Barge Board Replacement Cost
Last updated 6th August, 2025
Do you need new barge boards?
This article covers all you need to know about barge board replacement. Whether you're looking into a durable uPVC barge board or more decorative barge boards, we have the answers. We cover the supply costs, timescales and labour fees involved.
On average, you should expect to pay somewhere between £350 and £950 for a complete barge board replacement.
Continue reading below!
How Much Does Barge Board Replacement Cost?
The average cost to replace a single barge board on a 2-storey semi-detached house (including materials and labour) is approximately £600.
Barge boards are the roofline products which are located on a gable end of a house and are usually made from timber or uPVC. They hide the otherwise exposed roof rafters from the elements, stopping rainwater from getting into the roof and rotting the rafters.
Timber barge boards will eventually rot, even if regularly painted, so at some point they will need to be replaced.
In most cases this will mean a scaffold tower being erected to the desired work height, the cost to hire a basic scaffold tower is around £250 although this is likely to be included within your initial quote.
The work then involves removing the edge roof tiles, then the existing barge board using a crowbar. As long as the rot has not spread to the roof rafters, new uPVC or timber barge board can then be fitted and the roof tiles put back in place.
If fitting a new timber barge board, then this will also require painting on a regular basis to prolong its lifespan, but uPVC products are essentially maintenance free.
Barge Board Replacement Price List
The average cost of hiring someone to replace a barge board is usually in the region of £600 to £950 depending upon if you want your soffit boards replaced as well, and whether or not any timber needs repairing/treating, and if some tiles need to removed and then re-cemented.
Most roofline tradesmen charge around £300 per day and it will normally take 2 tradesmen around 6-8 hours to set up the scaffolding and replace the barge board.
Here are a few average costs for hiring someone to replace a barge board:
| No. Barge Boards | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 board (no scaffolding) | £400 | 1 day |
| 1 board (with scaffolding) | £600 | 1 day |
| 2 boards (no scaffolding) | £700 | 1.5 days |
| 2 boards (with scaffolding) | £950 | 2 days |
Barge Board Replacement Cost Breakdown Calculator
Individual costs for hiring a tradesman to replace a single barge board on a 2-storey semi-detached house: £600
Materials
£100
Tradesmen
£300
Scaffolding
£200
Additional Costs When Replacing Barge Boards
Whenever any of the roofline products are being replaced, it makes sense to consider replacing the rest of the timber roofline products, plus the guttering too if required, as this will often have to be removed/refitted in any case.
Replace Soffits and Fascias
While you are at the roofline with safe access, you should also consider replacing the fascias and soffits, which based on a 3 bedroom semi-detached house will cost around £1,500 to £2,200.
These timber roofline products are connected to the barge board and are often replaced together.
Install New Guttering
While working at the roofline, it's a good time to consider replacing or installing new guttering altogether (on average costing around £550 to £850) as this will likely need to be removed or refitted during barge board replacement.
Repointing Gable End
The rafters should be inspected before the barge board replacement and any rot should be treated or removed as a priority. You may also consider having the gable end brickwork repointed if necessary while the scaffold is in place.
It usually costs approximately £25 to £60 per square metre to repoint a wall, but for specialist areas such as the gable end it's always best to get a quote in advance.
What Replacing Barge Boards Involves
Repairs can be made to isolated areas of the barge board, but there comes a point when it is simply not worth repairing and should be completely replaced. Although you can do this job as a DIY project, as technically it's relatively straightforward, you may change your mind once you realise just how time consuming and physically demanding this job can be!
Replacing the barge board involves erecting a suitable scaffold, this needs to comply with safety regulations and any required permits, especially if it encroaches on public land.
The next step involves removing any verge tiles and the sand and cement pointing. Ensuring to check whether the bedding mortar (especially in older homes) contains asbestos, as this will have to be removed by a professional.
Once you have removed the verge tiles and bedding you can then start removing the barge board using a pry bar to pry away the barge from the rafter.
Once barge board is removed, then fit the new timber or uPVC barge board ensuring that all four edges are sealed and undercoated (if timber). Then refit the roof tiles and bedding. Finally, disassemble the scaffolding and remove all waste from the site. It’s a fairly simple but time consuming job.
Other material options include composite, GRP, fibre cement or even metal—each offering different looks and maintenance needs.
Working at heights can be dangerous for everyone, but especially for those that have vertigo or a fear of heights. Unless you are confident working at height, barge boards should probably be left to a professional to remove safely using scaffolding.
