Lead Work in Feltwell

Expert Lead Work
in Feltwell

Why lead work matters on any pitched roof

Lead is the material of choice for sealing the junctions on a tiled or slated roof because it is malleable, durable and tolerates the constant thermal movement that causes harder materials to crack. Every chimney stack, every dormer, every skylight, every valley between two roof slopes and every point where a roof meets a wall needs a watertight seal at that junction. Lead, correctly installed, provides that seal for a very long time. When it fails, water gets in at the joint before it ever gets through the tiles.

Felt-and-tile valleys, mortar fillets and sealant strips are sometimes used as cheaper alternatives to lead, but they have shorter working lives and are more likely to let water in after a few years of frost, wind and UV exposure. Lead properly laid is worth the extra cost at installation.

How to choose a lead work contractor in Feltwell

Choosing the right roofer for lead work is more important than for straightforward re-tiling, because the job involves concealed materials and shaped metalwork that is hard to inspect once it is bedded in. A poor lead job can look acceptable from the ground and still let water in every time it rains heavily. Here is what to look for and what to ask before you agree to anything.

What to ask before you agree to lead work

• Can you show me what lead code you are using and why? Milled lead sheet runs from Code 3 (thinnest, lightest) to Code 8. Code 3 is sometimes used for soakers but is too thin for most flashings. Code 4 is the minimum for chimney flashings on most domestic roofs; Code 5 is correct for valleys and wider details. A contractor who cannot explain why they are specifying a particular code is worth questioning.
• Will you be fitting soakers as well as stepped flashings? On a chimney alongside a tiled slope, soakers - small individual pieces of lead slipped under each tile course - should be used on the up-slope sides, with the stepped flashing laid over the top. Some contractors skip soakers to save material. The result fails sooner.
• How will the lead be fixed into the chimney joints? Stepped flashings are secured by wedging strips of lead into the raked-out mortar bed joints and then pointing over them. If a contractor proposes to fix lead with silicone or mastic rather than mortar-bedded lead wedges, that is a shortcut that will not last.
• What happens if the brickwork joints are in poor condition? If the mortar in a chimney's bed joints is crumbling, the joints need raking out and repointing before the lead can be secured. Ask whether this is included in the quote and what they will do if they find poor brickwork once the old lead is off.
• Will you strip all the old lead or patch over it? Patching is only appropriate for a small, isolated crack on otherwise sound lead. If the lead is cracked in multiple places, thin, or was previously coated in bitumen, it should come off completely. Ask the contractor to explain their reasoning before you agree to a patch repair versus a full replacement.
• What length are your individual flashing sections? Lead moves with temperature changes. Each section of flashing should be no more than around 1.5 metres long with a correct overlap at the joints. Longer runs without laps will crack eventually as the metal fatigues. A contractor who says they will run the flashing in one piece up the full height of the chimney is not following correct practice.
• How will you leave the area when you are finished? Lead offcuts are a scrap metal value. A reputable contractor takes their waste away. Old mortar and pointing debris should not be left in the gutters or on the roof surface.

Red flags to watch for

Be cautious if a contractor offers to repair your lead flashing without looking at it from the roof first. Flashings cannot be properly assessed from a ladder at gutter level. Any quote that does not involve someone getting onto the roof to inspect the detail directly is a guess, not an assessment.

Be wary of quotes that include no breakdown between materials and labour. Lead is a commodity with a real market price; a quote that just gives you a single figure makes it impossible to know whether you are being charged for the right amount and grade of material.

Pressure to have the work done the same day, or vague descriptions such as "re-seal your flashing" without specifying whether that means lead replacement or a sealant application, should prompt more questions before you sign anything.

Signs your lead work needs attention

A damp patch on a chimney breast wall, appearing after rain but drying out in dry weather, is a strong indicator that the flashing at the base of the stack has lifted or cracked. Ceiling staining near a roof window or skylight often traces back to a failed lead upstand or apron at the frame. In valleys, moss and debris build-up can trap water against lead that is already past its best, accelerating failure. If you can see cracking, lifting or a greenish-white powdery deposit on the lead from the ground, it needs a closer look.

What good lead work looks like when it is done

A properly completed chimney re-flash should show neatly lapped sections of lead bedded flat against the brickwork, with the top edges securely pointed into the joints. The lead should follow the roof line without gaps or proud edges, and there should be no excess sealant or mastic applied over the top. Soakers, where fitted, will be hidden under the tile courses but you can ask the contractor to show you before the last tiles are re-laid. The bottom edge of the apron should overlap the tiles below sufficiently to shed water well clear of the tile surface.

Common types of lead work on domestic roofs

• Chimney stack flashings - stepped, back gutter, front apron and cap flashing
• Valley lining - where two roof slopes meet, in sheet lead over timber boarding
• Abutment flashings - where a roof meets a wall, including lean-to and porch roofs
• Skylight and roof window flashings - upstand and apron details
• Parapet gutter lining
• Dormer cheek flashings

Typical costs - what to expect

For a single chimney re-flash on a standard two-storey house, expect to pay in the region of £400-£900 depending on the size of the stack and the condition of the brickwork. Valley re-leading on a typical semi-detached roof typically falls in the range of £500-£1,200. Smaller repairs to an isolated failed section of existing sound lead start from around £150-£300. These figures reflect typical UK rates; always get a specific written quote for your property before agreeing to anything.

Areas we cover around Feltwell

We serve Feltwell and the surrounding area. Mildenhall is also within the area we cover.

Book a roof survey in Feltwell

If you are concerned about lead work on your roof, call Thetford Roofers and ask for a roof survey. We will inspect the detail from the roof, explain exactly what needs doing and give you a clear price before any work starts.