Haverhill Roofers fits and repairs lead flashings, soakers, valleys and aprons in Sible Hedingham, and we are happy to talk you through the aftercare steps that stop small problems from returning.
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Lead is used wherever a roof surface meets a chimney, a parapet wall, a dormer cheek or a change in roof pitch. Flashings, soakers, aprons and valleys are all lead details, and each one is a potential entry point for water if it is not in sound condition. The material itself is extremely durable. The failures that appear on domestic roofs are almost always the result of poor original installation, mortar joint deterioration, or a lack of basic maintenance over time.
A common problem is lead that has been installed in sections that are too long. Lead expands and contracts as temperatures change, and if a single piece runs more than about 1.5 metres without a joint, it will eventually buckle, crack or pull away from the masonry. Correctly fitted lead work accounts for this movement from the outset. When it does not, even good-quality lead will fail early.
For chimney flashings, the lead is cut and dressed in sections, dressed tightly into a raked mortar joint in the brickwork, and held with lead wedges before the joint is repointed. The apron at the front of the chimney overlaps the tiles below it, and step flashings interlock with soakers that sit beneath each course of slates or tiles up the side of the stack. The back gutter, if there is one, handles water running off the rear of the stack. Each element plays a role, and a failure in any one of them can let water in.
For valleys, lead sheet is laid in overlapping sections from the eaves upward, dressed to the correct width on each side and clipped or nailed at the edges. Code 5 lead is the minimum suitable for a domestic valley. Code 4 is used for flashings in less exposed positions.
A straightforward chimney flashing repair, where the lead is sound but the mortar joint needs raking and repointing, typically costs £150 to £300. A full chimney flashing replacement on a standard domestic stack runs from around £400 to £700, depending on the size of the stack and the amount of lead required. Valley replacement, including stripping, checking the underlying timber and relaying in Code 5 lead, runs from £500 to over £1,000 for a longer run. Any timber or felt repairs discovered during the work are additional to these figures.
Lead work does not need specialist maintenance in the way that, say, a flat roof membrane does. But a small amount of attention once a year will catch any developing problems before they become costly ones. This is the section most roofing pages skip, and it is genuinely worth reading.
Once a year, after the autumn leaves have come down, take a careful look at the lead junctions on your roof from ground level or from a window if you have a clear view. You are looking for lead that has lifted away from the masonry, mortar pointing that has fallen out around the top edge of the flashing, or visible splits and cracks in the surface of the lead. Any of these is worth getting a roofer up to inspect.
One of the most common causes of premature flashing failure is debris. Moss, leaves and grit accumulate in valleys and gutters, hold moisture against the lead and the mortar, and accelerate deterioration. A valley blocked with compacted debris will cause water to back up and find its way under the edges of the lead. Keeping valleys and gutters clear, particularly in autumn and after storms, reduces the workload on every lead junction on the roof.
Moss growth on tiles and slates is worth treating periodically, not just for the appearance but because moss holds water and gradually breaks down mortar. Biocide treatments applied to roof surfaces reduce the rate at which moss establishes itself. A roofer applying one does not need to brush aggressively; loose brushing and treatment is enough. Vigorous scraping of moss from around lead flashings can dislodge the lead itself, so take care near junctions.
The mortar that holds lead into the masonry joint is not permanent. It weathers over years, and as it does, the top edge of the flashing can begin to lift. Water that gets behind the lead at the top, even in small amounts, will eventually saturate the wall below. Repointing the joint above a flashing every ten to fifteen years is a straightforward job and far cheaper than dealing with water damage inside the property.
Use a lime-based or flexible mortar for repointing lead flashings, not a hard sand-and-cement mix. Hard mortar does not accommodate the slight movement of the lead as it expands and contracts, and will crack away within a few years. A roofer who knows their lead work will use the right product without being asked.
If you see a stain on a ceiling near a chimney breast, a damp patch on a wall near a parapet or dormer, or water tracking down the inside of a chimney flue, call a roofer promptly. Waiting to see whether a small stain grows is rarely a good idea. Water that has found a route in through a failed flashing will continue to travel along timbers and saturate insulation until the source is sealed. Early action on a flashing problem is nearly always cheaper than the repair bill for the consequential damage.
We cover Sible Hedingham and the wider area around Haverhill, including places like Halstead, Braintree, Sudbury and Saffron Walden. If you have a flashing that needs a check, call us to arrange a roof survey and we will tell you honestly what we find and what, if anything, needs doing.
Lead flashings rarely exist in isolation from the rest of the roof. When we are up on a roof attending to lead work, we check the nearby tile and slate condition, the state of the ridge and hip mortar, and the fascias and soffits if they are visible from the scaffold or ladder. If something else needs attention, we will say so. If it can wait, we will tell you that too. Call us for a roof survey in Sible Hedingham and we will give you a straightforward assessment.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
