Lead is used around chimneys, dormers, bay windows, and flat roof edges to create a watertight seal where the roof meets a wall or changes pitch. Poorly fitted or cracked lead is one of the most common causes of internal water damage in older Suffolk properties. We carry out all lead work to BS EN 12588 standards.
Image: local lead work
Lead flashing is the material that seals the joint between a roof covering and a vertical surface — a chimney stack, a parapet wall, a dormer cheek, or a roof light frame. When lead fails, through cracking, lifting, or poor original installation, rainwater tracks straight down into the wall cavity or ceiling void. It is one of the more deceptive faults on a roof because the entry point and the water stain inside rarely line up.
Our lead work covers stepped flashing, back gutters, soakers, aprons, valley liners, and flat roof edging. We cut and dress lead by hand on site, lapping and welting each section correctly so it can expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking. Lead that has been incorrectly fixed solid — a common bodge — will split within a few years. On listed buildings and older properties around Haverhill and the surrounding villages, we match the existing lead weight and profile where required.
Lead work requires a genuine understanding of how water moves across a roof and how different materials behave in heat and cold. Mortar-only joints around chimney flashings, or lead that has been glued rather than properly wedged and pointed, will fail within two to three winters. Getting it right first time is far cheaper than dealing with the resulting timber rot or plasterwork damage.
We inspect the full junction before starting and advise on any underlying masonry work that needs doing first. Most lead flashing repairs or replacements are completed within half a day to a full day depending on scope. All our lead work is guaranteed for ten years.
Lead flashing replacement around a standard chimney stack in Haverhill costs between £350 and £750, depending on the number of faces and the condition of the surrounding masonry.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge — we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
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