Roofs and flat roofs
What should you ask if the fascia behind the gutter is soft but the tiles are intact?
Ask about the gutter and the timber, not about a new roof. A rotten fascia or soffit usually means the gutter has overflowed or the felt has sagged into the gutter for a long time. The tiles can still be doing their job. A home survey can see a stained or sagging board from the ground and still not see how far the rot goes into the rafter feet.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
The eaves timber holds the gutter. When the gutter leaks, the board stays wet and the decoration fails first. Eventually the rafter feet and the wall plate can soften. That is a different repair from nail sickness on a slate roof. The surveyor should say whether they are talking about decoration, the board, or the structure behind it.
RICS surveys do not cut into fascias. If the rating is about the eaves, a joiner or roofer needs to see how far the softness goes, often once the gutter is off. Do not let a tile quote swallow a gutter repair. There is no published national price for fascia replacement in the RICS consumer guide. Ask for the length that is actually soft.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Is the board soft in places, or is the comment only about peeling paint?
- Does the gutter overflow, sag, or discharge against the fascia?
- Could you see the rafter feet, or is that hidden?
What are the typical next steps?
- Clear the obvious gutter blockage if it is safe from the ground. Do not walk the gutter.
- Keep the eaves repair separate from any covering quote.
- If the rating mentions the wall plate, ask a carpenter to look, not only a decorator.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Is a plastic fascia a repair or a cover-up?
Capping rotten timber with plastic leaves the rot. Ask whether the old board will come off.
Does a new gutter prove the fascia is sound?
No. The gutter can be new and the board behind it already soft. Look at the timber.