How to fix leaking roof fascia and soffit?

Question

Hello community!

The fascia and soffit of my roof is leaking due to the rain. I had my gutters cleaned and broken roof tiles replaced a few months ago, as there were leaks that have caused the bubbling and mould. But I can see today, that there is still a leak. Is this still to do with the gutters or tiles? How do I also go about fixing/replacing the damaged soffit? I was told that I just need to scrape the old paint and repaint over. But I’m not sure if there’s too much damage to the board itself.

Thank you!

Nailbag · Answer

Hi @RiverPerkins

Personally, I would be replacing the eve sheets due to the extensive water damage, and the volume of work to restore them isn't viable for the effort involved. By first removing the sheets and leaving them off until the next rain will give you an opportunity to know exactly where the water ingress is coming from. This needs to be repaired before new sheets are installed. You can speed the process up by using a garden hose on the roof if save and viable to do so.

Nailbag

Dave-1 · Answer

Good Evening @RiverPerkins

:/ Thats a decent leak you have there, being next to the downpipe traveling through the panel (facia?) Considering you had someone come out to clean and replace the tiles a few months ago my first port of call would be to get them back to have a look and fix the issue.

My second port of call would be to get someone to fix the issue. (Gutter repair company) Since the gutter is going through your facia then the gutter is somewhere above and inside your facia I do not know where to start other than removal of facia and back track up. Water can travel a fair distance so it may not be immediately above the leak (Hoping it is) I wouldnt be doing this job myself unless you are very good with your type of roofing.

Dave

EricL · Answer

Hello @RiverPerkins

Thank you for sharing your question about your leaking roof fascia and soffit. Looking at the pictures you've shared with us, this appears to be a substantial leak. My first suggestion would be to address the leak, if the repair to your roof is still under warranty, I suggest contacting the roofing firm that did the job for you and tell them that a leak has occurred. They should come back to your property and perform rectification works.

However, if the roof is no longer covered by the warranty, I would still suggest getting a professional to track down the leak in your roof. The work will be done professionally with a guarantee, and you'll have a warranty to fall back on in case the roof acts up again.

Replacing the eave panels will require you to remove the damaged sections and replacing them with new panels. The surface is then primed and painted in the same colour. How much you'll have to remove will depend on how far the water damage has travelled. What you are currently seeing now with the paint bubbles is where the water has thoroughly penetrated the panel. Some sections may be flooded but have not come through the panel. I suggest a thorough inspection to make sure you've spotted all the damaged panels.

Here are some handy guides:

* How to Install HardieSoffit Panel 
* How to Replace a Fascia

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @Dave-1 and @DIY4Knuckleheds for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric