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How is a soffit and fascia quote worked out?
A soffit and fascia quote is built from the length of roofline being replaced, the height of the house, the board material and what turns up behind the old boards. This guide explains each input and lists the Federation of Master Builders prices per metre for fascia boards.
Last reviewed:What are soffits and fascias?
The fascia is the long board fixed along the bottom edge of the roof. It carries the gutter and finishes the ends of the rafters. The soffit is the board underneath, running back from the fascia to the wall and closing the gap under the roof edge.
Together they are often called the roofline. Older houses usually have painted timber. Many houses now have uPVC. Some have aluminium, or a mix where part of the roofline was replaced at a different time.
People search for a soffit and fascia calculator because they want a number before anyone visits. This guide explains the inputs a roofer uses to build the price, so you can describe your house clearly and compare quotes. It lists the per-metre board prices the Federation of Master Builders publishes, but it does not print a whole-house price.
Our roofers page covers the trade that usually does this work. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a roofline job.
Our fascia and soffit replacement explainer covers what the work involves. This page is about how the price is built.
Which measurements go into the price?
Length of roofline. Fascias and soffits are priced by the metre. A roofer measures every run being replaced: the front, the back, and any sides with an eaves edge. Gable ends, where the roof slopes down the side of the house, use a different board called a bargeboard.
Width of the soffit. A deep overhang needs a wider soffit board than a shallow one. Wider boards cost more per metre.
Number of storeys. A bungalow roofline can be reached with far less equipment than a two- or three-storey roofline.
Corners and details. External and internal corners, joints, and box ends at gables all need trims. A plain straight run is quicker than a roofline with bays, porches and dormers.
Ventilation. Many soffit boards come with vents, or a separate vent strip is fitted at the eaves, so the roof space can breathe.
What do the boards cost?
The Federation of Master Builders publishes typical prices per metre for fascia boards, correct as of January 2026 [S1].
| Material | FMB typical price per metre | What to ask the roofer |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC fascia | £9.60 [S1] | Board depth and thickness, and colour or woodgrain finish |
| Timber fascia | £6.00 [S1] | Timber type, treatment and who paints it |
| Aluminium fascia | £17.00 [S1] | Profile, colour and fixing method |
| Soffit boards | Ask for a price per metre on the quote | Board width, and whether vented soffit is included |
| Trims and corners | Ask for them to be listed | Number of joints, corners and gable box ends |
| Gutters | Ask whether they are refitted or replaced | Fascias usually cannot be replaced without removing the gutters [S1] |
| VAT | Registration is required above £90,000 of taxable turnover in the last 12 months [S4] | Whether the total includes VAT |
The board price is only part of the cost. FMB says labour accounts for a significant portion of the total installed cost, because working at height and getting a weather-tight finish takes skill and time [S1].
Which material should you choose?
uPVC is the most common choice for replacement rooflines. FMB describes it as the most cost-effective and popular choice, resistant to rot and low maintenance [S1]. It comes in white, black, greys and woodgrain finishes.
Timber gives a traditional look and can be painted to match the house. FMB says it needs regular maintenance and may cost more in labour to install and keep up [S1]. On an older or listed house, timber may be the expected finish.
Aluminium is usually the dearest of the three per metre. FMB says it delivers durability and long-term corrosion resistance [S1]. It suits modern houses with crisp, thin roof edges.
Whichever you pick, match the gutters, bargeboards and any porch or bay roofline, so the house does not end up with three different finishes. If you live in a conservation area, ask the council before changing timber to plastic.
Capping or full replacement?
Full replacement means the old boards come off, the rafter ends are checked and repaired if needed, and new boards are fixed directly to the roof timbers.
Capping means fitting thin uPVC boards over the existing timber. It avoids removing the old wood, so it can be quicker. The catch is that the old timber stays in place. If it is already wet or soft, the rot can carry on unseen.
A roofer should be able to tell you which they are quoting for and why. If one quote is much lower than the others, check whether it is a capping quote while the others are for full replacement.
What can turn up behind the old boards?
Once the old fascia comes off, a roofer can see the rafter feet and the bottom edge of the roof. Common findings include:
- rotten rafter ends where a gutter has overflowed for years
- loose or broken bottom-row tiles, or a missing eaves support
- old felt that has perished at the edge and no longer drains into the gutter
- nests or signs of animals in the gap behind the soffit
A clear quote names a rate for repairing rafter ends or replacing the eaves edge, so you are not surprised halfway through.
Planning Portal says work on a loft or a roof may affect bats, a survey may be needed, and if bats are using the building, a licence may be needed [S6]. If you have seen bats near the eaves at dusk, mention it in your job.
