Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, or PVCu (or uPVC) as it's more commonly known, has in effect comprehensively swept the board in the new guttering and fascia market. Their are a great number of answers why homeowners now choose PVC-U when thinking of a guttering replacement and new fascias on their property.

It is today widely recognised that the maintenance trouble and the technical performance of timber, in particular for roofline, is no longer acceptable when compared with PVC-U.

A PVC-U roofline is better than wood because, as we all appreciate, wood is a porous substance. Once water has breached the external layer, it is a matter of when and not if it will require replacing. This then paves the way for woodworm and many other vermin to set up home sooner or later causing structural damage. PVC-U rooflines will not rot, will never require painting, do not discolour and will continue being maintenance free for up to fourty years. All they will require is the once in a while wash down with lukewarm soapy water.

Soffits
Fascias, also known as soffits, are boards attached to the top of the outside walls of a building, just under the roofing, which then projects over the fascia. This used to be usually made from wood, but nowadays PVCu replacements are more wanted as they are light, easy to fix, long lasting and more affordable. Wooden boards need repeated painting and replacement and PVCu in contrast is very resilient, only fading and cracking after a number of decades.

Guttering
The guttering is fitted to the fascia and collects the rain from the roof, diverting it into down pipes which take the water down into the public sewerage system, or away from the house to a soakaway, where it can scatter without damage. Larger diameter downpipes take effluent from the toilets down into the sewers. If the guttering or downpipe is blocked or cracked, then water can ooze over the brickwork and go through into the home, causing damp problems.

Guttering has been manufactured from many different types of materials, including concrete, timber, aluminium, galvanised steel and other metals, but before UPVC became popular, they were mainly painted steel. This requires frequent cleaning and re-painting and if it's not carried out, rust can set in and cause leaks. This usually means replacing sections, which is expensive and demanding because of the weight of the steel. PVC-U rates highly over steel on both those counts and when considering guttering replacement on your home we strongly propose you opt for PVCU .