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Leadwork, flashings and chimney repairs
Where a roof meets a chimney, a wall or a valley, lead keeps the water out. Most leaks we find start at one of these details, and most can be fixed without touching the rest of the roof.
What we do
Lead is cut, dressed and fixed by our own team on site. The common jobs:
- Chimney flashings: back gutters, soakers and stepped flashings renewed in one piece
- Abutment flashings where a roof or extension meets a wall
- Lead valleys, and box gutters lined in lead
- Lead coping caps and parapet cappings
- Chimney repointing, new flaunching and new pots or caps
- Removing a mortar fillet and replacing it with lead, the most common fix we do
Getting lead right
Lead needs to be the right thickness for the job, Code 4 for most flashings and Code 5 for gutters and heavier details, and it needs to be cut into lengths that can move. A length that is too long splits down the middle within a few years, which is one of the most common failures we see. Laps, clips and fixings follow the Lead Sheet Association's guidance, and we tell you on the quote which code we are using.
The mortar fillet problem
A lot of chimneys and walls on older houses are sealed to the roof with a fillet of sand and cement rather than lead. Mortar is rigid and the roof moves, so the fillet cracks and water runs straight down behind it. Patching it with more mortar or a tube of sealant lasts a season. Replacing it with lead lasts decades.
When the chimney itself needs work
Sometimes the flashing is fine and the stack is the problem: open joints, cracked flaunching or a pot that has moved. We repoint, re-flaunch and rebuild the top courses where needed. If a chimney is no longer used, capping it properly with ventilation is often the cheapest long-term answer, and we will tell you if that is an option.
Questions
Do I need scaffolding for chimney work?
Usually some access is needed, often a chimney scaffold rather than a full one. It is always in the price we give you.
Is lead still worth it?
Yes. Properly fitted lead lasts far longer than mortar or sealant, and on chimneys and valleys it is still the best material for the job.
Can you just reseal it?
A sealant repair can get you through a winter, and we will say if that is a sensible stopgap. It is not a permanent fix, and we will not sell it as one.