Fascias and soffits are the boards that run along the edge of your roof. Their job is to keep water out and give the roofline a finished look. When they rot, everything behind them — rafter ends, wall plate, insulation — is at risk.
The most common sign is paint flaking on wooden fascias. If you can push a screwdriver into the wood easily, the rot is advanced. uPVC fascias and soffits don't rot — they just need replacing if they crack or warp, which typically takes 20+ years.
Gutter problems show up differently. Water running down the wall behind the gutter usually means a failed joint. Overflowing in heavy rain means the gutter is undersized or blocked. Both are fixable, but if the gutter is rusting through or the fall is wrong, replacement is better than repair.
A full roofline replacement — fascias, soffits and guttering — is typically a 1–2 day job for a standard semi. It's often done alongside new windows because the scaffold is already up and the two jobs complement each other.
If you're getting quotes, make sure they include all three components. Some contractors will replace the fascias but leave old guttering — which defeats the purpose if the gutters are the source of the leak.
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