Leadwork & Flashing

Lead is still the best material for the places where a roof changes direction or meets something else: chimneys, walls, dormers, valleys and parapets. It lasts a century if it is the right code, the right size and fixed so it can move. Most of the lead failures we see come from sheets that are too long, too thin or fixed too rigidly, so they split as they expand and contract.

We form and dress leadwork by hand, following the Lead Sheet Association guidance on code, lap and fixing, and we patinate it so it weathers evenly without staining the tiles below.

Photograph: Leadwork & Flashing job in progress or completed
(to be supplied)

Warning signs

Damp beside a chimney or wallFlashing lifted, split or pointed into the wall with the wrong mortar.

Leaks at valleysOld lead valleys split along the fold or corrode from tannin in oak.

Lead lifted by windUnder-fixed or clips missing.

White staining on tilesNew lead that was not patinated.

Cracks across the sheetThermal fatigue in sheets laid too long.

Dormer cheeks leakingSoakers missing or lapped the wrong way.

What we do

Chimney step, cover and apron flashings with back gutters
Abutment flashings and soakers
Lead valleys and secret gutters
Dormer cheeks, tops and aprons
Parapet gutters and cappings
Lead-welted and bossed details
Patination oil on all new lead
Repair, re-dressing and replacement of existing leadwork

Materials and methods

Rolled lead to BS EN 12588: Code 4 for flashings and soakers, Code 5 for valleys, back gutters and parapets, Code 6 for large gutters. Fixed with copper or stainless clips and nails, lead wedges and lead sealant, never silicone. Patination oil applied on completion.

Why choose us for leadwork & flashing

Leadwork to the Lead Sheet Association codes, which is what keeps it from splitting
Hand-formed details that fit the roof rather than off-the-shelf trays forced to fit
Lead that will outlast the roof it protects
Clear photographs of every detail before and after
Workmanship guarantee on all leadwork

What to expect

Close inspection of the existing lead, with photographs of each failure, and a quote that specifies the code and size of every new piece. Scaffold where needed. Flashing jobs typically take one to two days; valleys longer because the tiles each side must be lifted.

Related projects

Completed project

Genuine leadwork & flashing projects appear here once photographed.

All projects →

Frequently asked questions

Why not use a lead substitute?

Products like Ubiflex and Wakaflex have a place on low-risk details and where theft is a concern. For chimneys, valleys and anything exposed, lead lasts longer and looks right on an older house.

How do I know what code my lead is?

You generally cannot by eye. Code 4 is 1.8 mm, Code 5 is 2.24 mm. Thin lead on an exposed detail is a common cause of early failure.

Can lead be repaired?

Small splits can be lead-welded. If the sheet is fatigued throughout, replacement is the only permanent answer.

Is lead theft a problem?

On exposed, accessible roofs, sometimes. We can mark lead with SmartWater and advise on alternatives for vulnerable details.