Don't worry if you have never heard of fascias and soffits. When you find out what they are you will realise you've been seeing them your whole life, just without realising! On most houses the guttering that runs alongside the house under the roofline is attached to a box. The soffit is the technical term for the underside of the box, the fasicas are the walls of the box that are attached to the eaves or roofline of the home. The guttering catches any rainwater coming off the roof so it can drain away.
Soffits and fascias are important because they help the roof carry out its task of keeping the damp out, preventing rainwater from coming inside and ensuring the whole house is insulated too. If you notice any leaks, discolouration or birds nesting in your roof then it might be time that some attention is given your fascias and soffits. If they are damaged in any way then your roof has a harder time carrying out its role as protector of the home. You should have your whole guttering system including the soffits and fascias checked at least once per year so you can keep on top of any repairs that need doing.
It is a good idea to get the professionals in when checking and cleaning the guttering system of your home. There is a considerable amount of equipment needed that includes a scaffold tower. The best way to proceed is to rake the guttering always heading away from the downpipe so you don't block it with any debris you find up there. There are small rakes that are designed specifically for this purpose. Having done this you should check thoroughly that there are no breaks, splits or other problems. Sometime guttering slips out of its brackets so you should check they are all in correctly. Check the downpipe joints to make sure they aren't leaking and the pipe itself isn't blocked. You can pour a bucket of water down to check this.
You should also check the fasicas and soffits. The fascia secures the guttering and helps the rainwater drain correctly away from the roof and into the drain. The soffits on the bottom should have small ventilation holes to help prevent the roof being damaged by damp. You should inspect it all for rot, caused by rainwater splashing around. If you see rot you should deal with it immediately so it doesn't spread.
The difficulty with fascias and soffits is that traditionally they have been made with timber. This does look good admittedly but it is not a very practical solution as it is prone to rotting and warping and splitting and fading. There is a much more practical solution for fascias and soffits - uPVC. This is a plastic material made of non-toxic products. It has all the strength and durability of wood whilst being available in wood effect finishes. From mahogany to oak and rosewood, any type of wood effect can be achieved on your home. They last decades not years and require very little maintenance work. They simply clip into place with ease and once they are in place work efficiently to guide the rainwater, keep away the damp and help protect the roofline of the house. If damp and rain get into your house it can be extremely expensive to fix the problem, that is why having well functioning fascias and soffits is such a good idea.
Fasicas and soffits don't have to be expensive when they are made of uPVC. This is a cost effective material that works well. uPVC fascia boards and the soffit board too fit easily into place and protect your home from the elements for many years to come.