and how big is the quote? I hop you've got yourself two more competing quotes for comparison purposes.

Cheers

annie1975_2

Yes will be replacing the whole lot...
Quite happy with the quote really,£1200 for full replacement and £720 for just capping.Other quotes were coming out at £1600..
The person whos doing it has done a bit of work in the past and done an excellent job...Theres a bit more work involved i assume by replacing,thats why its dearer.

Thanks for the reply..

keystone

I hope the price includes new guttering as well then because if they are going to try and stretch all the joints to make it fit then sorry but thats a horrid bodge which you will only discover when it all starts leaking in the winter.

Still its your decision, your money and if you are happy with the price and the contractor then I say go with it.

Cheers

annie1975_2

keystone wrote: »

I hope the price includes new guttering as well then because if they are going to try and stretch all the joints to make it fit then sorry but thats a horrid bodge which you will only discover when it all starts leaking in the winter.

Still its your decision, your money and if you are happy with the price and the contractor then I say go with it.

Cheers

Yes its all the guttering as well. The whole package..

keystone

In that case if it were me I'd be taking the £ 1,200 option.

Cheers