On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:54:00 +0100, "Pongo Potts"
wrote:

Following this we agreed to get a costing to replace all the box boards, 6
off in total measuring about 200mm square x 10mm thick each. The
fascias/soffits are all fine apart from one short length about 2 metres
which we thought just might be replaced. To be included in the work was
the
remove and clean the old boards plus 2 coats of Sadolin. The only
difficult
access was that to the rear of the house they would have to straddle our 5
metre wide conservatory to reach the roof safely.

We estimated approximately £50 to £75 in material costs with the wood and
Sadolin but had no idea of the cost for access equipment, so thought £400
to
£500 for the work would be a good budget cost after all 19 years it sounds
very economical.

So we then get in the local Roofing and Gutter company (no
names)............stick with a pro company to be sure of a good job and
someone to go back to should the need arise.............to provide the
estimate. The suit came and went in a flash.

The estimate arrived yesterday and this is where the Vultures come
in.....................£5000

come back Ravens..............all is forgiven.


I had my grotty fascias and soffits replaced at the last house with
woodgrain effect UPVC. The builder recommended overcladding the original
wood rather that full replacement as the wood had little rot. The result was
unspectacular, in a good way, in that friends commented along the lines of
"I thought you were having plastic fascias fitted" We owned that house for
another 8 years and when we sold the buyers commented on the "nice new
fascias" the only maintenance having been a yearly clean.

The material used was designed for overcladding with raised ribs on the back
that allow air to flow around the old wood, but prevent wet getting in. The
builder replaced odd bits of the old wood, then treated the lot with
preservative before fitting the cladding.

Mike
www.farend.org.uk