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 | | A NEW LOOK FOR SOFFITS - LIGNACITE | | | Lignacite Ltd | | 19/06/2008 | | | Though soffits and bargeboards add the finishing touch to any roofline, timber systems invariably receive inadequate painting while those in PVC eventually discolour. Despite long-term maintenance contracts it seems likely that poor quality product will continue to give rise to early replacement for some time to come. Despite PVC having been seen as the answer to timber’s problems, it suffers from the effects of UV degradation, which causes it to become brittle. PVC also attracts dirt and without regular washing soon shows signs of early discoloration. A timber backing supports and prevents buckling in the heat, but this is vulnerable to mould growth as the wood sweats behind the plastic. Where this occurs, there is a significant risk that both PVC soffits and timber frame will fail to fulfill their intended design life.
Severe weather conditions have given rise to a marked increase in incidences of roofing damage and home insurance companies have forecast, not surprisingly, that the upward trend is set to continue. We are already at a point where over 1.5 million homes are affected by storm damage each year, with 200 million roof tiles refitted as a result*. Costs of repair are already affected by the continued lack of builders and qualified roofers in some areas, and regional variations in average claim values vary dramatically.
A masonry roof overhang product, Lignacite’s Roofblock, overcomes maintenance problems. It is a concrete block which acts as an all-in-one fascia, bargeboard and soffits. Installed by the bricklayer all around the building at the top of the outer skin, it is suitable for any type of roof and helps to fire-seal the top of the cavity wall against spread of flames to structural roof timbers.
The enduring properties of masonry roof overhangs have been known for centuries. This change of approach to roof design now enables a solid base to be created to which the vulnerable roof edge is bonded, providing a lasting, decorative feature at verges and gable ends. From a practical perspective, the BRE has confirmed that, in comparison with both timber and PVC, RoofBLOCK not only offered the lowest initial capital cost, but over the life of a building was considerably less expensive to maintain. In terms of the BRE Green Guide it also received a better ECO rating than plastic. In awarding the product its Innovation Award, the CIOB said “Roofblock is a significant building innovation that provides a solution to a long standing problem, saving money by eliminating high level roof maintenance. Constructed from traditional materials, it has the potential for high lifecycle performance”. eliminating high-level roof maintenance | |
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