In detail
Lead Flashing Explained
Types of flashing
Step flashing runs up the side of a chimney or wall in steps that follow the tile courses. Apron flashing sits across the front of a chimney. Back gutters sit behind a chimney to carry water around it. Cover flashing laps over the top. Valleys and dormer cheeks may also be lined with lead.
Fixing into masonry
Flashing is tucked into a mortar joint cut into the brickwork, wedged and pointed. Lead that has been stuck to a wall surface rather than chased into a joint is one of the common reasons for leaks.
Survey work
If a house survey has flagged your leadwork, I can look at it, give you an honest appraisal and quote for the work.
Why lead is still used
Lead has been used on roofs for centuries because it's durable and can be shaped to fit complicated junctions around chimneys, walls and dormers. When fitted properly it moves with the building and resists weathering.
Common causes of failure
Lead fails when pieces are too long and crack through expansion and contraction, when the mortar holding it into the wall weathers away, when it hasn't been dressed closely to the tiles so wind can lift it, or when it has been patched with sealant that eventually peels. Theft is also a problem in some areas. Each of these leads to water getting into the roof at its most vulnerable point.
Flat roofs meeting walls
Where a flat-roofed extension or garage meets the house wall, the covering is turned up the wall and a flashing is fitted over it to stop water running down behind. This detail is often where extension leaks start, and it's checked when I renew a flat roof.
Chimney leadwork
Chimneys usually have the most complex leadwork on a house: an apron at the front, step flashing down each side and a back gutter behind. Water gets in wherever one of these has failed. If your chimney is no longer used, removing the stack is sometimes a better long-term answer, and I'll explain both options.
Getting it looked at
Because flashing failures are hard to see from the ground, a free inspection is the easiest way to find out whether your lead is the cause of a leak. I'll explain what I find and give you a fixed price to put it right.
Why homeowners choose Justin
I'm Justin Wigmore and I run J Wigmore Roofing Ltd on my own. There's no sales visit followed by a different crew: the person who inspects your roof is the person who quotes it, carries out the work and clears up afterwards. I've been listed on Checkatrade for 16 years with a 10/10 rating from 408 reviews, and the same themes come up again and again: excellent communication, daily updates, turning up when I say I will, a clean and tidy site every day, and a final price that matches the quote.
Every job is priced as a fixed quote after a free inspection. I hold £1 million public liability insurance, and payment is by BACS (preferred), cash or cheque.
Lead Flashing across Aldershot and nearby towns
I'm based in Aldershot and regularly work across Farnborough, Ash and Ash Vale, Farnham and its surrounding villages, Fleet, Blackwater and Hawley, Godalming, Guildford and Odiham. Housing across North East Hampshire and West Surrey ranges from Victorian terraces and inter-war semis to post-war estates and modern homes with garages and extensions, so every roof is assessed on its own merits rather than priced from a list.
Before you get in touch
It helps to know roughly where the problem is, how long you've noticed it and whether water is getting inside. Photos taken from the ground are useful but not essential. Use the form below or call me, and I'll arrange a free inspection at a time that suits you. There's no obligation, and you'll get a fixed written quote so you can decide in your own time.