Leadwork Surrey | Lead Flashing & Chimney Leadwork

Expert Leadwork Across Surrey

Lead is one of the oldest and best-performing roofing materials there is, but only when it is installed correctly. At Surrey Roofing & Windows Ltd we carry out leadwork across Surrey on chimneys, valleys, dormers, parapets and abutments, using rolled lead in the correct code for the application. Done properly, lead lasts decades. Done badly, it splits, lifts and lets water straight into the property.

What Leadwork Covers

Chimney flashings - Front aprons, side step flashings, back gutters and cover flashings around the stack. The most common leadwork job we take on.
Valleys - Lead-lined valleys between two roof slopes, typically on Victorian and Edwardian properties where the original lead is now well past its lifespan.
Dormer cheeks and tops - Lead cladding to dormer side walls and flat tops, sometimes combined with a small flat roof above.
Parapets - Lead cappings on parapet walls and box gutters behind parapets on older properties.
Flat roof abutments - Where a flat roof meets a vertical wall, the lead upstand and cover flashing seals the junction. A leaking flat roof is just as often a failed lead detail as it is a failed membrane.

Why Leadwork Matters

Most roof leaks do not happen in the open tile field. They happen at junctions - where the roof meets a chimney, where two slopes meet in a valley, where a slope meets a wall. Lead is what seals those junctions. If the lead is wrong, the roof leaks no matter how good the rest of it is. Properly installed leadwork is also code-compliant under Building Regulations Part L and Part C for weather tightness.

Code 4 vs code 5 vs code 6The code refers to the thickness of the lead. Code 4 is suitable for most domestic flashings, code 5 and 6 are used for larger areas and longer runs. We pick the right code for the application rather than defaulting to the thinnest.

Signs Your Leadwork Needs Replacing

Rust streaks running down the wall below a chimney or flashing
Visible cracks or splits in the lead surface
Lead that has lifted at the edges or come away from clips
Damp staining inside on the wall directly below a leadwork detail
Leaks at chimney junctions, valley lines or wall abutments
White lead carbonate powder (lead corrosion) accumulating under the lead
Visible patches of bitumen or silicone over the lead from previous emergency repairs

Our Approach to Leadwork

We work to Lead Sheet Association recommendations on every job. That means correct code for the application, bay lengths within the published limits to allow for thermal expansion, proper lead clips at the right spacing, dressed welts and well-formed corner bossings rather than messy folded joints. Where the original lead was undersized or fitted in over-long bays, we redesign the detail at the same time as renewing it, so the new lead actually performs as it should.

Avoid silicone and bitumen "repairs"If a previous roofer has covered failed lead in mastic, lead-look paint or bitumen, the lead is not fixed. It is hidden. Those repairs typically last one to two winters before the leak comes back. Replacement is the only honest answer.

Areas We Cover for Leadwork

We carry out leadwork across Surrey, including the towns below. Click through to your local area page to see how we work there.

Leadwork FAQs

How long should lead flashing last?+

Properly installed lead to the right code thickness should last for several decades. Many failures we see are not the lead itself but the way it was originally fitted, with the wrong code, missing clips or no expansion joints on longer runs.

Can you replace just the chimney flashing without re-roofing?+

Yes. Chimney flashing renewal is a standalone job in most cases. We carefully remove the surrounding tiles, strip the old lead, install new rolled lead in the correct code and refit the tiles. The roof stays as it is.

What signs mean my leadwork needs replacing?+

Common signs are rust streaks on walls below flashings, cracked or split lead, missing clips, leaks at chimney or wall junctions, and water staining inside on the same wall. If you see any of those, the leadwork is usually due.

Do you follow Lead Sheet Association guidelines?+

Yes. We work to Lead Sheet Association recommendations on code thickness, bay lengths, fixings and expansion. That is what gives lead the long lifespan it should have.

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Leadwork in Surrey