Replacing wooden fascia board sections and gutters/downpipes

dr_bogenbroom

Evening all,

These gutters need replaced as they are leaking at every joint and don’t seem to have the been cut the right length anyway. The fascia boards at the leaking section are all rotten. I’ve never done this job before and have minimal wood working skills but I have a skilled neighbour who can help.

Was thinking of just cutting out the rotten sections after removing the old gutters, replacing with new board sections and installing new gutters. Existing boards are 20mm thick.

Reasonable job for an intermediate DIYer or is there something I’m missing that I could mess up big time that I’d need the pro’s?

Future plans are to get the whole house done in uPVC soffits and fascia’s but it’s a 4 bed detached so big bucks we can’t afford right now.

Lorian

It looks pretty serviceable from the photos you just need new rubber seals. At lower levels a pretty easy job. Look at one of the end caps for the make and size stamped inside and buy the right seals. 

You need a new rubber seal on every joint. It's squareline but I can't tell the make from the photos, and there are 4 or so manufacturers all use different seals 

 The old seals need removing and all surfaces meticulously cleaning before fitting the new seals. Ideally with some silicone grease to help them slip/move as the pipe heats up in the sun. This keeps them working much longer.

It also needs cleaning out including the downpipes - the plant growth tends to Indicate its blocked.

As for the board where the water is you need to sand it back (wear a mask) to have a good look how rotten it really is before deciding on how to treat that. I've seen a lot worse.

At higher levels you need to be very competent to do this from a ladder.

Start by pulling one easy to get to end cap off to look at a seal and get the manufacture or part number.

EssexExile

I replaced all my facias years ago using a scaffold tower, I wouldn't fancy doing it from ladders. Needed good gloves though.

dr_bogenbroom

Lorian said:

It looks pretty serviceable from the photos you just need new rubber seals. At lower levels a pretty easy job. Look at one of the end caps for the make and size stamped inside and buy the right seals. 

You need a new rubber seal on every joint. It's squareline but I can't tell the make from the photos, and there are 4 or so manufacturers all use different seals 

 The old seals need removing and all surfaces meticulously cleaning before fitting the new seals. Ideally with some silicone grease to help them slip/move as the pipe heats up in the sun. This keeps them working much longer.

It also needs cleaning out including the downpipes - the plant growth tends to Indicate its blocked.

As for the board where the water is you need to sand it back (wear a mask) to have a good look how rotten it really is before deciding on how to treat that. I've seen a lot worse.

At higher levels you need to be very competent to do this from a ladder.

Start by pulling one easy to get to end cap off to look at a seal and get the manufacture or part number.

Thanks - the fascia boards at sections definitely need doing, the pictures don’t really show it well.

What type of wood would suit as a fascia board? I’m assuming it would be just to get the same width section from a timber merchants and then cut to size? I know very little on types of timber! 

dr_bogenbroom

EssexExile said:

I replaced all my facias years ago using a scaffold tower, I wouldn't fancy doing it from ladders. Needed good gloves though.

Did you just hire that yourself?

EssexExile

dr_bogenbroom said:

EssexExile said:

I replaced all my facias years ago using a scaffold tower, I wouldn't fancy doing it from ladders. Needed good gloves though.

Did you just hire that yourself?

I bought it. Had it for decades, a great investment for a serious DIYer.

stuart45

You need to get some insulation in the roof.

dr_bogenbroom

stuart45 said:

You need to get some insulation in the roof.

Yes I chatted about that in another thread and decided the best way was to do it from the inside. Though I’m wondering if it can be done from the outside of the fascia’s are removed? 

stuart45

dr_bogenbroom said:

stuart45 said:

You need to get some insulation in the roof.

Yes I chatted about that in another thread and decided the best way was to do it from the inside. Though I’m wondering if it can be done from the outside of the fascia’s are removed? 

Whichever you find the easiest. I was actually talking about EssexExile's house.
Icicles are a sign of no insulation in the roof. Ice dams are an even bigger problem.

jj_home_80

stuart45 said:

dr_bogenbroom said:

stuart45 said:

You need to get some insulation in the roof.

Yes I chatted about that in another thread and decided the best way was to do it from the inside. Though I’m wondering if it can be done from the outside of the fascia’s are removed? 

Whichever you find the easiest. I was actually talking about EssexExile's house.
Icicles are a sign of no insulation in the roof. Ice dams are an even bigger problem.

I agree. Icicles shouldn't be on any house. It's a sign that there's a problem.

dr_bogenbroom

jj_home_80 said:

dr_bogenbroom said:

Lorian said:

It looks pretty serviceable from the photos you just need new rubber seals. At lower levels a pretty easy job. Look at one of the end caps for the make and size stamped inside and buy the right seals. 

You need a new rubber seal on every joint. It's squareline but I can't tell the make from the photos, and there are 4 or so manufacturers all use different seals 

 The old seals need removing and all surfaces meticulously cleaning before fitting the new seals. Ideally with some silicone grease to help them slip/move as the pipe heats up in the sun. This keeps them working much longer.

It also needs cleaning out including the downpipes - the plant growth tends to Indicate its blocked.

As for the board where the water is you need to sand it back (wear a mask) to have a good look how rotten it really is before deciding on how to treat that. I've seen a lot worse.

At higher levels you need to be very competent to do this from a ladder.

Start by pulling one easy to get to end cap off to look at a seal and get the manufacture or part number.

Thanks - the fascia boards at sections definitely need doing, the pictures don’t really show it well.

What type of wood would suit as a fascia board? I’m assuming it would be just to get the same width section from a timber merchants and then cut to size? I know very little on types of timber! 

Why wouldn't you get pvc fascia boards? They will last a lot longer. Saves on painting and maintenance too. Guttering seems fine. Leave it or when you get a guttering professionals for the job then ask them to be careful and not to break them when they replace fascia boards.

The plan was just to replace the rotten sections of wood until I had the funds for a pro to do it in uPVC, which could be a couple of years away. The rotten sections looks bad and need done asap. I suppose I could look at replacing the boards with uPVC myself but what would this entail? I think it might be bound my ability but that could be a confidence issue.