Lead Work & Lead Flashing | Ipswich & Colchester

Lead work and flashing

Lead is what keeps water out where a roof meets something else: a chimney, a wall, a dormer, a roof window, a valley between two slopes. When it's fitted properly it lasts for decades. When it's cut short, nailed down or smeared with sealant, it's one of the most common causes of leaks we see.

We fit and replace lead flashings, soakers, aprons, valleys, bay window tops and dormer cheeks. The right thickness of lead in the right place, in lengths that can move with the weather, and dressed into shape by hand.

Signs your lead work needs attention

Damp on a chimney breast or round a chimney in the loft
Lead that's lifted, split or come away from the wall
Mastic or sealant smeared over joints instead of lead
Pointing missing where the lead tucks into the brickwork
Water coming in where an extension roof meets the house
Missing lead, which is sometimes stolen from porches and bays

Sound familiar? Get a quote

How we do it

Done properly, step by step

01
Inspect

We check the lead, the pointing that holds it and the tiles around it.
02
Quote

A written quote explaining what needs replacing and why.
03
Remove the old lead

Failed lead and any bodged sealant come off, and the area underneath is checked.
04
Fit new lead

New lead in the right code and lengths, dressed to shape, with fixings and joints that allow for expansion.
05
Point and finish

Lead wedged and pointed into the brickwork, and photos sent of the finished job.

Why the code of lead matters

Roofing lead comes in different thicknesses, known as codes. Thinner lead is used for soakers under tiles, heavier codes for step flashings, aprons, valleys and gutters that take more weather. Using lead that's too thin, or pieces that are too long, leads to splitting as it expands and contracts. We follow the established guidance on which code goes where.

Chimney flashing

A chimney needs a front apron, stepped flashings down each side and a back gutter, all working together. If one part fails, water runs down inside the stack or the roof. We often replace chimney lead at the same time as repointing, so the whole stack is sorted in one visit. See our chimney repairs page.

Valleys, bays and dormers

Lead valleys carry a lot of water and wear over time. Bay window and porch tops are flat lead roofs in miniature and often split along old joints. Dormer cheeks and tops are exposed on every side. We repair and renew all of these in lead.

Prices

What affects the price

Every roof is different, so we don't put prices on a website and then add extras later. Lee looks at your roof and gives you a written quote, free, with everything included.

Get your free quote

How much lead is needed and which code
Where it is: a chimney, valley, bay or dormer
Whether tiles have to be lifted to fit soakers or a valley
Access and height
Pointing or brickwork repairs needed at the same time

Checkatrade reviews

What customers say about our lead work work

9.81/10 from 220 verified reviews

★★★★★9/10
"Very prompt response to enquiry with swift visit to assess issue and having agreed a team were on the roof within days. They worked well together in very hot conditions and carried out repointing to both chimneys as agreed in addition to the flashing replacement."
Repointed chimneys and replaced lead flashingClacton area, CO16 · Checkatrade, verified
★★★★★10/10
"Really pleased with the work Adam carried out to the front of my house. Looks great. Pleased with the quality of the work which is shown through the results. Would recommend LM Roofing for sure and use them again if required."
Lead flashing on a single-storey frontColchester, CO4 · Checkatrade, verified
★★★★★10/10
"LM Roofing contacted me within the hour after I asked for help with the water leaking through the roof and coming into the house. They came round the same day to look at the problem and carried out the repair the following afternoon. Supplied photos of the work carried out, Professional job, very pleased would definitely contact again in the future."
Lead collar round a soil stack and felt under the tileswest of Ipswich, IP8 · Checkatrade, verified

Where we work

Lead work across Ipswich, Colchester and beyond

We're based in Colchester and cover Suffolk and north Essex. Find your area for local information and reviews, or put your postcode in the quote form.

Roofers in Ipswich Roofers in Colchester

FAQs

Lead work: your questions

Something else? Call Lee on 07864 367325. He's happy to talk it through.

How long does lead flashing last?

Properly fitted lead lasts for decades. Problems usually come from lead that was the wrong thickness, fitted in lengths that were too long, or sealed with mastic instead of being dressed and pointed.

Can't you just seal the leak with mastic?

Sealant might stop a drip for a few months, but it cracks and peels in the sun. We fix lead properly so it doesn't need doing again.

Do you replace stolen lead?

Yes. We can replace stolen lead from porches, bays and roofs, and talk to you about alternatives if theft is a worry.

Is lead work done at the same time as chimney repairs?

Often, yes. If a chimney needs repointing, it's the right time to renew the lead too, so the whole stack is sorted in one go.

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