Eavestroughs, soffit and fascia that move water away from the house
Straight Arrow Roofing & Siding installs, repairs and cleans eavestroughs and downpipes, and replaces soffit and fascia, in Brantford, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Cambridge and Paris. Eavestroughs carry roof water away from the walls and the foundation. In Hamilton, Oakville and Cambridge this work needs no building permit, as long as the water drains within your own property.
Updated by Straight Arrow Roofing & Siding
What do eavestroughs, soffit and fascia each do?
| Part | Job | Sign it needs work |
|---|---|---|
| Eavestrough | Catches the water running off the roof | Overflowing, sagging, dripping at joints |
| Downpipe | Carries that water down and away from the foundation | Water pooling against the house, a wet basement wall |
| Fascia | The board along the roof edge the eavestrough hangs on | Soft or rotten wood, peeling paint, troughs pulling away |
| Soffit | Closes the underside of the overhang and lets air into the attic | Sagging panels, birds or wasps nesting, a hot or damp attic |
Do you need a permit for new eavestroughs?
Not in most of the area, if the water stays on your property. Hamilton exempts "Repairing eavestroughs where drainage is contained within the property".[1] Oakville exempts "Eavestrough, if the drainage is contained within the property".[2] Cambridge lists eaves troughs among common projects that need no permit.[3] Point downpipes away from the house and away from your neighbour's yard.
How often should eavestroughs be cleaned?
At least once a year, and twice under big trees: after the leaves come down in the fall and again in the spring. Clogged troughs overflow against the fascia and the foundation, and in winter they feed the ice dams that push water up under the bottom shingles. Granules piling up in the trough are also an early sign the shingles are wearing out; see roof inspections.
Can rotten fascia be covered instead of replaced?
Only once the rot is cut out. Sound wood can then be wrapped in formed metal, which we call capping, so it never needs painting again. See metal roofing and capping.
Where do we do eavestroughs, soffit and fascia?
Across our whole area: Brantford, Paris and the County of Brant, Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas and Waterdown, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Cambridge.
What else do we do?
- Roof replacement Full tear-off to the deck and a complete new roof system, often in a single day.
- Roof repair Leaks, lifted or missing shingles, flashing, vents and storm damage.
- Roof inspections and maintenance A proper look at the roof and the attic before anyone quotes a price.
- Flat roofing Membrane roofs for garages, additions, porches and commercial buildings.
- Metal roofing Long-life metal roofs and cosmetic metal capping.
- Skylights New skylights, replacements in the same opening, and leak repairs.
- Siding Vinyl, aluminum, fibre cement and engineered wood siding.
Sources
- Building permit for residential renovations, City of Hamilton, read 16 October 2026.
- Building permit application process, Town of Oakville, read 16 October 2026.
- Building permits, City of Cambridge, read 16 October 2026.