Fascia, Soffit and Cladding Specialists in North Wales.

Fascias and soffits on north Wales coastal stock need salt and UV resistance as a first specification requirement. Standard uPVC performs adequately on sheltered inland properties but on the exposed elevations of Rhyl, Prestatyn and Abergele seafront properties, the material degrades faster and we specify aluminium fascia profiles from Swish or equivalent on those installations. Aluminium takes the salt-UV combination without the discolouration and brittleness that uPVC develops after a decade on the coast. Welsh slate cottages around Mold and Buckley often have original painted timber fascia that is part of the character; where a listed-building designation or conservation area applies we carry out timber treatment and paint systems rather than uPVC replacement. For non-designated cottage stock, uPVC or Cedral is the right call depending on the owner's preference for finish. Chester Team covers all of North Wales.

Fascias and soffits are the first things that visually date a house and the last things that get maintained. Timber boards that have never been painted since the 1980s go soft at the ends, paintwork cracks, and the space behind them becomes a nesting site and an entry point for moisture. By the time you see visible rot from the street, the board behind the guttering bracket has usually been wet for two seasons.

We strip and replace in low-maintenance uPVC across most of our residential work, or match existing timber profiles where the property is listed or in a conservation area. Cladding is less common but we fit both uPVC weatherboard and external-grade fibre cement board where requested.

What we run

Standard replacement fascia goes in as 18mm or 25mm cellular foam uPVC in white or anthracite grey, routed to the same profile as the original section. We fix to the rafter ends through the back of the board rather than through the face, which keeps the finish clean and prevents water tracking into the fixings.

Soffits go in as 9mm uPVC or 6mm plywood-backed vented soffit board depending on whether the eaves need through-ventilation for the loft. BS 5250 requires minimum free ventilation area at the eaves for a cold-deck roof; we check the existing ventilation before boarding over and upsize the vented section where required.

Where external cladding is part of the scope, we fit Cedral or Hardie Plank fibre cement board over a 25mm batten and breathable membrane system. Both are guaranteed to 15 years against rot, cracking and delamination. We do not fit solid vinyl cladding directly to masonry without a batten system, as trapped condensation eventually bleeds through the reveal reveals.

When to replace rather than repaint

If the timber is soft more than 5mm deep at the probe, it is past repainting. Flexible filler and a coat of Sandtex buys one season; it does not stop the underlying rot spreading. Replacement with uPVC is typically not much more expensive over a five-year horizon and it is maintenance-free after that.

What it costs

A full fascia, soffit and barge board replacement on a three-bedroom semi typically runs between £1,200 and £2,200 plus VAT. Detached houses with a more complex roofline run higher. Cladding is quoted per square metre: fibre cement board with batten system runs between £55 and £85 per square metre fitted.

What we back it with

All fascia and soffit replacement work carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee. uPVC cellular board carries a 10-year manufacturer guarantee and will not rot, blister, or need repainting. Cedral and Hardie Plank carry their own 15-year product guarantees.