Why does access change the cost so much?
Roofline work happens along the whole edge of the roof, at gutter height. On a bungalow that may be reachable with low-level equipment. On a two-storey house, the roofer needs safe access all along each run.
HSE's guidance for workplaces says to avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so, and otherwise to prevent falls using the right type of equipment [S5]. HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation. HSE explains more in its introduction to working at height. This guide does not give a method for working on a roofline from a ladder.
Ask each roofer what access they will use, whether scaffolding is included, who arranges it, and how long it will stay up. If it needs to stand on the pavement, the council may need to grant a licence. Our scaffolding cost guide explains what changes that price, and our scaffolders page covers the trade.
How long does it take?
FMB gives a general guide of 1 to 2 days for a terraced house, around 2 to 3 days for a semi-detached home and 3 to 5 days for a detached property [S1]. It adds that timings can vary if scaffolding is needed, guttering is replaced at the same time, or hidden damage is found once the old boards are removed [S1].
Plan for some noise and for the gutters being off for part of the job. If rain is forecast, ask how the roofer will keep the eaves dry overnight.
If other roof work is planned, such as replacing slipped tiles, repointing the ridge or fitting new gutters, ask whether it can be done while the same access is in place. Setting up access once for several jobs is usually simpler than paying for it twice, and the roofer can check the bottom rows of tiles while the edge is open.
How do you compare roofline quotes?
Send every roofer the same information: photos of each side of the house, how many storeys, which runs you want replaced, and whether you want the gutters replaced too. Then check that each quote lists:
- the metres of fascia and soffit, and the board material and colour
- full replacement or capping
- vents, trims and gable ends
- gutters and downpipes, refitted or new
- the access equipment and who provides it
- a rate for rotten timber found behind the boards
- removal of the old boards and gutters
GOV.UK's waste code says a tradesperson who works on your property is responsible for the waste they produce, and the cost of its disposal should be included in what they charge [S3].
Citizens Advice suggests trying to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders, and says some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first [S2]. It also suggests not agreeing to a deposit of more than 25%, and always getting a receipt for any deposit you pay [S2].
Our gutter replacement guide covers the gutters on their own.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Two-storey semi. Painted timber fascias and soffits flaking at the front and back. Please quote to replace in white uPVC, with new gutters."
- "Bungalow with a short run of rotten fascia above the back door where the gutter overflows. Please quote to repair or replace that section."
- "Detached house. Please quote for full replacement, not capping, and say how you will handle the gable ends."
Posting a roofline job
Photos of each side of the house, taken from the ground, are the most useful thing to add. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about soffit and fascia costs
Is there a reliable soffit and fascia calculator?
Online calculators can only multiply a length by a rate. They cannot see rotten rafter ends, a bird nest, awkward access or a gutter that needs replacing. Use one for a rough idea if you like, then ask roofers to measure and price the job themselves.
How much do fascia boards cost per metre?
The Federation of Master Builders lists typical prices of £9.60 per metre for uPVC fascia, £6.00 for timber fascia and £17.00 for aluminium fascia, correct as of January 2026. Those are board prices only, before fitting, access and gutters.
Can new boards go over the old ones?
Sometimes. Capping covers the old timber with a thin uPVC board. It is quicker, but it hides the old wood, so any rot carries on underneath. Ask the roofer to check the old boards before agreeing to capping.
Do the gutters have to come off?
Usually. FMB says fascias usually cannot be properly replaced without removing the gutters, because the gutter is fixed to the fascia board. Ask whether the old gutters will be refitted or replaced.
How long does the job take?
FMB gives a general guide of 1 to 2 days for a terraced house, around 2 to 3 days for a semi-detached home and 3 to 5 days for a detached property. Scaffolding, new gutters or hidden damage can add time.
Does QuoteZila check roofers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Related pages
- Spray foam removal: ask a surveyor first. Spray foam in a Cheshire loft may need a specialist survey before anyone talks about removal. This guide prints no removal figure and no scraping method.
- Thatched Roof Work in Cheshire: What to Ask. Thatched roof work in Cheshire is one coat on one building: ridge, patch or full replacement. Compare quotes that name the same material and access.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: Soffits and fascia replacement costs, Federation of Master Builders. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/soffits-and-fascia-replacement-costs.html
- S2: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S3: Waste duty of care: code of practice, GOV.UK (Defra). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice
- S4: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S5: Introduction to working at height safely, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/introduction.htm
- S6: Roof: Protected species, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/roof/protected-species