Decorative Relief or a New Barge Board? Specify the Roofline Parts Separately
“Decorative barge board” can describe more than one item in a restoration enquiry. You may need a new shaped board, decorative trim applied to an existing board, or both. Keeping those items separate makes the quote easier to understand and reduces the chance of ordering the ornament while overlooking the board beneath it.
Heritage lists DR decorative relief and the BB3 barge board in its roofline decorative range. They have different specifications and ordering units.
DR relief is applied trim
DR1, DR2 and DR3 are decorative relief patterns supplied in 1200mm lengths, 120mm high and 9mm thick. The listed material is treated marine plywood. The relief decorates the face of another surface; it should not be mistaken for the underlying fascia or barge board.
Record the DR pattern and the condition of the backing board separately. A photograph showing decorative detail alone cannot establish whether the board behind it is sound. Have your builder assess the substrate and any repair needed before new trim is fixed.
BB3 is a made-to-order barge-board enquiry
For BB3, Heritage needs the roof pitch before manufacture. The board is priced by the lineal metre. The DR products are sold by the 1200mm length. Keep those units on separate lines in your schedule.
If you are matching another board profile, start with the fascia and barge-board range and send a section photograph or sample for assessment. Do not assume that the standard BB3 profile matches every shaped board on an older house.
Measure both sides of a gable
Label the left rake and right rake on a photograph, and record each run independently. Also note returns, junctions and changes in pattern. Measuring one side and doubling it can conceal differences in an altered or repaired roofline.
Supply measurements obtained safely or ask the responsible tradesperson to measure. A ground-level photograph is valuable context, but it is not a substitute for measured lengths or the pitch information required for the board.
Work out trim quantities with a cutting layout
For an illustrative straight run of 3.6m, three 1.2m relief lengths total 3.6m before any cutting losses or pattern-setting allowance. That arithmetic does not establish the order quantity. Corners, damaged ends, mitres and the way the motif meets a joint can all affect the cutting plan.
Mark proposed joins on the elevation and confirm the allowance with the installer and workshop. Where two roof slopes meet, think about how the pattern finishes at the apex rather than treating the full run as an uninterrupted strip.
Photograph the repeat and its ends
A close-up of the repeating detail helps identify the pattern; photographs of the apex and lower ends show how that repeat is terminated. Include any blocks, finials or other adjoining features in the wider view.
If only a fragment survives, keep it and explain where it came from. The matching service can assess the available evidence, but a missing part of a pattern should not be filled in by assumption without your agreement.
Use material-specific preparation instructions
The DR plywood range is different from external LOSP H3 treated pine. Its finishing requirements need to suit exterior plywood, and it is not covered by the guarantee that applies specifically to external LOSP H3 treated pine used above ground.
Ask for the specified material and preparation requirements to be recorded in the quote. Include the roofline sketch, selected codes, lengths, pitch information, quantities and delivery postcode in your roofline enquiry. That gives the workshop a clear distinction between decorative trim, the supporting board and any adjoining pieces.